Simone Raccani, a new addition to EOLO-KOMETA

One of the most promising youngsters, a bet, a talent: Simone Raccani will wear our colors next year. “This, the team for me.”

There are moments in a rider’s life that make a difference and mark the future. For Simone Raccani, that moment has the sound of a phone ringing: on the other end is Ivan Basso, who asks him to come race for EOLO-KOMETA. A dream come true, a point of arrival that at the same time is a starting point, an opportunity to be seized and fully exploited. And here it is that for the boy born in Thiene on March 2, 2001, the doors of professionalism will open: next year he will wear our colors, and the desire to repay the trust is already very strong.

Raised in the wonderful forge of talent that is Zalf Euromobil Fior, his excellent results earned him the call from Quick-Step, which wanted him as a trainee. The 2022 saw him fighting with the best and hitting important placings: 11th overall at the Giro di Sicilia (with 14th place in the stage with arrival on Mount Etna), 15th overall at the Giro d’Italia U23, again 3rd at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta.

Now, he is expected to be confirmed with the EOLO-KOMETA jersey. “I can’t wait,” Simone told us, “already last year there had been contact but I had preferred to do another year with the Under 23: now, the time has come. And I think this is really the right team for me: it was born recently but it has made huge steps forward and is growing more and more, the environment seems wonderful, it is the right place to grow and to hit results. I am a climber who can defend myself in time trials if they are not too flat, however, I love long and hard races, those with a lot of elevation gain.”

Simone, started cycling as a child: “It all started by chance, I had a cousin who rode a bike and when it was time for me to choose a sport it was natural: I got on the bike, and I never got off because I liked it right away. As an Italian, I’m a Nibali fan, but I won’t hide the fact that being on Ivan Basso and Alberto Contador’s team is something unique.”

When he’s not pedaling, Simone loves simplicity: “I stay with my girlfriend Nicole, I go out with friends, when I can I eat a pizza that is my favorite dish (the one with bresaola, arugula and grana cheese).” And the most beautiful victory? “Certainly, for now, the 2019 Schio-Ossario del Pasubio. I live a stone’s throw from there, and waiting for me at the finish line were all my friends and relatives. And it was beautiful. Another race I really enjoyed was this year’s Giro di Sicilia: I always managed to stay with the best, even in the Etna stage, and pedaling with the greatest of the sport gave me unique sensations.”