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

Matteo Trentin is optimistic about both his own and Tudor Pro Cycling's chances of success in 2024, with a Giro d'Italia wildcard a real target for the ProTeam.

The Swiss team secured Trentin's signature back in August and he is keen to provide the young team with an experienced head whilst also taking on leadership roles in the Classics.

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Discussing his hopes for next season with GCN ahead of the Veneto Classic, his last race for UAE Team Emirates, the 34-year-old cited Tudor's ambition as part of what attracted him to the team.

"The team is super young and they want to grow."

Hinting at how he will help the team to improve, he added: "To grow you need an experienced guy who knows what to do, when to go.

"The stuff behind [the scenes] is already really well prepared but you need someone in the race to have an insight into what’s going on."

Asked if he thought the team could get a Giro d'Italia wildcard, and make their Grand Tour debut in the process, in 2024, Trentin's response was to the point: "Yes, I'm hopeful. Why not?"

"I can still be competitive for the next few years"

Trentin has endured a challenging season, with three second-place finishes on the WorldTour, two at the Critérium du Dauphiné and another at the Renewi Tour, all to write home about. However, the 34-year-old, who penned a three-year deal with the Swiss squad, still believes that he is on the right path.

"From what I see, I can still be competitive and still be at the front. That’s what I want to do for the next few years."

Honest about this year's lack of results, the 2018 European road champion admitted: "Last season was really shit personally. I think I made a good step up in training and knowing myself but of course I didn’t reach the results I wanted. But that’s part of the game, that’s part of cycling.

Trentin welcomes Tosatto appointment

Also joining Tudor for 2024 will be sports director Matteo Tosatto. The Italian recently confirmed to GCN that he would be leaving Ineos Grenadiers after six seasons in their team car.

The arrival of a Grand Tour-winning sports director was well received by Trentin, a friend of Tossato's since his racing days.

"I think it’s going to be a good addition. I know 'Toso' very well, since he was a rider. We are friends and I’m really happy to have him with me next year," he said.

Asked if Tosatto's appointment influenced his own decision, Trentin was diplomatic in his response.

"I knew [he might be joining] but you never know what’s going to happen in cycling. When they told me the news I was really happy."

Read more:

• Matteo Tosatto: Leaving Ineos Grenadiers for Tudor was the best decision for me

Italian pleased by Tudor's sprinting options

Assessing the team's current roster, the Classics specialist revealed how impressed he was by the performances of Dutchman Arvid de Kleijn in 2023. After winning Milan-Torino in the spring, he followed it up with four more Pro Series stage wins.

"He’s stepped up because he was a good sprinter [already] but this year he really showed he has potential and probably can grow again.

De Kleijn and Trentin will be joined by Alberto Dainese next year too, after he signed a two-year deal from Team DSM-firmenich.

"We have two main sprinters who can sprint at basically every single stage race and I think Alberto can step up also on the harder finishes."