The Italian one-day semi-Classic Gran Piemonte is back after a one-year hiatus. The 1.HC race has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the calendar throughout it's history, but the 101st edition is set for Thursday, October 11.
The fist edition of the race, then called the Giro del Piemonte, was run in 1906 and then again in 1907. The race skipped 1909 but then was back for a yearly run before World War II interrupted it again in 1943 and 1944. The race was cancelled again in 1968, 1975, 1976, 2000, 2007, 2013, 2014 and then again last year, most often because of sponsor issues.
The 2018 edition, which covers 191km from Racconici to Stupinigi, will once again serve as the final tune-up for the month's top prize, the final Monument of the year at Il Lombardia two days later.
As such, the field ready to toe the start line is impressive. Defending champion Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo) is out with injury and won't be back in 2018, but Bahrain-Merida has Sonny Colbrelli to contest any sprint finish.
