Italian sprinter who outsprinted Tom Pidcock at the Tour of the Alps moves up to the World Tour in 2026
Cycling
Italy has lots of bright riders on the up-and-coming, and in the 2027 season two more will join the World Tour ranks. Giovanni Lonardi and Tommaso Dati, two of the best sprinters who don't currently race in cycling's first division, have been confirmed to be on the move.
“We have been following Tommaso Dati with great interest, and his progress over the past few seasons has been impressive," team manager Alexandr Vinokourov said in a press release. XDS Astana Team pulled off a big move to sign the young sprinter who had been heavily linked to Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team earlier this summer.
The Swiss team was interesting in signing the Italian, specially after Dati outsprinted Tom Pidcock on the first stage of the Tour of the Alps. At the age of 23, Dati is one of Italy's fastest-growing sprinters, having only turned pro in 2024 and currently still racing at Continental level with the Italian-Japanese Team UKYO.
"First, he achieved excellent results at national level, then at Continental level, and even in professional races. His move to the WorldTour is a completely logical step, and I am happy that it will happen with our team," Vinokourov added.
Not only had Dati won at the Tour of the Alps, but he is also the reigning Mediterranean champion, and has taken a total of seven wins this year - although not all count as UCI professional wins. Dati won three stages at the Tour of Japan including the initial prologue; as well as the overall classification at the Korean Tour de Gyeongnam.
"I think we can be proud of the results, and the progress XDS Astana Team has made over the past two seasons. If last year we were one of the surprises of the WorldTour, this season we have established ourselves among the leading teams, both in the UCI World Ranking and in terms of results".
"Alongside our focus on experience, we are also paying a great deal of attention to young riders and their development, and, as we can see, all of this is translating into significant achievements. Of course, the support of our sponsors plays an essential role in this, especially Samruk-Kazyna and the SportQory Sports Support Fund, and we never tire of thanking them”.
Tommaso Dati beat Tom Pidcock earlier this year at the Tour of the Alps
Tommaso Dati expands Astana's Italian block
Dati is Astana's fifth confirmed signing, following his compatriots Andrea Bagioli and Matteo Scalco; as well as TotalEnergies' Anthony Turgis and Nicolas Breuillard.
“For me, moving to the professional level, and especially to the WorldTour, is a dream becoming reality," Dati added. "I think it is fair to say that my real career is only beginning with this move to the WorldTour. I am very happy to take this step with XDS Astana Team. It was important for me to see the team’s interest, and to feel their support and trust".
"I am confident that I have made the right choice. I believe XDS Astana Team is an ideal fit for riders with my style, with a strong focus on both sprinting and one-day races. The team is making serious progress, and that is exciting. I feel that I will have every opportunity to grow together with the team. I will do everything I can to repay the trust with strong results”.
Giovanni Lonardi rewarded with a move to Groupama - FDJ
Groupama - FDJ have, this morning, also announced the signing of Giovanni Lonardi. Over the past few years, the French team has struggled to achieve the same level as in previous years, and has space to support sprinters in its roster.
Lonardi, 29, is making his debut in the World Tour as a 30-year old next year after many years spent in the Italian ProTeam scene. Having turned pro in 2019 with the Nippo Vini Fantini Team, he has also ridden for Bardiani and has joined Team Polti Kometa back in 2022 where he has evolved as one of the most consistent sprinters in the sport's second division.
Not only have his results been consistent, but the Verona-native has also taken victories at races such as the Tour of Turkey and Arctic Race of Norway, often racing against World Tour competition. He was second on the final sprint stage to Rome this year at the Giro d'Italia, only behind compatriot Jonathan Milan. He is Polti's second-best UCI points scorer this year, with almost 700 - which means he may help the French team's aim to retain their World Tour license in the coming years.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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