Davide De Pretto's first season as a professional was incredible, a 2024 lived with the desire to prove he belongs in the World Tour and to repeatedly confirm that the talented young rider seen in the junior categories can make his mark in the top tier of cycling. He achieved a victory in Austria and numerous placings that pushed him to improve further and truly dream big, perhaps even aiming to start a major stage race.

The new season began in Spain and then in Oman, where Davide once again did his preliminary tests, now feeling completely at ease with the big names in the peloton. "I started last season full throttle, it was my first year and I wanted to understand my potential, but then the victory came and it was all beautiful, it gave me the energy, the right push to work even better and set more and more goals," De Pretto explains to tuttobiciweb. "This year I decided to start the season with a bit more tranquility. Between March and April, I have some important races and I want to be ready. In Oman, I found my good pedaling rhythm, I nearly made the top ten in the Muscat classic, and in the other stages, I put myself at the disposal of my teammates, and we managed to achieve a nice fourth place with Engelhardt in the second stage."

In Jayco Alula, he is growing at the right pace and with the right space, also thanks to his coach Marco Pinotti, an example of true cycling and someone who never leaves anything to chance. "Marco is a great point of reference for me, even though we have very different characteristics. I'm following many of his advice, and I believe I couldn't have chosen a better coach. I spent a calm winter alternating between bike and gym, trying to improve a bit in everything, like climbing and sprinting. Last year I realized there was always something missing, I was making good placings but not reaching the result. I hope this year to make a level jump. I want to be ready for the classics and finally do a great Grand Tour," Davide explains, laughing while also telling us about the biggest change of all: the leap into an international team where very little Italian is spoken and where he had to grow up all at once. Since 2022, when he first transitioned to the Australian team as a stagiaire, he had immediately found a good reference point in Alessandro De Marchi, with whom he often shared a room, compared notes, and from whom Davide tried to learn as much as possible.

Davide is learning a lot and gradually discovering what he wants to become. Last year he rode the Milan-Sanremo, a race he immediately loved and enjoyed, hoping to return this time to try to play his cards and find his place. The Veneto athlete has a good turn of speed and can make a difference in small groups, meanwhile improving his climbing to adapt to different terrains with one-day races in his sights. After the Omani stint, De Pretto's season will resume from Laigueglia and the Italian calendar, Basque Country, Tour of the Alps, and then the biggest goal of 2025: trying to be at the Giro. "I would like to prove to the team that I'm ready for a three-week stage race, I really hope to participate in the Giro soon this year, but if it doesn't happen, no problem, I'll aim for the Vuelta. I want to grow, I want to have new experiences and overcome my limits."