Matteo Trentin determined keep Classics door open after Fabian Cancellara's presence leads to invites

Tudor Pro Cycling make their Opening Weekend debut on Saturday at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before competing in Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and veteran new signing Matteo Trentin is keen to make the most of the opportunity.

Team boss Fabian Cancellara, a Spring Classics star during his career, helped his second division team earn a string of invites to major races this season, including many of the cobbled Classics, but Trentin believes that it’s now up to the riders to keep the door open and the invitations coming.

Read more: Matteo Trentin hopeful of Giro d’Italia wildcard for Tudor Pro Cycling

“For sure he helps the team receive wildcards to participate but now it’s up to us to show to anyone who has invited us and we deserve to be there, and that we want to be there in the future too,” The Italian told GCN ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

The Swiss team has yet to notch a victory in 2024 but they have been competitive in almost every race they’ve started. In Trentin they have one of the most experienced and savvy one day riders in the WorldTour, and while the squad lacks depth to its Classics experience, the 34-year-old is expecting this weekend’s roster to step up.

“I’m very happy with my choice of joining Tudor Pro Cycling. Things are going pretty well for the moment and the season has just started. As you see we’re just setting things up race by race. The victory isn’t here yet but when it does come I’m sure that it will snowball and bring more,” he said.

“I’m probably one of the only guys who have raced there. We have a bunch of young riders to develop and bring up through the process but we have to get results and develop. As they say you have to prepare the table before having dinner.”

Trentin has had a solid start to the year with two top-tens including third in the Clasica de Almeria. He used Algarve to fine-tune his form and build towards Opening Weekend where he will aim to compete with the likes of Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock.

“It’s important to see where I am. I have a good idea but people come to the Opening Weekend fully prepared from races like Oman and Australia. It looks like everyone is in super shape because we had a warmer winter. Winning is the ambition, and the legs are there. Jumbo has a super team, Trek has a good team, Soudal, you can’t rule them out. They have riders and they have experience and w’re just lacking that experience at the moment. It’s possible to win, but it will be hard. We’ll try though."

For more of the latest racing updates, visit the race news page.