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Roma Maxima - Discussion
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 18-10-2026 03:28
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7956
Joined: 22-06-2009
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 Roma Maxima
Welcome to the 2026 edition of the cobbled classic Roma Maxima. For the 5th year in a row, the race sits in the PTHC race category, meaning it attracts some of the best cobblers in the world... Well, all the ones that don't end up in Portugal as there is a race clash with the Viana do Castelo.
At 196.1 km, the race starts with a long flat section before hitting the major uphill section of this one-day classic. After that, the cobbled sectors will likely decide who has the legs to reach the finish first and claim the ninth edition here in Italy.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | | 2025 |  David Per |  Ivan Siric |  Jonas Rutsch | | Carlsberg - D.B. | Cedevita | Team Puma - SAP | | 2024 |  Lukasz Wisniowski |  Ivan Siric |  Ricardo Ferreira | | Assa Abloy | Cedevita | Polar | | 2023 |  Lukasz Wisniowski |  Ivan Siric |  David Per | | Aker - MOT | Cedevita | Carlsberg - D.B. | | 2022 |  Mads Pedersen |  Mekseb Debesay |  Marcos Altur | | Grieg-Maersk | Duolingo | Polar | | 2021 |  Joeri Stallaert |  Adam Blythe |  Matteo Trentin | | Bralirwa - Stevens | Eurosport x GCN | Carlsberg - D.B. | | 2020 |  Danny Summerhill |  Marcos Altur |  Robert Bush | | Andorra Cycling | Podium Ambition | Polar | | 2019 |  Kenneth Vanbilsen |  Robert Bush |  Lahcen Saber | | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo | ISA - Hexacta | Philips | | 2018 |  Kenneth Vanbilsen |  Lahcen Saber |  Edward Theuns | | Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo | Philips - Continental | Generali - EDF |
David Per picked up the win last season for Carlsberg - Danske Bank and denied Lukasz Wisniowski a three-peat. Cedevita's always a groomsman and never the groom, Ivan Siric, finished runner-up for a third straight season despite consistent training each offseason. Jonas Rutsch rounded out the podium in a quiet but solid showing by staying with the favourites and following Siric's wheel.
For those looking at trends in how this race has been decided in the past, the victor has emerged in three distinct ways. A late attack has been successful three times (2025, 2023, 2020), including Per's solo triumph last year. A reduced bunch sprint with five or more riders has reached the finish line together three times (2024, 2021, 2018). And a small group of four riders or less have battled it out for the win twice (2022, 2019). The morning breakaway has yet to produce a shocking result. Could this be the year?
| FL | MM | HI | CO | ST | RS | RC | SP | AC |  Per | 79 | 69 | 70 | 82 | 74 | 75 | 71 | 74 | 74 |  Girmay | 77 | 68 | 71 | 81 | 76 | 76 | 77 | 77 | 76 |  Siric | 78 | 68 | 71 | 81 | 77 | 80 | 69 | 77 | 71 |  Gerts | 75 | 70 | 76 | 80 | 73 | 77 | 69 | 70 | 67 |  Blume Levy | 75 | 62 | 63 | 79 | 76 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 70 |  Rutsch | 77 | 66 | 69 | 79 | 76 | 75 | 69 | 69 | 68 |  Stavrakakis | 76 | 65 | 68 | 78 | 74 | 70 | 66 | 64 | 68 |  Moulingui | 74 | 62 | 71 | 78 | 71 | 71 | 53 | 65 | 68 |  Schreurs | 72 | 61 | 67 | 77 | 75 | 75 | 71 | 72 | 71 | | Bohli | 74 | 66 | 68 | 77 | 79 | 75 | 65 | 74 | 68 |  Moricz | 74 | 63 | 68 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 68 | 66 | 64 | | Van den Berg | 77 | 61 | 64 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 70 | | Tediashvili | 75 | 68 | 70 | 77 | 76 | 78 | 73 | 71 | 71 | | Kolev | 75 | 57 | 62 | 77 | 73 | 71 | 65 | 62 | 67 | | Lapeira | 77 | 71 | 72 | 76 | 74 | 73 | 76 | 76 | 74 |  Teggart | 73 | 66 | 69 | 76 | 76 | 73 | 71 | 72 | 70 | | Fedorov | 76 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 74 | 72 | 67 | 70 | 71 |  Polanc | 70 | 72 | 71 | 76 | 75 | 70 | 60 | 65 | 72 | | Ivanovas | 74 | 60 | 62 | 76 | 74 | 72 | 69 | 69 | 72 | | Jansen | 72 | 67 | 70 | 76 | 75 | 72 | 75 | 75 | 70 | | Centrone | 74 | 67 | 71 | 76 | 72 | 67 | 70 | 53 | 58 |
The podium from last year returns, although two of the three riders will be representing new teams. Per will look to defend his victory and make a strong first impression for Grieg-Maersk after being involved in a major swap that saw 2022 winner Mads Pedersen move to Carlsberg - Danske Bank. Per has some good support with Bohli and Jansen. Whereas Rutsch looks to be the lone wolf for Peugeot, joining his new team after the disbandment of Team Puma - SAP.
Then there is Siric, who put in the work once again this offseason (going from 76 to 78 to 80 to 81 in cobbles over the past four seasons), but will this improvement be enough to finally break the second-place curse?
Speaking of offseason training, Girmay is ready to take the next step in his career and has the top-end speed to challenge Siric should this classic be decided in a reduced bunch sprint. The two-time Eritrean road race national champion won 1 Jour de Dunkerque and a stage in the Benelux Challenge last year.
One of the few men actually looking forward to climb before all the cobbles is Gerts. While most of the hilly cobblers in the PCT and CT are in Portugal, Gerts has a unique strength here if he plays his cards right. Rabobank also brings a strong support rider in Van den Berg.
Newly maxed 25-year-old Blume Levy will be looking for a signature first career win to jumpstart his career, but will need to get over the climb and find another gear to compete in a sprint with Siric and Girmay. The same could be said about 26-year-old Lapeira, who is also still searching for his first pro win.
His teammate Stavrakakis should have the biggest motivation to make sure this race doesn't end in a bunch sprint if he wants to represent Greece well and get last season's CT champions, Bianchi Enel, off to a strong start.
Trans Looney Tunes brings one of the strongest squads depth wise with four decent cobblers in Moulingui, Tediashvili, Kolev and Centrone. Will be interesting to see how those team dynamics play out. TLT had a strong opening month of the new season and will want to continue that momentum here.
Two more outliers that the Favourite List didn't catch is a pair of sprinters who will need the cobbles to be as non-selective as possible in  Hesters and Dekker.
But what do I and the oddsmakers know? Not much usually. Looking forward to bringing you the action with my first MG report in over a decade.
The full 164-cyclist startlist is below.
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| seancoll |
Posted on 18-10-2026 03:55
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1101
Joined: 20-12-2022
PCM$: 500.00
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Love seeing the Trans Looney Tunes cobble armada coming to attack a race like this. I fear it won't bring a win or top 5, but I find it incredibly fun to root for - especially with no chance to be there myself.
Would be shocked if Girmay - Per - Siric don't cover 2 of the top 3 results. No prediction from the Turtles on who will actually take the win. Let's see if Girmay will gain confidence or need redemption from his first cobble race at Omloop.
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 18-10-2026 04:57
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 17090
Joined: 27-07-2011
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So weird to have Per back here representing another team. My gut is to root for him to repeat, though part of me will feel some seller's remorse if he does.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| SotD |
Posted on 18-10-2026 07:15
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World Champion
Posts: 13091
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Obviously going to be following Stavrakakis closely here.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 18-10-2026 23:21
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 18-10-2026 08:10
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3516
Joined: 07-08-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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We're here, that's about all there's to say. Thanks for the preview 
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 18-10-2026 09:31
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3773
Joined: 23-07-2008
PCM$: 700.00
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As was said in Hiet we are here for a double attack with Lapeira and Stav one gets the sprinter role one the leader iirc Lapeira is better suited here but if overall we can come away with 100pts that's the aim |
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| Heine |
Posted on 18-10-2026 09:34
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5130
Joined: 08-04-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Oooh, I like this field. Feared a stronger one. Go Rutsch!
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 18-10-2026 09:41
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World Champion
Posts: 13849
Joined: 05-08-2008
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Good thing I decided to take a look in this thread because I had completely forgotten we were in this race so I was pleasently surprised to see Gerts' name on the favorites list.
Let's see if the old man is still up for the task!
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 18-10-2026 09:58
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Team Leader
Posts: 6404
Joined: 20-07-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Schreurs on his own again. Can't hope for much even though he features the favourites list. Anything of note is a success for us here.
Interesting to see if Per gets to repeat his victory here or if Gerts or Girmay can dethrone him. Siric in 2nd seems mandatory so I'm rulling him out 
Thanks for the rpeview Mre!
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 18-10-2026 10:16
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8007
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 25445.00
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Another cobblestone race of 0 expectation. Perhaps the breakaway would be nice this time around
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| quadsas |
Posted on 18-10-2026 15:32
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2977
Joined: 18-01-2013
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Just a few points or a 1-2 will suffice
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| Sykkel_Freak |
Posted on 18-10-2026 20:09
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2226
Joined: 11-07-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Excited to see a maxed Blume Levy in action! Top 6 looks possible with this startlist.
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