Luca Vergallito is the first licensed rider of the Professional Cycling League for 2025, a Milan-based climber with Alpecin-Deceuninck, who thus secures this primacy, beating Antonio Polga of Team Novo Nordisk by a few hours.
A primacy we hope will be a harbinger of a season full of satisfaction for the two Lombard athletes.
The "record-holder" Vergallito, born on September 14, 1997, has a slender climber's physique with his 190 cm height and 67 kg race weight. In the 2024 season, the rider distinguished himself with a 9th place in the 13th stage of the Vuelta a España, from Lugo to Puerto de Ancares. During the Iberian stage race, he worked profitably for his team captains, confirming himself as a substantial team player.
While waiting for the official numbers for 2025, we can recall some significant statistics from the past season:
- 120 Italian professional cyclists, of which 53 licensed with WorldTour teams and 67 with Professional teams.
- 176 Italian athletes raced with Continental teams.
The future of Italian professional cycling is also built with new talents: at the recent course for neo-professionals held in Milan, 24 young riders participated, including three girls destined for WorldTour teams: Monica Trinca Colonel, Sara Fiorin, and Carlotta Cipressi.
In Italian women's cycling, the 2024 numbers count:
- 33 Italian athletes licensed in WorldTour teams.
- 94 athletes in Continental teams.