Until yesterday he was the kid in the group, now he's the one to bet on. In his first year in the World Tour, Giulio Pellizzari finished sixth in the overall standings of both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, learned that life can test you much more than a steep climb, and that the secret to achieving goals is working hard without overdoing it. The 22-year-old from Marche region of Red Bull Bora Hansgrohe is the first cover face of the year, chosen by tuttoBICI to wish us a season with light legs and a smile on our lips.
Pelli is the future advancing, but in 2026 he wants to "explode" by becoming a brilliant present for Italian cycling, not just in stage races.

Together with Jai Hindley, who won the pink jersey in 2022, Giulio will be the designated captain for the Giro d'Italia of the German team, which will field Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz at the Tour de France and Primoz Roglic at the Vuelta, who will attempt to assault his fifth success in the Spanish race.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and so our most promising talent in three-week races has perfected his position on the bike, increased training days on the time trial bike, and scheduled a long period at altitude. In this just-begun year, improving isn't enough, and he sets no limits: he wants victories and happiness. The future is now.

Happy New Year Giulio!
"Thank you, to you and all readers, I wish a peaceful and happy year. 2025 flew by. Winning the 17th stage of the Vuelta with a finish at Alto de El Morredero was special, it wasn't just the best day of last season, but the best day since I've been cycling, but that's already passed. It's time to think about the present and the goals of 2026".

How is the preparation going?
"Well, in November I stayed active with two weeks of cross-country skiing in Livigno and from December 10th to 20th I was with the team in Palma de Mallorca. I reached the retreat three days later than planned because, after returning from the mountains, I caught the flu and resumed training calmly because the season will be long. After the holidays between my house in San Marino and my family home in Camerino, on January 8th I went up to Teide for three weeks. I'll come down from altitude and head directly to Valencia where I'll pin on my first number of the year on February 4th".

Have you gotten to know Remco Evenepoel better?
"In December we were on retreat together, but for most days I trained alone because, recovering from a seasonal ailment, I wasn't ready to be pushed to my limits. Followed by my trainer Sylwester Szmyd (former Polish pro, active in the top category from 2002 to 2016 with jerseys of Mercatone Uno, Saeco, Lampre, Liquigas, Movistar and CCC, ed.), we opted for a softer start. With Remco, we'll both start the year at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, so we'll have a chance to spend time together".

What can you learn from the two-time Olympic champion?
"Saying he has a winning mentality is reductive, I'll observe and take example. Last year I raced with Roglic from whom I learned as much as possible, but also from Jay Hindley at the Vuelta I learned quite a few lessons. The advice I received I keep to myself. I'm very close to the Italian teammates, I'm sorry Matteo Sobrero changed teams, but I'm happy that Mattia Cattaneo arrived. I get along well with Giovanni Aleotti and Gianni Moscon, but also with Maxim Van Gils, Jordi Meeus and the already mentioned Jay and Primoz. I have a good relationship with everyone and my English is getting a bit better".

Do you feel the pressure growing around you?
"Expectations increase but I receive a lot of support from the team, which believes in me and is trying to protect me. Not by chance, they will field me in important races with other leaders who will take the larger slice of expectations. For now, I feel calm even though I know that as I grow, more will be asked of me. Year after year, I'm taking everything with more philosophy and maturity. At the December retreat, I would have been eager to show off my skills, now, not being at 100%, I didn't let myself be carried away by the instinct of the young who can't wait".

On your socials at the end of the off-season, you wrote 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. Are you already thinking about Rome?
"In Bulgaria, better to start from there (jokes, ed). The Giro d'Italia is still far away, but I think about it and want to work best to be ready. This winter, for the first time, I was in California to perfect my position on the bike in the Specialized wind tunnel: the Giro project starts from the 40 completely flat kilometers we'll encounter and where we'll need to go fast. I like time trials but so far I had never prepared them so specifically. I'm using the more aerodynamic bike more and with my teammates in training we're trying the team time trial".

From the good signals obtained, what do you expect for your growth?
"Honestly, this year I would like to explode. I'm not saying it bothers me to think about tomorrow, but I want the future to become the present this year. Besides the Giro, in the calendar I've circled in red Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, which this time passes really close to home. I would like to go strong in both these races and then try to win the Tour of the Alps, one of my favorite races. Between Trentino, Alto Adige, and Tyrol, I've always done well".

Pressures are increasing, but do you continue to have fun?
"Yes, for now yes. It's been a while since I left football at 7 years old for the bike. The first race was as a G2 with the Velo Club Montecassiano jersey, riding a small red Atala, a gift I received for my eighth birthday. I still have it. I consider myself a lucky guy who is realizing his childhood dream. In some moments, fatigue is felt more, but I appreciate every moment, because the professional athlete's career seems long but actually passes quickly, so you have to enjoy it. Life off the bike is harder".

What sacrifice weighs on you the most?
"Being away from home for so long. For the rest, my first year in the World Tour taught me that if you do the life you have to do and at the same time have fun, results come sooner or later, without stress. You shouldn't 'finish yourself' or have obsessions. As soon as I wake up, I have the habit of weighing myself, before going to bed of setting the alarm. I love sleeping, fortunately in cycling rest is important".

2025 was a year full of sporting satisfaction, but also extremely tough personally. What did it leave you?
"Every year you learn, grow, understand a bit about life. Even the hardest to accept are lessons to hold tight for the future. At the loss of Stefano Casagranda (former professional cyclist who passed away at only 52 years old on October 1st last year, ed), my girlfriend Andrea's father, we thought we were prepared because unfortunately we knew the moment he would leave us would inevitably arrive, but the pain weighed more than expected. Both Andrea and I raced the Giro dell'Emilia the day after saying goodbye to him for the last time, and it wasn't easy at all. At the subsequent Tre Valli Varesine and Lombardy, I was neither in legs nor in head".

How difficult is it to be performant when things aren't going well at home?
"Body and mind contribute to performance 50-50, being serene outside of work is fundamental. Andrea races for BePink, we met on a cyclists' vacation in Egypt just over three years ago. When her father was sick, she struggled to train, it's normal. The end of last season was heavy, the vacation in California gave us a bit of breath, and returning home we went back to work with a slightly lighter heart. If I do well, it's because I'm serene with her and have no distractions, I don't need to look for anything else".

Are you a believer?
"Yes, in fact, I'm convinced that Stefano is still with us. I want to remember him happy and surrounded by his loved ones as he was on the occasion of the party organized by a friend from New York, just a few days before he left us. No one was missing. His son Niccolò was there, returned from Rome to Borgo Valsugana, friends from everywhere, and all those who loved him. I saw him happy and had the feeling that with that cheerful reunion he wanted to say goodbye to us".

Who are your guardian angels?
"There are many people I'm grateful to for getting this far, starting with my closest family members. Mom Francesca, who works as a teacher; dad Achille, a policeman of Venetian origin who transmitted my passion for two wheels; my two older siblings Gabriele and Giorgia, who are 26 and 25 years old. From above, two people in particular watch my back. My maternal grandfather Mario, who was by my side until I was 14, and Giorgio, my paternal grandfather whom I unfortunately never knew because he died in 2001 (Giulio was born in San Severino Marche, in the province of Macerata, on November 21, 2003, ed). He was such a cycling fanatic that grandma Clara always says that if he had seen me now racing among professionals, he would have gone crazy".

January is the month of good intentions, what are yours?
"To go fast on the bike and be serene. If you're healthy and happy, you eventually reach the set goals. Maybe bad luck slows down the path a bit, but in the end, you arrive where you want to arrive. A year ago in January, I would have signed to get a sixth place in the Giro and Vuelta overall, now I want something more. I want to grow and get the most possible, without setting limits".

from tuttoBICI January issue