Zwift Academy winner Luca Vergallito: "Winning a stage in a Grand Tour would be the ultimate dream"

Luca Vergallito had tried to get into cycling the traditional way but through development teams he didn't find his way. However he got a second chance after winning the Zwift Academy last year, and in his first year as an Elite rider he confirmed the talent he has on the climbs.

"I'm excited to get started. With the support of the team I can achieve my goals. Winning a stage in a Grand Tour would be the ultimate dream. The road to get there is long, but I believe in it," Vergalito said in a press release. "The Academy changed my life. It was a dream as a child to become a professional cyclist later. I did not manage to end up with the pros via the known route, via the development teams. I stopped. Thanks to the Academy I suddenly got a second chance. Of course I am very happy with that afterwards."

Vergallito was signed to the Alpecin-Deceuninck development team and throughout 2023 the 26-year old put on some strong results in the lower ranks of racing. He won the Oberösterreich Rundfahrt and the Province Cycling Tour, but against World Tour competition he also impressed with a seventh at the Tour of Austria as an example. Joining the team the same way as the likes of Jay Vine, there is definitely potential in the Italian, who is now joining the World Tour in 2024 with the Belgian outfit. 

Although he has doubts and worries, after a year in the peloton he's had time to gain experience and begin to aim for results in higher level races. "Of course you have doubts. Am I really good enough? Riding in a peloton, tactics, other practical things. I hadn't raced for four or five hours straight. Then you have to learn things again," he explains. "With the right guidance from the team, I have already achieved more than I could have hoped for."