Elia Viviani not done yet? Italian sprinter eyes 100 career wins after Turkey triumph: “I still enjoy being a pro cyclist very much”

Elia Viviani’s career is far from finished. The veteran Italian sprinter may be 36 years old, but he’s riding with renewed purpose, and his eyes firmly set on one more major milestone: 100 professional victories.

At the Tour of Turkey, Viviani took a crucial step toward that target, sprinting to victory on Stage 7 to claim the 90th win of his illustrious career. It was his first win in 18 months and a powerful reminder that he still belongs in the high-speed chaos of the bunch sprint.

"It was a chaotic final because the lead-out train of André Greipel crashed in the last corner, one guy attacked and I followed him," Viviani told Cycling News after the finish.

The victory is all the more significant given the challenges Viviani faced over the winter. After the end of his three-year contract with INEOS Grenadiers, he found himself without a team.

“I was without a team this winter, it was not normal for me,” he said. "Aged 36, it was not easy. I always said I wanted to do one more year, maybe two if I’m still competitive and today I showed that I am. Firstly I have to thank Lotto and the manager Stéphane Heulot for giving me this chance. There were only one-day races on my programme and I told the team I really needed a stage race to get into the rhythm."

That rhythm came at the Tour of Turkey, a race Viviani has a soft spot for, "They proposed the Tour of Turkey and I have a very special feeling with this race. The organisation is good, riders are treated well with nice hotels and nice places on the seaside, I always enjoy being here."

Despite ongoing discussions about his post-racing career, Viviani made it clear he’s not yet ready to hang up the wheels.

"Nothing is set for my future as a coach, otherwise you wouldn’t see me here on a bike," he said. “I still enjoy waking up at home, doing the sacrifices you have to make as a pro rider. It’s even harder for a sprinter if you don’t win races. I know that at 36 years old, the body doesn’t respond anymore like when I was 20. But I still enjoy being a pro cyclist very much."

Viviani also sees himself as more than just a race winner. He’s embraced a mentorship role within the youthful Lotto Dstny team, hoping to guide the next generation of riders through a sport that’s increasingly demanding.

“I joined Lotto because they’re really young and they need some references in the team and I’m here also to win races. In modern cycling, we burn a lot of young riders because there aren’t steps anymore. They jumped to the pro ranks and they pretend to be winners and leaders."

"I still believe there are some special guys, the names everyone knows confirm that, they turn pro very young and they win Tour de France and all the biggest races in the world… But unluckily, not all the riders are like that."

"The biggest part of the peloton still needs to grow step by step. This is what I want the young riders to know. My message to them is: don’t miss some steps, do some smaller races as well."