Bettiol offers a behind-the-scenes look at chinese bike manufacturer XDS: "It felt like a city, not a factory"

With the arrival of sponsor XDS, Astana is charting a new course. The Chinese bike manufacturer provides a significant financial boost while introducing a new country to the WorldTour peloton. A (partially) Chinese team is unprecedented, and the folks at XDS-Astana are keenly aware of this milestone. Alberto Bettiol shared insights into what has changed and represents Italy with the national champion's tricolor on his jersey.

Bettiol recently visited the bike factory of the new sponsor in China. "When I saw the production in China, I was amazed," he told Il Giornale. "It felt like a city, not a factory. It didn’t feel like I had entered a production unit but rather a new world, entirely dedicated to bicycles. A long, seemingly endless road led to an immense structure: XDS Bikes."

In this sense, the team is a pioneer—never before has a Chinese bike been used by a WorldTour team. "I’m aware of this and feel honored. When I accepted Astana's offer, I knew I was signing a contract that would take me beyond what I had seen and experienced so far. I’m not a kid anymore; this will be my twelfth season as a pro. I’ve always ridden for American teams. Now, I wear the Italian tricolor in a Kazakh-Chinese team, and I’m proud of that." The 31-year-old classics specialist won the Italian national championship in June.

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"I don’t want to be influenced by a smartwatch telling me I slept poorly"

Bettiol is gearing up for a spring campaign with key targets, including Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders. When it comes to his preparation, he keeps things simple. While much of the peloton relies on data and gadgets, Bettiol prefers a different approach. "I use them during the preparation phase, but when it comes to racing, I take everything off and rely on my instincts," he said. "I don’t want to be influenced by a smartwatch telling me I slept poorly. If I feel good, I do what I feel like doing. Numbers are important, but they’re not everything. If cycling is popular today, it’s because there are authentic champions who let themselves go, unafraid of making mistakes."

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