Marcello Falcone Cycling Grand Prix

Half a century of cycling in memory of Marcello Falcone

The Marcello Falcone Cycling Grand Prix is the longest-running junior race in Lazio, with over fifty years of uninterrupted history. The event is dedicated to the memory of Marcello Falcone, a promising cyclist from Terracina and reigning regional champion, who died prematurely in October 1975 following a race in Campania. Since then, every spring, the Municipality of Terracina in the province of Latina pays tribute to its young champion by transforming the city streets and the surrounding Pontine landscape into a grand stage for youth cycling.

From a regional to a national race

For decades, the race was organized by the G.S. Ciclistico Dilettantistico Terracina Desco, led by Tiziano Testa, the true guardian of the event. From 2026, the torch was passed to Claudio Terenzi, head of the Veleka team, and with the 51st edition, the Grand Prix was elevated from a regional to a national race: a significant milestone designed to address the shortage of high-level junior races in Central Italy compared to the northern regions. The event is supported by the Italian Cycling Federation, CONI Lazio, the Province of Latina, and the municipalities along the route, from Fondi to Itri.

A route between the sea and the Aurunci Mountains

The 103-kilometre course is one of the most scenic in the Italian youth circuit. It starts in the centre of Terracina, near Piazza Caduti del Mare: the peloton takes the Via Flacca, hugging the Tyrrhenian coast along the Riviera di Ulisse, passing through Sperlonga and Gaeta before turning inland towards Itri. Here, the race tackles the climb to Passo San Nicola, home to the King of the Mountains (GPM) title named after Marco Pantani, before crossing Campodimele, Lenola, Monte San Biagio, and Fondi. The flat finish brings the riders back to Terracina, with the final sprint in Piazza Mazzini, in the heart of the city.

A breeding ground for champions

Over more than half a century, the GP Marcello Falcone has launched riders who later turned professional, including Valerio Agnoli, Damiano Cima, and Christian Scaroni. In recent years, the race has taken on an increasingly international scope: in 2025, Belarusian rider Ilya Slesarenko became the first from his country to add his name to the roll of honour, while in 2026, victory went to Alessandro Battistoni ahead of a field of 109 starters representing 17 teams.

Terracina and the celebration of Pontine sport

For Terracina and the entire southern Pontine area, the race is much more than a competition: it is a day of popular celebration that unites sport, memory, and the local territory. The public can watch for free along the entire route, from the city squares to the hairpin bends of the Aurunci Mountains, and the event attracts coaches, former champions, and enthusiasts from all over Lazio and beyond every year. It is an appointment that captures the cycling soul of this part of the region, amidst sea, history, and a passion for two wheels.