Coppa Maria Santissima della Stella

A cycling tradition spanning over seventy years

The Coppa Maria Santissima della Stella is one of the longest-running and most cherished road cycling races in Puglia. Every spring, it transforms the streets of Adelfia, a town in the Metropolitan City of Bari, into a true sporting arena, with hundreds of fans lining the route. Reaching its 72nd edition in 2026, the event maintains a deep bond with the local community and its devotional identity.

The bond with the Madonna della Stella

The race takes its name from Maria Santissima della Stella, the venerated patron saint of Canneto, one of the two ancient communities (along with Montrone) that merged in 1927 to form the municipality of Adelfia. The race is part of the calendar of festivities and popular traditions linked to the Marian cult, combining sport and local identity in an event highly anticipated by the entire region.

The route and categories

The competition is reserved for junior and under-23 categories and awards the FCI Puglia regional champion jerseys. The course follows a 26-kilometre urban and suburban circuit, repeated four times for a total of 104 kilometres. The route passes through Via Vittorio Emanuele, joins the SP 83 towards Acquaviva delle Fonti, continues along the SP 205 and the Adelfia ring road, finishing on Via Santa Maria della Stella, with three intermediate sprints contested at the finish line.

Organisation and roots

The event is organised by the Polisportiva Velo Club Adelfia, an association active since 1950 in the service of Puglian cycling and chaired by Vincenzo Fiore, with the patronage of the Municipality of Adelfia. Over the years, the race has become a benchmark in the youth road cycling calendar in Puglia, attracting teams and athletes from numerous Italian regions and, in some editions, international riders.

An event to experience

• Road cycling race for juniors and under-23s
• Awarding of FCI Puglia regional champion titles
• 26 km city circuit repeated four times
• Start and finish in the heart of Adelfia

Blending sport, tradition, and popular devotion, the Coppa Maria Santissima della Stella represents one of the most authentic expressions of Puglian cycling and a source of pride for the entire Adelfia community.