Cool, calm, and collected Rui Costa adds vital experience to EF Education-EasyPost

The standout theme of EF Education-EasyPost’s transfer policy this season was youth, with seven riders moving into the WorldTour for the first time.

Markel Beloki, Archie Ryan and Darren Rafferty headlined a raft of promising talent to join the WorldTour team but team boss Jonathan Vaughters’ final signing could turn out to be the most important recruit of all, with the veteran rider Rui Costa joining on a one-year deal.

• Read more: Transfer mechanics: Age is just a number for Rui Costa

The former world champion is still a winner in his own right, having picked up a Vuelta a España stage win this year at the age of 37, and it was no coincidence that the canny veteran was the only rider to beat a rampaging Remco Evenepoel from a breakaway in this year’s final Grand Tour. That experience and race craft will be vital for the fledgling talents that signed for the American team.

“At the moment I just know the names but I’ve been training with Beloki several times this week. He’s just 18 but he’s an incredible rider. We have lots of young riders here and what’s probably needed at times is some calm from riders like me and the other experienced guys,” Rui Costa told GCN at EF’s recent training camp in Spain.

“We have many young riders in the team and that’s because the future is very important. My experience could be really important for the young guys. I turned pro back in 2009, so I’ve been a pro for around 15 years now. I’m still passionate about the sport and I’m still hungry. Each year is different though and at the end of each season, I always make sure that I reset and start again,” he added.

Rui Costa’s arrival on EF was relatively last-minute. The Portuguese rider was waiting on Intermarché-Circus-Wanty to offer him a contract extension but financial issues related to Circus’ departure as a sponsor meant that purse strings needed to be tightened and despite giving the team until the off-season, no offer was forthcoming.

Vaughters snapped at the chance once he realised Rui Costa was still on the market, and while his experience will be valued on the squad the rider himself certainly hasn’t given any indication of slowing down.

“It’s a great team. It’s different to Intermarché in that it’s bigger but it’s a good group. I’ve been impressed with the team so far,” he said.

“No, I wasn’t nervous about the lateness of the deal here. I waited for Intermarché because maybe they could have had a new sponsor but with the Circus situation, it wasn’t possible to find a solution. But here my focus is more or less the same though, and it’s a great opportunity. It’s another year in the WorldTour for me.”

Rui Costa’s complete race schedule has yet to be confirmed but he will race in EF colours for the first time at the Mallorca Challenge before ramping up towards the Spring Classics in March and April.

For just the third time in his career, and the first time in over a decade, he will race the Tour of Flanders. The Belgian Monument has been off Rui Costa’s calendar since 2010 but with the race evolving over the last few years and becoming more climber-friendly, he and his new team see a possible opportunity.

“Flanders is a yes. I did it many years ago, maybe 12 years ago now, but now cycling is totally different and there could be an opportunity for me. I love the race because it’s super hard, and it’s super technical. Experience really helps in a race like Flanders. Different riders can win the race now, and we’ve seen that with Tadej Pogačar and last year, Neilson Powless had a good result for us,” he said.

“For the moment I don’t know my Grand Tour schedule but I could do the Tour. I know that I’ll start my season in Mallorca and then go to the Volta ao Algarve, Strade Bianche, Catalunya, Flanders, the Ardennes Classics and then the Tour de Romandie. It’s a really nice programme, with many races.”