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Just under a year since the 5th Trofeo Emozione, the sprint in Piazza XX Settembre in Pordenone continues to act as a turning point in the careers of the young riders who fought for victory on April 26, 2025. That rain-soaked day, marked by six gravel sectors and the Monte di Ragogna, didn’t remain an isolated incident: many of the protagonists went on to build a season as absolute leaders on the international junior scene.

The most obvious case is that of Alessio Magagnotti. The world track champion in the team pursuit turned the Trofeo Emozione into a sort of “beginning of dominance”: the victory in Pordenone was in fact only the second in an impressive series of successes. In 2025, Magagnotti closed the junior season with 14 victories, ranging from Italian circuits to international stage races. After the win in Pordenone, heavy successes followed, such as the Memorial Faliero and Clara Vangi in Calenzano, the Trofeo Comune di Brentino Belluno, the Due Giorni di Brescia e Bergamo – Gran Premio Ecotek in Rovato, stages at the Giro del Friuli Venezia Giulia Juniores, the Giro d’Abruzzo, the Giro della Lunigiana, and other wins that established him as one of the benchmarks of the category.

While Magagnotti confirmed his status as a standout, those who chased him that day also managed to leave their mark. Brandon Fedrizzi, second at the finish line in Pordenone and white jersey for best young rider at the Trofeo Emozione, continued his growth within the ranks of Petrucci Assali Stefen, confirming himself as one of the most solid sprinters in the category. His ability to hold on during mixed routes—as demonstrated by the 136 kilometers of the Trofeo Emozione—and to finalize the work of his lead-out train in the sprints has made him a staple for his team and one of the most watched riders in national races.

On the third step of the podium in Pordenone was Nicola Padovan from Treviso, another name who carved out a space for himself in 2025 among the most consistent juniors on the Italian scene. For him, the Trofeo Emozione was confirmation of a natural predisposition for tough but fast races, where endurance, the ability to stay at the front on gravel, and mental clarity in the city finish are required, leading to a long series of important placements between Veneto, Friuli, and the main junior stage races.

Among the “silent” protagonists of that day, Roberto Capello should also be remembered: the Team Grenke Auto Eder rider, who attacked on Monte di Ragogna, was the great animator of the race, keeping the peloton at a distance over the six gravel sectors before surrendering to cramps 15 kilometers from the finish. The red jersey for the intermediate sprints, won right at the Trofeo Emozione, captured his role as a breakaway specialist and generous rider, valuable for international teams that focus on offensive cycling.

No less important is the path of those who, while not reaching the podium, made an impact on the race and the season. The Dane Lindholm Andersen and the German Moritz Mauss continued their journey in the youth structures of major continental teams, confirming the international scope of the Trofeo Emozione. Fabio Segatta (Us Montecorona), sixth in Pordenone, proved to be much more than a pure climber, placing regularly even in fast contexts; while Marco Andrea Pierotto, ninth at the finish, stood out as an ideal team player, decisive in preparing the sprints for Magagnotti and capable at the same time of bringing home significant personal results.

Jersey changes: from gravel sectors to major international projects

In the meantime, the market has certified just how much that Pordenone sprint was populated with talents destined to move up a level. The most evident jump is that of Alessio Magagnotti, who from 2026 is racing with the development structure of Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe, the Rookies formation of the German WorldTour team. For the rider from Trentino, a podium at the Trofeo Palma against the professionals arrived as early as his debut among the under-23s, a sign that the move into the Red Bull – BORA “galaxy” is the natural continuation of a path for someone destined for greatness.

The future of Brandon Fedrizzi is also already written in important colors: from 2026, the rider from Bolzano will wear the jersey of Borgo Molino Coratti Vigna Fiorita, one of the most structured Italian junior teams with a high-profile program. The agreement is part of a project that already looks beyond, toward the under-23 category, with a perspective linked to the Intermarché Development team, confirming how much Fedrizzi is considered one of the most interesting prospects among the fast men.

On the international front, the German Moritz Mauss—seventh at the 2025 Trofeo Emozione—joined the roster of UAE Team Emirates Gen-Z, the Continental development team linked to the Emirati WorldTour team. A move that confirms how the group of the best in Pordenone was already a concentration of riders closely followed by major international projects.

For Roberto Capello, the “breakaway man” of Monte di Ragogna, the jump was equally significant: from the Grenke-Auto Eder youth team, he moved to EF Education-Aevolo, the development team of EF Education-EasyPost, with a multi-year agreement and a path designed to accompany him all the way to the WorldTour. The Piedmontese rider thus chose the North American route for his under-23 journey, ideal for a resilient rider inclined toward long-range actions.

Looking at the standings of that April 26, 2025, today, the 5th Trofeo Emozione appears more and more like an early snapshot of the cycling to come: a mix of Italian and foreign talents, capable of interpreting a “classic-style” race with tactical maturity and courage. For many of them, Pordenone was not just a victory or a placement, but the start of a clear trajectory: the one that leads from the roads of Vivaro, from Ragogna, and from the Friulian gravel toward the best youth projects in the world and, step by step, to professionalism.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, western Friuli hosted the 5th Trofeo Emozione, one of the most prestigious international races for the junior category. At the finish line in Piazza XX Settembre in Pordenone, track world champion Alessio Magagnotti (Autozai Contri) from Trento triumphed, beating Brandon Fedrizzi (Petrucci Assali Stefen) from Bolzano and Nicola Padovan (Gottardo Giochi Caneva) from Treviso in a sprint finish.

The 136.8 km race started in Vivaro and crossed the roads of the Pordenone area, passing through towns such as Arba, Sequals, Travesio, San Daniele, Spilimbergo, Azzano Decimo, and Pasiano. The route, made even more selective by rain, gravel sections, and the Monte di Ragogna climb (2.8 km at 10% with peaks of 16%), thinned out the pack from the early stages.

Roberto Capello (Team Grenke Auto Eder) launched a solo attack on the Ragogna ascent, leading the way across the six gravel sections and building a lead of up to a minute and a half over the peloton. However, his breakaway ended about 15 km from the finish due to fatigue and cramps, as the peloton of around fifty riders sped toward Pordenone at high speed.

In the final stages, Autozai Contri worked flawlessly: in particular, Marco Andrea Pierotto led Magagnotti into the front positions until the final corner, where the rider from Trento emerged in front and launched a powerful, clean sprint that left his opponents with no chance. This is Magagnotti’s second victory of the season following his success in Calenzano, in a season that confirms him as one of the most anticipated talents on the international junior scene.

At the finish line, Magagnotti highlighted the importance of teamwork and the difficulties faced during the day, including rain, allergies, and a very demanding course. On the final podium, in addition to the top three finishers, the special Trofeo Emozione jerseys were awarded: the black jersey to the overall winner Alessio Magagnotti, the green GPM jersey to Leander De Gendt (Cannibal), the white best young rider jersey to Brandon Fedrizzi, and the red intermediate sprints jersey to Roberto Capello.

Setting the stage for the awards ceremony in a crowded Piazza XX Settembre were key federal and regional institutional authorities, along with organizers Adolfo Sacchetto and Andrea Favot, who reaffirmed the mission of the Trofeo Emozione: a day of great youth cycling, spectacle, and passion on the roads of Friuli.

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, western Friuli will set the stage for the 5th Trofeo Emozione, an international junior race that has quickly carved out a leading role in the European youth calendar. Starting in Vivaro and finishing in the heart of Pordenone at Piazza XX Settembre, the 137 km route is designed for both excitement and selection: a KOM climb on Monte di Ragogna, six gravel sections totaling about 10 km, and a city finish designed for a high-speed sprint.

The 2025 edition confirms the international spirit of the event created by Adolfo Sacchetto and Andrea Favot: 149 athletes representing 26 teams, 14 of which are international, are expected at the start. This lineup brings some of the world’s most promising young cyclists to the roads of the Pordenone area, with Italian and foreign teams ready to face off on a technical, punchy course with great developmental value.

Trofeo Emozione was created with a specific goal: to offer young riders a testing ground similar to a “Northern Classic,” combining climbs, gravel, a high pace, and race management within a meticulously organized event supported by local institutions and the Federation. The winner’s black jersey, along with the jerseys for the KOM, best young rider, and intermediate sprints, represents the symbolic goal of a day that aims to combine high-level competition with public passion.

Pordenone is preparing to welcome top-tier youth cycling: the historic center will become a natural “open-air velodrome” for the race’s conclusion, while a great turnout is expected along the route through Vivaro, Arba, Sequals, Travesio, San Daniele, Spilimbergo, and the other towns. Everything is set for the 5th Trofeo Emozione to once again deliver images and stories worthy of its name.

In 2023, Trofeo Emozione isn’t backing down; in fact, it’s doubling up.

Compared to last year, the organizers have doubled their efforts, successfully adding two stages to the program—two routes with different characteristics but a single goal: to give athletes and the public an unforgettable weekend.

Trofeo Emozione thus establishes itself as one of only two international stage races for the junior category on the Italian calendar.

The first stage, scheduled for July 8 with the start and finish in Pordenone, will feature a mainly flat route, made challenging by 8 sectors of gravel roads.

The following day, the young protagonists will face the now-classic uphill finish at Piancavallo, in a very demanding stage with 2,600 meters of elevation gain in just 113 km.

The decision to turn Trofeo Emozione into a stage race was made to increase the excitement: in this edition, it won’t just be the pure climbers who can aim for the highly coveted final Gold Jersey.

But Trofeo Emozione is more than just a sporting event.

It’s a philosophy driven by the heart that aims to build a microcosm of initiatives revolving around cycling, education, and the promotion and awareness of important social issues, thanks to a series of lead-up events that will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Another goal for 2023 is to create a permanent route that showcases the gravel roads of the Pordenone area, turning it into an itinerary of significant scenic and sporting value, capable of attracting visitors and interest in the ever-growing slow tourism circuit.

The collaboration with the UCI World Tour Team Bahrain Victorious has also been confirmed for this edition, allowing the winner of Trofeo Emozione to participate in an internship during the team’s training camp.

A unique opportunity experienced firsthand by Alessandro Da Ros who, after winning the 2022 edition, had the chance this winter to work closely with professional riders, coaches, and the entire staff, getting a true taste of what it means to be a “pro.”

A dream that Trofeo Emozione has been turning into reality since 2019, and which will once again bring hundreds of promising young international cyclists to the roads of Friuli this year.