"To beat Tom was the real deal" - He beat Pidcock, now he wants to win with his new World Tour team
Cycling
Tommaso Dati is one of XDS Astana's several signings this winter, and a rider that perfectly fits the Kazakh team's profile. A sprinter who can climb and comes from Italy, Dati might find himself in the perfect environment to flourish at the World Tour level.
Both Astana and Team UKYO, whom he raced for this year, are based in Italy and have a fast array of riders from the Mediterranean nation. He has been part of the Italian continental scene for a few years now, but 2026 was truly his breakthrough year.
In March he won a stage at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. At the Tour of the Alps, right on stage 1, he outsprinted Tom Pidcock to take the first leader's jersey. “At the Tour of the Alps, it wasn’t only the stage and the level of the race. To beat Tom was the real deal," Dati told Domestique. "I even told him after the race that it was a pleasure for me".
The win put him on the map, regardless of what would happen throughout the rest of the year. He was leading the main warm-up race to the Giro d'Italia, representing a third-division team. “After Coppi e Bartali, but especially beating Tom Pidcock, that was the real thing that brought the teams. Beating a guy of that level is amazing".
But his season was far from over. What followed were victories at the Tour of Japan (three), GC at the Tour de Gyeognam, Giro della Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia; and the victory at the Mediterranean Games. Additionally, he was second to Jonathan Milan at the Italian national championships.
Tommaso Dati’s victory at the 2026 Tour of the Alps
Breakthrough season takes Dati to the World Tour
“I think Team UKYO is one of the best continental teams. As riders, we can’t complain about anything. Of course, with the budget, we can’t ask for the sky, but they always gave us the best bike possible and the best wheels".
His level even took him by surprise. “It was a bit surprising. I worked really well in the winter and I knew I had a good level, but to win eight races in the season and get the other results was a surprise to me,
His results lured many big teams, who were keen on signing the 24-year old. He could not resist the opportunity. “In that period I heard about Astana and other teams. After the wins there I had two or three more options, and in the end I had to choose".
With Astana, a team of stage and UCI points hunters, Dati's explosive profile might be a perfect fit. “They do a really good programme. All the guys in the team are stage hunters, so I think they work really well that way, and it suits me very well. They also have a really big Italian staff, which I think will help me".
Despite this, he does not want to get ahead of himself. “For me, it’s the first step into the WorldTour, and I wanted to take it a little more carefully.”
Italian talent aims for the Ardennes
His schedule for 2027 should be worked on throughout the upcoming month of December as the team will gather in Spain, but Dati will have plenty opportunities to show his worth at World Tour level now.
“I still have a lot to improve and I have to get a lot of experience in the WorldTour. But after a season like that, I want to win some races to build my confidence and show everyone I wasn’t a one-season wonder. This is the work of years".
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Having won several times this year, he wants to maintain some sort of momentum, although he is realistic. “I don’t think in the World Tour races, but at least in the ProSeries, why not? I did quite well there this year, so if everything goes well, I think I can do pretty well next year".
The Ardennes classics come as somewhat of an objective, races which he is motivated to perform in. “They’re short climbs, short efforts and then a reduced bunch sprint. For me, it’s the perfect way to win races. So we never know".
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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