The season has already started, yet there's still time for some market moves like that of the Team Laboral Kutxa, which has welcomed Vittoria Ruffilli into its ranks. The cyclist from Novara, born in 2002, was coming from a season with Team Roland, a World Tour team that had to face many problems and forced many athletes to change teams. By now, Vittoria wanted to quit, as she clearly tells us during a long conversation about her difficult year, but also her extreme desire to restart right from today with her debut in Spanish territory.

Just a year ago, we were telling you Vittoria's story and her arrival in the World Tour, a completely new adventure in which she hoped to finally find her path. Her relationship with the bike was never simple, but despite many problems, she never wanted to give up, even when many told her it was too late to start. She came to cycling by chance after many Triathlon races, an encounter that quickly transformed into a great passion that went beyond difficulties; there was the experience with GB Junior Team, then Team K2, and finally Team Roland where she could finally make the big leap. She was still an athlete to be built, as her trainer would tell her, she had to wait and have faith, but just as she was starting to find her rhythm, a fall during the Tour of El Salvador sent her back to square one. She recovered quickly for the Giro Women, raced in Switzerland, in China, but that's where the team began to crumble until the December announcement: there was no longer a major sponsor, those who wanted to stay had to settle for a possible continental team. Many uncertainties, nothing more.

"I'm honest, I had decided to quit. The year with Roland was beautiful, I believed in the project, but I just didn't feel like returning to an uncertain situation, it was time to say goodbye to that dream" Vittoria tells us with her heart on her sleeve. After many projects and especially many sacrifices, the near-total closure of the Roland project meant returning to the starting point with the risk of being left without a team at any moment. It seemed to be truly the end, especially because finding a team in mid-December is not only difficult but practically impossible. Yet precisely during the Christmas period, the most beautiful gift of all arrived. "I couldn't believe it, I had continued training, but I had almost resigned myself, and instead my agent literally managed the impossible. The Laboral team immediately wanted to meet me, wanted to understand what kind of athlete I was and decided to bet on me. Before the team, I believe the meeting with Fabio Perego was crucial. He was truly precious to me, told me not to give up, understood my strengths and really helped me a lot, I must truly thank him," Vittoria explains, who despite the uncertainty never stopped training and wanted to continue dreaming to the end. That contract became a Christmas gift with which she began to restart.

Vittoria Ruffilli's 2026 opened with the new Laboral adventure. The cyclist from Novara left for Spain and integrated into a team that welcomed her with open arms. It wasn't easy to find her place, the team was already built and programs were already set, yet day by day she understood it was the best choice she could make. "In the team, I immediately felt at ease, everything is professional and they follow the athletes very well. I'm effectively experiencing my first real retreat, there's a well-structured staff and they are very open to listening. They immediately gave me the impression of believing not only in me but in all the girls on the team, I think it's fundamental because they motivate us a lot and morale is high. Initially, I was supposed to stay for just a couple of days, but I've been here for over two weeks. There's a great atmosphere, and having many Italians certainly helps. The staff is open, available, and I'm recovering some Spanish I learned in school. There's continuous dialogue that is allowing us to get to know each other," continues Vittoria, who has been able to show off some Spanish studied at school and needs to practice a bit, but she'll have more than enough opportunity here. In Laboral, she reinforces an already large group of Italians - out of 16 athletes on the roster, six are Italian, even more than the Spanish athletes. Among all, Vittoria has formed a special bond with Arianna Fidanza, her first roommate who helped her integrate even more into the group. "Arianna is special," Vittoria adds, "it's hard to explain, but we immediately connected, perhaps because we are very similar characteristically. She showed me how things worked, she was fundamental."

If until recently Vittoria thought about quitting the world of cycling, now she is enjoying her new adventure with a lot of desire to do well. A few months ago, she changed trainers and started a concrete path with Luca Quinti, who not only gives her security but provides the continuity she had never found in Roland. Without fear, she is discovering herself, her limits, but especially her potential. Laboral believes a lot in the cyclist from Novara, who could become fundamental for the stage races group. Meanwhile, she has decided to reset everything, start from zero and take things seriously. Her late 2025 was a bit crazy - from one day to the next, she went from wanting to quit to landing in an excellent team and moreover found herself training with her lifelong idol: Elisa Longo Borghini. "It all happened together during Christmas holidays and I still can't believe it. I met Elisa and Jacopo Mosca on Mottarone, they were going down and I was going up. Then in the afternoon, I posted a story on Instagram and everything started from there. I really dreamed of going out training with her, for me she's an idol, an incredible champion, but I was a bit intimidated to ask her. And instead, she proposed a ride to me. I was pedaling next to her and couldn't believe it. We went out several times, we're in contact, and she's giving me lots of advice about settling into the new team. Beyond being a champion, she's truly a humble athlete, open with everyone, and I'm really happy to have found her in this somewhat complicated moment."

Vittoria Ruffilli's calendar is not yet defined, there are many things to evaluate in the team, but Spain could be an excellent start. The emotion is high, as is the desire to do well. This year will be decisive, Vittoria knows this very well and promises to give her all.