“I was supposed to go back... I had ambitions” - Groupama prospect left frustrated as late change denies expected Giro d’Italia return in contract year

Enzo Paleni’s planned return to the Giro d’Italia has been abruptly taken off the table, with late internal changes at Groupama - FDJ United forcing the Frenchman to rethink both his immediate goals and the direction of a crucial season.

The 23-year-old had been building towards a third consecutive appearance at the Italian Grand Tour, using the Tour of the Basque Country as a step in that progression. Instead, that pathway has been closed.

“I was supposed to go back, but there have been changes within the team and I won’t be there,” he said in conversation with DirectVelo.

“I had ambitions for the Giro because over the past two years I came close to winning stages, and I wanted to try again this time and perform well there,” added Paleni, who finished 4th on stage 5 of the 2024 Giro d'Italia, his best ever Grand Tour result.

Paleni’s frustration is rooted in more than selection alone. Across his previous appearances at the Giro, he had begun to carve out a clear role within the race, repeatedly inserting himself into the day’s decisive moves.

Seven breakaways across two editions underlined both his intent and his growing influence, with a fourth place on a stage finish in Becca standing as the closest he has come to converting that aggression into a result.

For a rider still chasing a first major professional victory, the Giro offered a platform that aligned with his strengths. That opportunity is now gone. “That’s how it is, it’s a team decision. I have to refocus on other goals.”

The timing of that decision sharpens its impact. Paleni is in the final year of his current deal, making 2026 a defining campaign in determining his future within the Groupama structure.

Now in his fourth season at WorldTour level and sixth within the wider setup, he has established himself as a reliable presence, but not one insulated from selection calls or long-term uncertainty. “Of course, you have to improve every year, otherwise you quickly fall behind. That’s what I’m trying to do — keep progressing from race to race.”

That progression has not come through sudden breakthroughs, but through steady development. It is a trajectory Paleni recognises, even as he measures himself against the sport’s fastest-rising names.

“When you’re at this level, you always aim for more and to be among the top riders, but you also have to be aware of your current level and work within that. I’ve had steady, consistent progression year after year, without making huge leaps like some riders. I’ll keep going like this, and yes, it might take more time than for others, but I’m making sure I improve each year, and that’s happening. We’ll see how far it takes me.”

Without the Giro d’Italia, Paleni’s season will pivot towards a different set of targets in the weeks ahead, with opportunities expected to come in smaller races, particularly on home roads.

Those races may lack the scale of a Grand Tour, but they offer something just as important in his current position: the chance to be seen, to shape outcomes, and to continue building a case in a year where every performance carries added significance.

The route to progress may have shifted, but the objective remains unchanged.