"This year has been one of growth" - Rising Italian star reflects on a promising 2024 season

Edoardo Zambanini, a promising talent from Riva del Garda, showed some signs of growth during his 2024 season with Bahrain - Victorious. Zambanini caught up with bici.PRO to reflect on his 2024 campaign.

"This year has been one of growth,” he says. “Unlike 2023, where health issues like bronchitis hindered my progress, I've been fortunate to train consistently and see the results of my efforts."

The Giro d'Italia played a pivotal role in his development. "During the Giro, my main role was to support the team," he explained. "Opportunities to vie for stage wins were limited due to breakaways and general classification battles. However, the Italian Championship provided more freedom, allowing me to demonstrate my capabilities. This performance bolstered the team's confidence in me, marking the beginning of a steady progression."

This upward trajectory has positively impacted his self-belief, "Historically, I've been somewhat self-critical," Zambanini admitted. "But this year, consistent results have boosted my confidence. Competing alongside top riders and holding my ground has been motivating. Initially, I was more apprehensive, but now I realize I can compete at this level. Each successful race reinforces that belief."

He attributes this enhanced confidence to both mental and physical maturation. "In my early years, I could handle the first acceleration but struggled with subsequent ones. Now, with greater maturity, I can stay with the leaders, which further builds my confidence. Once you break through that mental barrier, progress becomes more natural and continuous."

Looking ahead, Zambanini is eager to seize more opportunities and aims for his first professional victory. "The team has been supportive, and I hope to capitalize on the chances that come my way. Securing a win would be a significant milestone in my career."