Beijing Time, September 15 — the UCI 2.1-rated 2026 Il Giro d’Abruzzo has officially kicked off. As a UCI Europe Tour 2.1-level event, Il Giro d’Abruzzo brings together professional teams and elite riders from multiple countries and regions. The opening stage set off from Cupello. After 155 kilometres of fierce racing, the finish line awaited in Casalincontrada.
Fancellu delivered a laterace surge to claim stage honours
Alessandro Fancellu of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort produced outstanding attacking power in the final phase, crossing the line first in 3 hours, 51 minutes and 24 seconds to win the opening stage of the 2026 Il Giro d’Abruzzo.
Mathys Rondel (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) took second place, finishing 2 seconds behind. Diego Ulissi (XDS Astana Development Team) also came home 2 seconds adrift in third. Official race sources have confirmed these podium results.
Stage 1 Podium Standings
Alessandro Fancellu — MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort
Mathys Rondel — Tudor Pro Cycling Team +2″
Diego Ulissi — XDS Astana Development Team +2″
With this triumph, Fancellu moved into the overall classification lead and earned the corresponding leader’s jersey. According to race officials, he also tops the points classification after Stage 1.
155-kilometre gruelling course, outcome decided at the very end
The 155-kilometre route from Cupello to Casalincontrada was no straightforward flat stage.
Following fast opening sections, the route transitioned into rolling terrain, forcing riders to contend with successive climbs, descents and technical passages. As the race drew to a close, course difficulty ramped up further; the climb leading to the finish proved decisive.
Course data shows gradients exceeded 10 % on the final ascent, with sustained steep climbing right up to the last corner. This finishing profile set the scene for a highly competitive showdown.
Fancellu seized his chance with a decisive late-attack and defended his advantage all the way to the line, beating Rondel and Ulissi by a 2-second margin to secure victory on the opening day.
UPVINE joins MBH Team in celebrating competitive breakthroughs
UPVINE is the official wheel-set partner of MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort. Whether on road-race circuits or brutal climbing segments, wheel-sets must transmit rider power while enduring the combined stresses of high-speed riding, repeated ascents and complex course conditions.
MBH Team got its campaign off to a flying start thanks to Fancellu’s brilliant performance on this opening Il Giro d’Abruzzo stage. For UPVINE, this result represents more than just a race statistic — it is ongoing real-world validation of wheel-set performance and reliability under elite competitive pressure.
We continuously track every breakthrough achieved on real-world race circuits. Through partnerships with professional squads, our products are subjected to the harshest possible competitive testing.
Opening-stage victory — but the race is far from over
After Stage 1, Alessandro Fancellu holds the overall race lead.
Nevertheless, plenty remains up for grabs at the 2026 Il Giro d’Abruzzo. Per the official schedule, Stage 2 will unfold on September 16, running from Popoli Terme to Caramanico Terme. This mountain stage features multiple climbs, including the Forcella di Acciano early in the day. The race then moves to a comparatively flat third stage, before a fourth stage defined by relentless steep gradients.
For MBH Team, the opening-stage win delivers an excellent springboard for the days ahead.
UPVINE will keep powering MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort Team with high-performance wheelsets through the remainder of Il Giro d’Abruzzo. Facing the unforgiving mountain climbs ahead, racing wheels keep turning. UPVINE will stand alongside MBH Team, pushing hard for further honours.
