Monica Trinca Colonel is the new name in Italian women's cycling, having turned professional only last year, the Valtellina native from Liv Alula Jayco is taking giant steps in the World Tour. In 2024, these were just preliminary trials, but this time she is proving she has what it takes to go far, driven by an unbridled passion for cycling. Fourth in the overall UAE Tour, narrowly missing a top ten at Strade Bianche, and then a campaign in the Ardennes always riding at the front, almost like a seasoned athlete - truly a super start to the season.

"I'm very happy with the results in the classics, especially because they were a crucial test for the Vuelta. I came directly from altitude training, with the team we spent 18 days in Sierra Nevada doing a great workout above 2000 m, I wanted to understand my condition and I immediately felt good. After a good Brabant Tour, I wanted to do well in the Flèche Wallonne, but unfortunately just before entering the Huy wall I had a gear problem", she tells us. "I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I was struggling to pedal; when I recovered, it was too late. It's really a shame, but I'm not discouraged because I believe these things can happen. In the cycling world, I still consider myself young and I'm taking everything with a smile, with the desire to learn and improve".

What struck us most about Monica was her always being present at the front of the group, agile, ready not to be caught unprepared. On Sunday at Liège, she not only ranked as the best Italian again (as happened in March at Strade Bianche), but she was present at every crucial moment, especially on the Roche aux Faucons and the Boncelles climb. "I believe Liège is a race that suits me, it's over 150 km and I hold up very well on long distances. I didn't start at my best, but towards the end I had great sensations, I always tried to maintain my pace even when the race completely broke apart in the finale. On the last climb, there was tremendous chaos, you couldn't tell who was actually in front and where I was, then suddenly I found myself passing the world champion and that's when I knew I was doing well. Perhaps in these phases I lack a bit of experience, I tend to focus very much on myself and read the race less, but I believe that race after race, familiarity comes. In the end, this was my first time in the classics and I hope to return next year".

It's strange to think that until two years ago, the Valtellina native of the Liv Alula Jayco team only watched races on television, then in 2024 came the experience with Be Pink under Walter Zini, the first to see her potential, and the jump to the world tour. An incredible story that very much resembles that of Kimberley le Court Pienaar, the Liège winner, both in timing and manner. Monica's growth has been exponential, but most importantly, she never let herself be overwhelmed by increased responsibility and entering a much larger reality. The plan with coach Marco Pinotti was not to completely change, but to increase the workload and improve, building herself gradually and adapting her body to the life of a 360-degree athlete. Certainly, the altitude period in April was an important novelty that has already borne fruit, but the most important test is in Spain with the Vuelta. Trinca Colonel will start with the responsibility of being a key piece of the Australian squad. On paper, the plan is clear: all for Mavi Garcia racing at home, but the unpredictability of the race could open up multiple scenarios.

We had already seen Monica dealing with the role of team leader from one day to the next at the UAE Tour in early February, and the Valtellina native had responded firmly to the commitment, concluding the Emirates adventure with a good fourth place overall. This time, however, the game changes, with 7 stages that are even harder, and especially with many squads ready to fight. "Mavi is a super athlete, I immediately got along well with her and I know how much she wants to achieve a great result in Spain. Many times I stop to think about what I'm doing and it all seems really strange, until a few years ago I was watching her on TV and now I'm on the same team with her, ready to support her, but not only that" - the Valtellina native tells us - "the team objective is certainly to race with her, keep her safe and be ready to intervene if something goes wrong. Personally, I would like to try to play for a stage, maybe take a good breakaway or try to attack. Let's say I'll try not to lose too much ground". There's no shortage of terrain to attack, excluding the first team time trial stage and the sixth, almost certainly reserved for sprinters, there are many challenging stages with breathtaking finales, 150 km intense and difficult to interpret - practically the ideal hunting ground for Monica.