Samuele Battistella's pink turning point has begun. Pink like the ribbon that welcomed Mia's birth, like the jersey of EF Education Easy Post, like the Giro d'Italia that marks his sixth season as a pro.

For the 26-year-old from Rossano Veneto, signing with the Americans tastes like a fresh start, with all the expectations of a cyclist at the peak of his athletic arc. The four years with Astana were a whirlwind of mixed emotions, with all the shades between enthusiasm and bitter disappointments. He arrived in the Kazakh team with a World U23 Champion title (Harrogate in 2019) and immediately made himself respected. In 2021, after a good fourth place at Bernocchi, he won his first and so far only race, the Veneto Classic: a final attack and a triumphant arrival in Bassano del Grappa, where everyone calls him "Samu".

The following year, despite a bad crash at Amstel, he continued to grow: second in a stage at Algarve, third at the Italian championship by Zana, second in two stages at the Vuelta (if he could redo that ill-advised sprint in Cistierna, he'd win it eight times out of ten...). Then, in the second part of his long stay at Astana, something changed, his appearances in final rankings became sparse, his lucky star suddenly eclipsed.

"What happened is that within the team, the person who was my reference and with whom I got along very well, the sports director Giuseppe Martinelli, was set aside, and I wasn't put in conditions to give my best - explains the cyclist from Rossano -. With Beppe, I got along perfectly. I have clear ideas about the races suitable for me and the objectives I can aim for, in the first two years I was listened to and the results showed. Then they started making me do the wrong races, with the wrong teams. In 2024 I realized I needed a new environment and new stimuli, so I didn't hesitate to sign with EF. This is my chance to prove that I can still win, but that I can also be a team player".

At the Giro d'Italia, he won't lack opportunities to prove this. The Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz will be his new captain. Meanwhile, the integration phase in the new team went smoothly: "In the first training camp, I immediately felt at ease, there was a lot of alignment on work methods and objectives. No language problems because I speak English well. I'll start the season with minor races, trying to score some good results before the Giro d'Italia. I'll debut in late January with the Mallorca races, I'll do Strade Bianche, Frankfurt, I'll be reserve at Tirreno-Adriatico, I won't be at Milan-Sanremo. A small stone I'd like to remove is the Italian championship; after the third place in 2022 and the breakaway caught near the end in 2023, I'd like to try again. Actually, I'll seek victory in every race suitable for me, living a bit day by day".

Samuele Battistella is motivated to the max and with his heart in his eyes: just over two months ago, he became Mia's dad. "It's one of those things that change your life, no victory can give such great joy - he states -. Now Mia sets the schedule, we go to bed early, goodbye aperitifs, 100% athlete life. If the joys I hope for come on the bike, it will also be thanks to her".

from Il Giornale di Vicenza