"Please, give that boy a pro contract as soon as possible" - Red Bull teenager compared to Peter Sagan as he continues breakthrough year
CyclingMonday, 07 September 2026 at 16:15
Red Bull - BORA Hansgrohe have one of the world's most exciting sprint prospects on their hands in Alessio Magagnotti. The 19-year-old Italian, part of their Red Bull Rookies development team, has enjoyed a breakthrough season.
With victories in the Tour de Bretagne with the development team and more recently a Deutchland Tour win, Magagnotti has represented the WorldTour team on several occasions this season as he continues his development.
Most recently racing the ZLM Tour, Magagnotti has been under the tutelage of sports director Sylwester Szmyd and worked closely with the team's experienced sprint and lead-out specialist Danny van Poppel.
When Szmyd witnessed Maganotti outperform some of the outfit's WorldTour riders, he urged the team to tie up the youngster as a key future prospect.
“I planned a few sprint sessions with the fast men and followed them on the scooter," Szmyd told Wielerflits.
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
Red Bull immediately realise teenager's talent
"Alessio beat them all. I saw him riding and immediately told management: please, give that boy a pro contract as soon as possible.
"Often you see someone who rides very good sprint values, but you have to give him time. With Alessio, it was clear that he is a bundle of talent and that we certainly shouldn't wait for the outside world to see that. Fortunately, they listened too."
The talented Italian has been likened to Peter Sagan, not specifically in terms of his race strength, but more in his skill and ability to make his bikehandling and positioning seem effortless.
“Not just his sprinting qualities. Also how smoothly he rides the bike. Compare it to the young Peter Sagan. Not necessarily in terms of physical qualities, but rather how he can glide through a peloton, as it were, and approach life without stress. That is a pleasure to watch.”
Language barrier is something both rider and team are working on, as he improves his English to better help in team tactics conversations: “When I spoke to him for the first time in December, he couldn't speak a word of English,” Szmyd said.
Language barrier and taking lessons in his stride
“That is one of the reasons why they let me coach him. But he has improved significantly in that regard. He still doesn't understand everything on the race radio, but we are on the right track.”
Van Poppel has been impressed by the teenager's calm demeanour and ability to take lessons and setbacks in his stride, noting a mixed week at the ZLM Tour.
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“Actually, it’s a bit anti-Italian how calm he is and remains. But I think that’s exactly what I like. He is very relaxed and he’s fine with everything.
"He takes it as it comes. Does he lose a sprint, like in the ZLM Tour? That’s all okay with him. He certainly wants to win, but he stays calm about it. I think he’s a good guy.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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