The European road racing season kicks off this Saturday, with events leading to major competitions like the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in March. Unlike previous years, athletes no longer view early season races as mere training. Manager Joxean Fernández Matxin emphasizes that every competition, regardless of its level, is approached with a winning mentality. With the looming threat of relegation in the WorldTour and the high value of UCI points, teams face critical strategic decisions, making early season victories all the more vital.
Training is something you do at home. Whenever we race, it doesn't matter what level the event, we race to win.
With relegation and promotion looming next December, UCI points at any time of the 2025 season are arguably more coveted this year than any other.
The intensity of modern-day racing is such now that it seems hard to believe that there was once a popular notion that these late January and February events were simply 'training with race numbers.'
Having a few relatively minor wins early on make for a significant drop in pressure further down the line.
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