Filippo Ganna makes drastic decision and becomes serious contender in 2025 (without a diet)

Bad news for track cycling fans, but good news for road racing enthusiasts: Filippo Ganna, the powerful Italian rider currently riding for INEOS Grenadiers, has confirmed that he will focus more on road racing starting next season. His silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics is a fitting farewell. However, the Italian isn’t saying goodbye to track cycling completely.

Due to the Olympics, Ganna skipped several major races this year. He didn’t participate in the classics or the Tour de France. That will change in 2025, as the 28-year-old Italian told Adnkronos during an event at the Technical University of Milan. "The shift to the road is a logical step when you consider the number of races I compete in," said the 28-year-old rider.

"The time I spend on the track is much less than all the other commitments in my schedule," he continued. "That means I will no longer participate in World Championships or World Cup events on the track. However, I will continue to use the track, mainly for the specific training volume that I can’t achieve on the road."

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Ganna in action 

Ganna needs and wants to win more often

Ganna, who has shone on the track for years, delivering world titles and records, now wants to take the next step in his road racing performances. He wants to leave his mark. "It’s a necessary choice to reach new goals. I want to improve my road racing performance and win more often."

For 2025, Ganna already has clear goals and priorities. "Winning is the most important thing. Winning as much as possible." Still, he knows he’ll be facing strong competition. "The top riders are in good shape. They’ve also had a rest period, and once we all start again, we’ll see where everyone stands."

The biggest obstacle on the road to victories seems to be Remco Evenepoel, as the Belgian has often been just a bit faster so far, like during the individual road time trial at the Olympics. Ganna is optimistic about his own start to the new season, partly because of his stable weight. "I’m glad I’ve remained stable in terms of weight. Since I haven’t gone over 90 kilos (laughs), I can start strong without too much trouble."

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