Samuele won last year in Villa di Villa (Treviso) and became U23 World champion five months later: “Giro del Belvedere’s victory gave me awareness of my skills”

A bridge to the pro’ world is how NTT Pro Cycling‘s prospect Samuele Battistella describes Giro del Belvedere that he claimed last year in Villa di Villa (Treviso). Scheduled for Monday, April 13th, 2020, on Easter Monday as usual, the race is one of the most important events of the U23 international calendar and a perfect launching pad for the young talents.

The course resembles the major one-day classics in so far as it is open to any outcome. In the early part the crowded “Conche” hill excites the riders while Montaner and Via delle Longhe ascents are usually the perfect set for the favorites’ breakaways.

Just in that place, Battistella managed last year to distance his opponents along Giovanni Aleotti and eventually outsprinted him in the final stretch, an unforgettable memory for the 21-year-old from Rossano Veneto (Vicenza): “The great multitude along the roads, from the start to the finish is what I kept in my heart of that day – Samuele explained -, it’s not often in the U23 races. I was focused on that race since the beginning of the year as one of the seasonal highlights. I always considered Giro del Belvedere a home race as it takes place not far from where I live, since I was a junior I have raced over there many times. That’s why I just really wanted to win the race that I consider a perfect launchpad to succeed as a pro’ ”

Battistella’s path towards the U23 World Championships title in Yorkshire and his first contract as a professional started that day.”The extensive competition has always been Giro del Belvedere’s landmark because of the huge international field with a number of Continental teams that undoubtedly raised the bar. Winning there gives you self-confidence and the awareness to compete at the highest level. My whole season including the Worlds in Yorkshire have benefited as I trusted in my skills much more”, NTT Pro Cycling rider argued.

This year Battistella will be competing among the professionals, while 2019 runner-up Giovanni Aleotti will be again in the action to take home the 82nd Giro del Belvedere. “Aleotti is the main favorite of 2020 edition. I faced him very often last year, he was very strong also at the Tour de l’Avenir. As 2020 will be his second season in the U23 category, I expect him to clinch many victories: he is definitely the man to beat at Giro del Belvedere”.