“Cyclocross strengthens your road skills” - EF Education-EasyPost look to find new star in junior world champion

EF Education-EasyPost has Mattia Agostinacchio as a rider for the future. Despite his 18 years of age, the Italian has already won the Junior World Championship and the Under-23 European Championship in cyclocross.

Sports director Sebastian Langeveld has been closely involved in shaping the team’s plan for Agostinacchio. Speaking to In de Leiderstrui, he outlined how EF Education-EasyPost views the young Italian as a long-term project rather than a rider to be rushed into the spotlight.

“We want to develop him into a road cyclist capable of competing for victories,” Langeveld said. Agostinacchio's professional road debut is expected to happen in 2026. Instead of pushing him too quickly, the focus is on steady progression and building a solid base.

“There’s still a lot to do,” Langeveld explained. “The idea for this cyclocross season, and for the coming seasons, is to make the most of it as a foundation for the road season. In my opinion, if approached seriously, cyclocross strengthens your road skills.”

Cyclocross will therefore remain an important part of Mattia Agostinacchio’s programme. EF Education-EasyPost believes the discipline helps develop intensity and technical ability that can be transferred to road racing.

“This is our first year supporting Mattia,” Langeveld said. “To meet the requirements, we’ve created a small cyclocross team, with Filippo, Mattia’s older brother, and Luxembourg’s Nina Berton in the women’s category.”

More broadly, the team considers cyclocross a proven pathway for developing top road riders.

“Cyclocross is indeed a breeding ground for talent,” Langeveld added. “I absolutely don’t want to make comparisons with Van Der Poel, but I think cyclocross and the classics go well together. Cyclocross and road cycling are a fantastic combination. Just look at Del Grosso, Nys, Stybar, or Boom.”

By combining cyclocross and road racing, EF hopes to guide Agostinacchio towards success at the highest level. From 2027 onwards the points accumulated in cyclocross may also aid in the American team's road UCI points tally, which can ultimately provide it with more safety if the Italian develops quickly.