Featured Story

Mille Giorni – A Thousand Days

Gianluca Brambilla celebrated his 1,000th race day in the Ruta del Sol in February. That’s a 1,000 days of getting up in the morning, have breakfast, get your race kit on, shoes ready, go to the start, race, shower, massage and again. Gianluca does it all with passion, even now he is 37 years young. He even set a 20-minute all-time power record in that same Ruta del Sol. What is the secret to such a long career?

3 April 2025.

“I started when I was eight or nine years young,” he says. “Like almost all the boys in Italy I did football but I rode my bike to football practice, to school and with other kids racing around the block. When I asked my parents if I could really race, I joined a club in Bassano del Grappa. I liked the racing straight away, but I also loved the training, especially riding with my dad. Those are special memories as well.”

Gianluca won already in all the youth categories but realized he could become really good when he was a junior. He showed he had the talent to be a great climber by winning the overall classification in a climbers’ trophy of ten races.

“I joined the famous team of Zalf-Fior in my first year as an U23. In my first year I did the Giro delle Regione, a Giro d’Italia for national teams and I came in fifth. The year after I won Giro della Regione Friuli but in my time it was custom to do all your four U23 years and not turn pro when you are 19 or 20 like now. So, I waited and in 2010 I joined Colnago, my first year as a professional. I must add that it was also almost my last one. I had big troubles with the knee and only started racing in June. I did win my first race back in GP Nobili Rubinetterie. That was a magical moment.”

In 2013 he joined Quickstep, then Trek-Segafredo in 2018 and Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team in 2023. If you ask Brambi, as he is lovingly called in the team, how to have such a long career there is only word.

“Passione. Passion is what you need in such a long career. You do the long hours and all the kilometers. I calculated I did over 540,000 race kilometers in my career so far, plus all the training. If you don’t have ‘passione’ for what you do, you can’t do it. I won’t say you have to sacrifice a lot but there are things you can’t do like parties when I was younger and now things with the family, my girlfriend Cristina and my daughter Asia.”

“Passion is what you need in such a long career. You do the long hours and all the kilometers…” 

That passion has never faded, up until this day. Brambi always gives everything. Another thing that keeps him going is his inquisitive nature.

“I was never just doing what I was told because I always wanted to know how things work for myself, from bikes to food and training. Sometimes I see riders who are only focused on one goal and afraid of change. I never was afraid of change because change brings new things and keeps it all fresh. I worked with many trainers in many teams and was and am never afraid to change. My new trainer is Jakub [Foltyn]. He is younger than I am but brings a fresh perspective to everything. He also explains very well and in much detail what we do and why. I like that. It keeps my interest peaking. Look at it like technological developments. You always must keep on top of those too or you fall behind. That’s I still do with training, incorporation of the gym in my daily training, nutrition and new bike tech or clothing developments.”

“I was never just doing what I was told because I always wanted to know how things work for myself, from bikes to food and training.”

Brambi has won six times as a professional but one was a stage in the Vuelta a España and the other his childhood dream: a stage win in Arezzo in the Giro d’Italia.

“When I was a kid, I watched the Giro and saw the Maglia Rosa. In 2016 I won a stage in the Giro d’Italia and got to wear the maglia rosa. My family travelled south and my daughter who was a newborn at the time came to see me. That was a dream come true.”

Being a pro cyclist is a job you never do alone. You have a whole team of teammates and staff behind you but even more important is the team back at home. For Brambi that’s his girlfriend Cristina and daughter Asia, who is a hip-hop dancer.

“I say this is my job because I get paid, but I get paid for what I love doing best. This is my life and passion. I am very lucky that Cristina is always behind me. Cycling became part of her life too and she understands this. We can’t always do what other couples do because our life is about the sport. It’s not always easy for the people at home. That’s why I want to do well in every race to show my loved ones at home I do my best, and that this life is worth it. My family does so much for me and then I just want to give back.”

Gianluca never expected to do 1,000 race days in his career. He did all the big races, won six, started 16 Grand Tours and finished 13 of them, rode the big classics and represented his country at world championships. What advice would he give younger riders?

“They have a big opportunity to make cycling their job. That’s something to appreciate and honour. Do it with passion and always give 100% is what I would say. It’s a great life to have although I was also older when I realized that. I now enjoy every day even more. There will be a moment I have to make room for younger riders, but that moment is not yet. I still learn and improve.

I would also advice not to think too much, not to overthink matters. Sometimes you are the only one creating the problem. That’s why having a strong home base is so important. I have a strong character, but I also know when to ask help. Cristina is great at putting things in perspective.”

Lots of things have changed since Gianluca entered the pro ranks in 2010. Now in his 16th season he sees a much healthier environment for riders with mental coaching, healthy nutrition plans and sports directors who work with the riders instead of shouting down orders.

For Gianluca it’s been a great career so far but it’s not over yet. “I still have dreams because you can never improve if you don’t have dreams anymore. I always start the race with the best result in mind but adding another win to my list this year, would be really lovely.”