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.

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"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.

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CyclingUpToDate Rating 2023 | INEOS Grenadiers: 6.56