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Gaia Realini has barely begun her career at cycling’s highest level, having signed her first contract to race on the WorldTour with Trek-Segafredo this year, yet her ability in the mountains is already being compared to that of her compatriot Fabiana Luperini.
Realini, 21, is from Pescara along the coastal line of the Adriatic Sea in Italy and she began her first full seasons of competition with Isolmant-Premac-Vittoria in 2021 and 2022. She is one of the fastest-rising talents in pro racing, in both cyclo-cross and on the road.
She turned heads in her debut at the Giro d’Italia Donne in 2021, where she finished 11th overall and second in the youth classification, as well as taking two top-10 finishes on the queen stage into Prato Nevoso and in the stage 4 mountain time trial to Riale Di Formazza Cascate Del Toce.
She continued that success at last year’s Giro d’Italia Donne, where she finished 13th overall and third in youth classification. On top of that Realini again made her mark among the top climbers, having placed seventh and fifth in the mountain stages to Passo Maniva and San Lorenzo Dorsino.
“Realini is a young athlete who, first of all, will need time to adjust to the new reality of the WorldTour and to integrate with our structure,” Trek-Segafredo director Ina Teutenberg said of the rider who has already made a good start on that, helping Elisa Longo Borghini to the overall win at UAE Tour with a 1-2 finish of the steep climb Jabel Hafeet.
“The qualities we saw from her on the climbs at Giro d’Italia were impressive, and she deserves our trust. She has specific characteristics that we believe will be a positive addition to our roster. We see in her significant room to grow.”
Focusing exclusively on road racing this season, Realini is revelling in the opportunity to support her teammates at Trek-Segafredo and to test her legs for the first time at the upcoming Flèche Wallonne Femmes and Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes.
Having watched Flèche Wallonne on television and, for the first time, previewing the Mur de Huy just days ago, Realini is keen to experience the ascent within the race to learn what makes this climb so fabled in professional cycling. Cyclingnews spoke to Realini to discuss the year so far and what is next on what looks set to be a rapid journey from apprentice to master.
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