Silvia Persico skips cyclocross season as she prioritizes Olympic Games: "I won't do any cyclocross. I'm training only for the road season"

Silvia Persico is entering a new phase of her cycling career with a new coach and fresh ambitions, with her eyes firmly set on competing at the Olympic Games.

Persico has put a hold on cyclocross racing in the hopes of representing her nation, Italy, at one of the sport's most significant events in Paris. "This year, I won't do any cyclocross. I'm training only for the road season," Persico told Cyclingnews in an interview from her UAE Team ADQ camp in Spain on Friday.

"I'm thinking about the Olympics because it's important just to participate. I'm speaking with the coaches and went to Rome to do some testing. I know the season is long, but I hope I will go; we will see." Italy has secured the maximum of four slots available for the Olympic Games, increasing Persico's chances.

"The level of women's cycling is higher now than a couple of years ago. For example, I had the same watts this year as last year but dropped in position. I could be good at the Giro, but now I'm thinking more toward going for stages. I would like to try to win one stage at the Giro and the Tour," she revealed.