Elisa Valtulini is young, determined, and talent is not lacking. From Bergamo, born in 2004, she has already demonstrated this on several occasions, especially last year when she was the best young Italian rider at the Giro d'Italia Women, won the white jersey at the Ponente in Rosa Trophy, the climbers' classification at the Mediterranean Tour (where she finished fifth overall), narrowly missed victory at the Coppa San Daniele behind Monica Trinca Colonel, and won the Italian Time Trial Championship with her Bepink Imatra Bongioanni teammates.

"Last season gave me a lot of confidence. I understood that when I can express myself at my best, I can achieve good results," Elisa tells tuttobiciweb. She then clarifies: "Obviously, I don't yet have the experience to compete with the top riders, but with commitment, I can be up front and have my say".

Joining Walter Zini's team was crucial for this step forward: "With Bepink, I started participating in races at a different level compared to the previous year. I found a true team where I could learn a lot about team dynamics".

Elisa is extremely aware that the road ahead is still long, and she repeats this several times: "Slowly, without rushing, one grows. I want to improve continuously, season after season".

The twenty-year-old from Bolgare also dreams of the blue jersey. "I would very much like to participate in the World Championships. This year's edition will be special, as for the first time there will be a U23 event, and the course is quite challenging. We'll see if I can catch the national coach's attention to be selected," says Valtulini, who last year was part of the Italian team at the Tour de l'Avenir Femmes (finishing 20th) and raced in the blue jersey at the 2022 European Championships as a Junior.

The season has just begun, and Elisa will certainly make herself noticed. She has already been seen competing in important races like UAE Tour Women (where she finished in the top 10 of the young riders' classification), Strade Bianche, Trofeo Binda di Cittiglio, Milan – San Remo, and is continuing her spring in Flanders, where on Wednesday she raced the Dwars door Vlaanderen, finishing forty-first, and on Sunday, most likely, we'll see her at the Ronde.