The Tour of Oman marks the start of the season for many riders, including Vincenzo Albanese, who will face this race for the first time in his career. For a rider with his quick burst and good climbing ability, there could be an opportunity to secure a good placement or even make a mark. The race's geography, with its many ups and downs, is excellent for the Campanian rider who will have the chance to test himself.

In modern cycling, while teams typically fill December and January, the EF Education team's choice has an atypical flavor and allows its athletes to train freely without needing to travel far from home. Vincenzo spent two weeks on Mount Etna and flew away before bad weather arrived. "As a team, we're not used to big training camps. In January, part of the team went to Girona, but I preferred to spend more time at home and train alone on Etna. Seasons are getting longer, we're away for many months each year with no moment to breathe, and I'm happy that EF Education lets us make the most suitable choice for ourselves. We only meet for medical checks and official photos, then everyone can train where they want while following the training plan. They have a very open, American-style mentality, and I feel very comfortable."

Looking at the last two seasons of the Campanian athlete, there's no doubt that joining EF Education brought a decisive level jump, not just in terms of the team but especially in performance. Vincenzo has been more motivated and found his place in a well-oiled system where the goal is crystal clear: to win. "At Arkea, it wasn't easy to adapt, not so much because of the language but the type of mentality they had. In the team, everyone had complete carte blanche, everyone did what they wanted, there was no real structure, and we definitely had far fewer races available. At EF, it's completely different - everyone has their role, we race to win, we have a clear objective, whether you're a team leader or supporting someone else. I'm 30 years old, I know what kind of rider I am and can't reinvent myself as a champion, but I believe I've made a leap forward. I raced my first Tour, won a race, and I'm truly very happy."

Last year, Albanese had the opportunity to race the Tour in a completely atypical role for him, supporting Ben Healy. The experience is something he holds dear - the emotion of the Grand Boucle, but especially having a yellow jersey in the team and focusing all energy on trying to defend it and achieve a good result with his team leader.

This year, Albanese has no grand tours planned. His program doesn't include any, and his season is primarily focused on one-day races with the clear objective of bringing points. "The team doesn't want to waste time and prefers to get ahead with points - unfortunately, that's what matters most in cycling now. I'll do mostly single races, some short stage races like Paris-Nice, and I'll also race Milan-Sanremo. My big seasonal goal is to do well in a classic, particularly reaching good form around March and December and playing my cards. Oman will be a good test, it's my first race and I want to understand my fitness level. I'm not here to chase victory at all costs, but I'll try to exploit every opportunity available," explains Albanese, who wants to be in top form in March. It's not easy for a hybrid rider like him to fit into a defined category - good at climbing, good at sprinting, but certainly an athlete capable of surprising the group and scoring.

Looking at the characteristics of the Omani course, there's room for Albanese to test his form and potentially surprise the group, starting today with the unpredictable Muscat Classic. The last edition ended in a sprint, but it's not certain the group will remain compact until the final straight - he might just bring the first Italian victory.