50th Trofeo Alfredo Binda, March 15th, 2026

[Samu Cuenca]

The golden jubilee for the oldest WWT race on the calendar is upon us. While it was purely an Italian affair for nearly all of its first 25 years, it has still been held in fairly high regard within the sport, especially during the period in-between the first run of a women's Milano-Sanremo and its return last year, where it was the closest the female riders had to the real thing.

It being an event without a direct male counterpart, which has become more of a rarity at the top of women's bike racing nowadays, also adds something to its aura. Sure it was named after one of the big Italian male riders, but a lot of other races dedicated to the memory of cycling greats haven't managed to survive for half a century.

The race has been dominated by Elisa Balsamo in recent years having won three of the past four editions, and she could very well have won all of them if Trek haven't sent Shirin van Anrooij on the attack in 2023. However, we know she won't be defending her title this year, so a new champion will have to be crowned.

The record of four wins is shared between Maria Canins and Marianne Vos, and the GOAT is on the start line once more. So is Van Anrooij, two time winner Elisa Longo Borghini and 2018 winner Kasia Niewiadoma, among other well known names.

The distance has been increased over the years, but the main part of the route hasn't been changed much. Recent editions imply that it is not as easy for the stronger climbers to make a major difference as it was in the past, and while it is still impossible for a pure sprinter like Charlotte Kool to win, it should be doable for a Lorena Wiebes. Neither of them are racing though, so we can't say for sure.

The route will take the riders through some of the area between Lago di Varese and Lago di Maggiore, just a very long stone throw away from the Longo Borghini family home in Ornavasso on the opposite side of Maggiore. The family will by the way not only be able to experience Elisa ride on home roads, but also her brother Paolo's daughter Anna, who is lining up for the junior race before the main event. That race will also feature the likes of Giorgia Pellizotti, Azurra Ballan and Ane Zubeldia.

Start list Elite:

2026 Trofeo Alfredo Binda

The 2026 Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio.

firstcycling.com

Start list Juniors: https://firstcycling.com/m/race.php?r=9395&y=2026&k=start

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Course is due a shake-up, it no longer has the same role on the calendar it used to. While that's a good thing in terms of there being greater variation between the styles of rider that can succeed and shows the increased professionalism of the péloton, it feels like we've had our "Zabel wins in Maastricht" moment and it's time to beef it up to keep the race to the kind of identity it originally carved out.

 

[yaco]

This is the race where Cat Ferguson can get het WT win as she is climbing well in 2026.

 

[Wyndbrook]

This is the race where Cat Ferguson can get het WT win as she is climbing well in 2026.

Means nothing I guess, but Wielerflits have her as number one favourite.

 

[RedheadDane]

That race will also feature the likes of Giorgia Pellizotti, Azurra Ballan and Ane Zubeldia.

A shame the Junior race (probably) won't be televised. So we won't be able to check of Ane has the visibility of her father.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

A shame the Junior race (probably) won't be televised. So we won't be able to check of Ane has the visibility of her father.

If she continues to ride non-televised races she definitely will have.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Italian champ Matilde Rossignoli won the junior race in a group sprint. Apparently it's quite windy out there today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2033125824124056007

View: https://x.com/elsterrato/status/2033125824124056007

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I can't watch it at the moment, but UAE continue to dominate.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Could be a reduced bunch this time around. Break doesn't have much time, but the group chasing isn't that large. Could well still come together on the descent though.

 

[JR1012]

Dont understood why Trek earlier and now EF is chasing. Let Visma do all the work.

Break has it.

 

[Didinho]

Break is almost a minute in front. With AVDB riding hard.

Swinkels only one following. Just don’t work with her now.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Now, the roles are reversed, Anna is just sitting on and expecting Swinkels to drag her to the line. Ottestad coming back because understandably Swinkels isn't keen to do a Cancellara to van der Breggen's Gerrans.

 

[Didinho]

Swinkels looks strong enough to finish this off.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

With this gap, Bjørndal Ottestad should have sat on and then attempted to get away rather than pulling.

 

[RedheadDane]

Swinkels taking it.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It's not often that I ever cheer UAE winning these days, but pleased for Karlijn to take that over Anna.

Blanka Vas 4th, in accordance with the prophecy.

 

[JR1012]

Hard work of UAE paid off.

 

[awavey]

Well if you will sit on the front pulling your trio along like that for so long, dont expect to have much left for the sprint in comparison

I guess 3rd is better than nothing but still could have made the others work harder for it

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Swinkels made Van der Breggen look old in that sprint. Vos sprinted forcefully, but still managed to go backwards against the younger guns.

 

[yaco]

That was a strange and unsatisfying race. No break at all. A peleton allowed 6 riders to stealthily ride away, while, the rest of the peleton had two or three teams with multiple riders and yet only EF pulled. Its hard to understand.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Karlijn Winkels!

Hugs given (and later frogs with be handed out, too)