Matteo Trentin: Fun, friendship and ambition with UAE Team Emirates

In the latest column from the team, the Italian rider reveals he already feels part of the family

Team UAE newcomer Matteo Trentin. BettiniPhoto

This might be my first season with UAE Team Emirates, but it feels like I've been part of the family a lot longer.

Before I joined, I already knew quite a few of the riders and some of the staff, which made settling in so much easier.

Since arriving, I have seen first hand how Mauro [Gianetti], our team principle, has created a really strong culture that’s focused on winning and being professional, but also one that places a lot of emphasis on having fun and making friends.

I was certainly made to feel very welcome, both by the team and also by everyone I met when we were in the UAE for training.

Having our training camp in Abu Dhabi was a great experience. Not only did I get to spend quality time with the guys, but I learnt a lot about the culture and history of the UAE, I got to try some local food and go out into the desert to ride my bike – something you don’t get to do all that often living in Europe!

We were also able to meet a lot of our sponsors who are based in the UAE. This is really important for us, as we can’t achieve our goals without their support.

All of these experiences reassured me that I’d made a great decision joining the team. I decided to sign for UAE Team Emirates because I wanted to be part of an ambitious project that had a long-term vision and a clear plan for me. In the current climate that’s not easy to achieve, so I am really happy that they have trusted me and made me feel part of something special.

I’ve been equally impressed with the team’s focus on the development of young riders - and it’s exciting to be part of a squad that has a great mix of both experienced riders and some of the best young talent in the pro peloton; like Tadej Pogacar.

It’s something I want to contribute to with my experience as well as my fighting mentality, especially with the younger generation who will be facing these kinds of races for the first time.

Having Alexander Kristoff as a teammate will also help with this and I think we can be a dynamic duo. We are both super strong classic riders and ex-European champions. This poses a double threat to other teams as I can be more active in the race knowing he is there if it comes to a bunch sprint. On the other hand, he can be more relaxed in the bunch and focus all his energy and power in the final few hundred metres.

When we were first discussing my move to the team, I felt really proud when Mauro said that he liked my style of racing and my winning mentality, which he saw as a real advantage for the team.

Having that faith in me is something I want to repay with strong performances, and, of course, some wins. Thankfully, we've started our season well. Getting a result in the UAE Tour was a big objective and one that we were able to realise with Tadej winning a stage and the general classification. It's given us all a boost and we are full of confidence.

My goal for this year is simple: I want to win races. My first objective is to focus on the classics. And I want to take another step forward in the big classics and monuments. Then there’s the Tour de France. Last year I won Stage 17, but my dream for this year is to win the green jersey. Lastly, I want to focus on the Road World Championship where I finished second last year.

A lot is coming up, but I feel very strong and am really looking forward to achieving my goals with a UAE flag on my jersey.