Grand Prix week kicks off with a climb — and it starts in San Marino. On Tuesday, September 8, the historic centre of Mount Titano will play host to the “Cronotitano Hill Climb – The Trailer,” the official pre-event that will rev up the engines — for once, not only those of the motorcycles — ahead of the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Riviera di Rimini, set to take place from September 11 to 13 at the Misano World Circuit.
The event is scheduled for 5:30 pm, with two riders closely tied to the Riders’ Land among the expected stars: Marco Bezzecchi and Enea Bastianini. They’ll be joined by former Italian national cycling team coach Davide Cassani, Sky Sport MotoGP commentator Mauro Sanchini, and Letizia Paternoster, one of the most decorated Italian cyclists of her generation, with both European and world medals to her name.
It will serve as something of an appetizer for what organizers hope will become an even bigger fixture starting next year. The full-fledged Cronotitano Hill Climb is set to debut in 2027 as a team time trial reserved for MotoGP squads. This year’s September 8 edition will therefore be “The Trailer” — a preview of the future project and, at the same time, an event designed to bring the spectacle of the Grand Prix beyond the circuit and into the heart of the Republic.
The initiative is promoted by the Secretariat of State for Sport, in agreement with the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Misano World Circuit, and with the collaboration of MotoGP. It’s a choice that carries particular weight in 2026, the year in which San Marino holds the title of European Community of Sport.
The format will bring together different worlds united by the same passion for two wheels. Riders, professional cyclists and enthusiasts will all take part in a race against the clock along the streets of Titano, transformed for a few hours into an open-air set. One of the goals is to capture footage and content for the international promotion of MotoGP and its partners, starting with Sky Sport.
Even the route has been designed to put San Marino centre stage. The start will be in Piazza delle Nazioni Unite, continuing along Via Piana and lo Stradone before tackling the most spectacular stretch of the climb through the districts of the historic centre. The finish line will be set in Piazza della Libertà, one of the Republic’s most iconic locations.
And it’s there that the sporting side of the event will give way to the fans. Once filming wraps up, a meet-and-greet with supporters is planned, giving them the chance to get up close with the day’s protagonists. It’s an opportunity designed to bring the atmosphere of MotoGP directly into the streets and squares of Titano, before attention shifts fully to Misano.
The Cronotitano will be just the opening act of a week entirely dedicated to the passion for two wheels. The Grand Prix on September 11, 12 and 13 won’t be confined to the Misano World Circuit alone: events and initiatives will involve both the Riviera and San Marino as part of The Riders’ Land Experience, whose full programme will be unveiled in the coming days.
But the first burst of throttle will come from Titano. With Bezzecchi, Bastianini and the rest of the lineup set to open a week that will once again put the territory at the centre of MotoGP’s international stage.
