“There are riders who, whatever happens, never lose or get dropped, not even when they crash” - Matteo Trentin ready for the Spring Classics

Matteo Trentin is back in Belgium. For the fifteenth time as a professional, the Italian tackles the Northern Classics campaign after travelling from Munich, where temperatures hovered around 20 degrees, to a very different scene in Harelbeke, with forecasts of just 11 degrees for the E3 Saxo Classic.

The rider admits the first-time butterflies are gone, though he still cherishes these races. Jokingly, he says he prefers good weather and leaves the epic images in rain and mud to the youngsters. Either way, he arrives ready, backed by his third place at Kuurne - Bruxelles – Kuurne and ninth at Milano–Sanremo.

Trentin is pleased with his condition, but stays grounded given the current high level. “I’m certainly not unhappy, but I’m keeping my feet on the ground. Right now there are riders who, whatever happens, never lose or get dropped, not even when they crash. To stay with them you need a special day.”

The Italian stresses that racing at that level also means measuring your efforts. “It’s not impossible, you never start thinking you have no chance, but you must know when to ease off. We’ve seen many riders blow up trying to follow them.”

The presence of big names is decisive in these races. Trentin draws a parallel with other eras. “To win you have to race the races, otherwise only they would turn up. Before, Sagan was taking the green jersey at the Tour again and again. Now it’s riders like Van der Poel or Pogacar who are making history.”

In that vein, he believes his generation will remember competing against figures such as Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar, and he even adds Wout van Aert if injuries hadn’t halted him at key moments.

Asked to name a favourite race, Trentin refuses to pick just one. He feels each event has its own identity, though he highlights Harelbeke as a kind of “mini Flanders” that is a touch more open.

He also points to the uncertainty at Gent–Wevelgem, especially with the wind, and notes that this year’s route brings tweaks that could change the usual script. “The finish is the same, but the start changes. There will be new roads and fewer reference points, so it will be an unknown for everyone.”

Within Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Trentin will lead the classics squad, although the team has faced significant setbacks. The absence of Stefan Küng since the opening race has affected the structure. Even so, he will have support from riders like Pluimers and Luca Mozzato, runner-up at Kuurne and recently fifth at the Ronde van Brugge.

Reviewing his career, Trentin reflects on leaving Quick-Step after his first major results. He believes his progression has been positive, despite the team’s own changes over the years.

He recalls stints with other squads where he achieved strong results, though he concedes that in teams with marquee leaders like Pogacar, collective work often eclipses individual achievements. On the state of Italian cycling in the classics, Trentin finds it hard to single out a clear standard-bearer.

He mentions Alberto Bettiol, a Tour of Flanders winner, albeit without consistent follow-up results, and also Filippo Ganna, whom he sees with potential if he fully commits to these races. “He has the level, but he must decide if he truly likes these races, because they are very demanding mentally. Without motivation, they feel even tougher.”

After 15 years in the peloton, Trentin feels he no longer needs long Belgian blocks to prepare. “Bikes have improved a lot and are more stable on the pavé. I’d recommend a neo-pro to stay longer, but I already know these roads better than many locals.”

In fact, he says that, after his home region and Munich, the area he knows best is around Kortrijk, Ghent, Oudenaarde, and Ronse.

Despite a demanding calendar, the Italian also values balance with family life. With the Tour of Flanders followed by Easter Monday, Trentin admits that heading home to be with his family is also a strong pull.

Enjoying that time with his children, even something as simple as sharing a chocolate egg, is part of a routine that, after years of experience, matters more and more.