One of EF's key signings for 2025 is getting familiar with the new team: "I shared a room with Carapaz, a quiet guy with whom I got along very well"

Vincenzo Albanese has signed a three-year contract with EF Education-EasyPost. The Italian prolific in hilly classics arrives after a season with Arkéa - B&B Hotels. In an interview taken from bici.pro, the 28-year-old rider talks about his move to the American team, how he's adapting to these early days with his new teammates and what lies ahead for him in 2025.

First contact with EF

"We were together for a week. It was the first time I saw my new colleagues, the staff and the whole organizational structure. I'm very happy to have arrived here. It's a big environment, different from what I was used to. It's not that Arkéa was a bad team, but the difference with the top ten teams in the world, like the EF, is noticeable. Even though we haven't cycled much yet, I've already been able to understand how they work. It's another level of detail compared to what I knew."

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Teammates

"I shared a room with Carapaz, a quiet guy with whom I got along very well. Among the Italian riders there's only Battistella and me, but there are several nationalities in the staff, which makes me feel more comfortable compared to being in a team where only French was spoken."

Detailed planning for 2025

"I now know my goals until June: we'll start in Mallorca, then the Belgian semi-classics, San Remo and the Northern Classics. There will be strategic breaks to train and arrive at 100% for the races."

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Change to EF

"Although I was under contract until 2025, the team proposed a transfer. EF showed interest again in October, and we reached an agreement. I thank Arkéa for the space they gave me, it was key to my development. I'm not a champion and I don't expect the team to always be there for me, but I want to take my chances. I also know how to work for others if necessary."

Next steps

"There will be no more meetings in December, which will allow me to train at home. If the weather doesn't cooperate, I'll look for training days in a warmer location, but I'll decide as I go along."

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