An emotional ceremony marked the start of the 2025 Giro di Lombardia in Como, where the peloton paid tribute to the riders who competed in their last professional race in the Classica delle Foglie Morte.

Rafał Majka (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Pieter Serry (Soudal-QuickStep), Salvatore Puccio (Ineos Grenadiers), Simone Petilli and Louis Meintjes (both Intermarché-Wanty) were honoured by the organisers with sashes and leaf wreaths on the signature podium, in a touching ceremony during the start operations.

The peloton formed the traditional tunnel of bicycles, through which the veterans filed before starting their final professional race. Despite the celebratory moment, the riders still have important work to do: Majka will try to help teammate Tadej Pogačar win a historic fifth consecutive Giro d'Italia, while Serry is part of the Soudal-QuickStep team, which is banking on Remco Evenepoel to challenge the undefeated world champion.

Majka concludes a brilliant career that began in 2011, during which he became one of the most respected and successful domestiques in the peloton, playing a key role in many of Pogačar's successes. Serry also debuted in 2011 and dedicated his career to teamwork, finishing without individual victories but contributing to numerous Soudal-QuickStep triumphs.

For Puccio, it's a farewell on home soil, albeit far from his native Sicily, while Louis Meintjes, who had not yet officially announced his retirement, confirmed that this will be his final race after a long career as one of Africa's leading riders. The youngest of the retirements is Simone Petilli, who at just 32 years old has decided to hang up his bike after achieving his cycling goals, including five appearances in the Giro d'Italia.