Tradition remains untouched, but the regulations can, and the Sartiglia will bring with it a major change in 2026. For the first time, the January selections will not only serve to narrow down the number of teams beyond the 40 admitted, but will also become a true test of prowess: each rider must achieve at least a passing grade to earn a place on the Via Mazzini track . A revolution, in short, that comes after years of discussion and some grumbling from the public, often left with a bitter taste in their mouths over editions deemed somewhat lackluster.
At the last meeting of the Knights' Association, three options were on the table: maintaining the old system, introducing a single "one-time" pass to qualify, or adopting the double-chance formula. The latter won by an overwhelming majority. This option aims to reward those who arrive prepared, but still grants a second try to those who don't meet the minimum score on the first go-around.
The mechanism is simple but rigid: the first pass remains crucial, because those who immediately pass cannot be overtaken by those who recover in the second. And what if everyone passes? Little changes: the two teams (there are 126 entrants for the next edition) with the lowest scores will still be eliminated. Conversely, those who fail to pass even on their second attempt are out of the race.
The goal is clear: to raise the bar and ensure a show worthy of the grandstands, where the audience pays and demands genuine excitement. The Sartiglia remains true to its soul, but demands its protagonists to live up to the magic the ritual imposes.
