Since racing in youth categories with the Team Di Federico jersey, Eleonora Ciabocco has demonstrated her value. Talent, determination, and dedication have allowed her to pursue a path that brought the Marche cyclist first to the tuttoBICI Awards stage (winning in the Esordienti category in 2018, Allieve in 2020, and Junior in 2022) and then to the highest category of women's cycling: in 2023, she joined the Team DSM Firmenich, now Picnic PostNL.

That growth path has continued, as Eleonora demonstrated in the 2025 season that began in January in Australia with winning the young rider classification at the Santos Tour Down Under, continued with the white jersey at the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana, the Under 23 Italian national jersey won in Darfo Boario Terme, fourth place in the world championship in Rwanda, and concluded with the silver medal at the European Championships in early October in France.

"I'm satisfied with my performance in the past season, it was a positive year where I feel I've improved. There were some rough edges, but overall I think I deserve a seven out of ten," Eleonora tells us, reviewing the past months.

Then, going into detail, she explains she's particularly happy with her Spring: "At the Flèche Wallonne, I managed to stay at the front on the Mur de Huy, and at the Vuelta España Femenina, which I had prepared at altitude to support my teammate Nienke Vinke, I had much better sensations than I would have imagined."

In Eleonora's heart is also the "Italian Saturday" in Darfo Boario Terme: "It was truly a special day. The Under 23 national jersey was a goal, but being on the absolute podium with Longo Borghini and Trinca Colonel was something very particular that I never would have imagined," she states.

After being involved in official competitions for fifty days, the 21-year-old from Macerata took some relaxation, going on vacation to Egypt and more. "The period between one season and another I also dedicate to studying, I'm attending the Veterinary Sciences faculty in Camerino and, before leaving with Picnic PostNL for the training camp in Calpe, I took an important exam," she tells us.

During the training camp in Spain, the talented athlete returned to pedaling with her teammates, many of whom are "new entries". "The team has been significantly renewed, I noticed a lot of positivity and a great atmosphere," Eleonora says, who during the training camp met with the team's technical staff to start planning the season. Unlike in 2025, this year Ciabocco won't race in Australia, but her debut should be at the UAE Tour, followed by several races in Italy.

"One of this year's goals will be to test myself again in stage races, with an approach similar to 2025. I'm aware it will be challenging, but the team believes in me and we'll work together to take a step forward."

Her desire to continue her journey is evident in what Eleonora reveals at the end of our conversation: "I hope to have an important 2026, I'm preparing myself physically and mentally to ensure that happens."

from tuttoBICI January issue