After riding as a trainee in Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela team since 2008, Gianfranco Zilioli has signed a two-year contract with Italian Pro Continental team and prepares for his first full season as a professional cyclist.

The young Lombardian cyclist will be expected to " gain experience and try to be supportive to the team" , but given the quality he has shown in its first appearances in the summer months – including claiming his first professional victory in GP Industria & Commercio di Prato, he will definitely seek for his own opportunities to play his cards. Aware of the difficulties concerning stepping up to the next level of professional career, the 23-year old Italian explains that he therefore prefers to follow the team’s orders and treat every single race separately. This way, with the proper preparations and some amount of luck he hopes to become more capable of exploiting the opportunities that would arrive. 

In a 2014 season that will begin "in mid-February , with the Tour of the Mediterranean and later with the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia," the biggest dream of course is called the Giro d’Italia, where his team Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela will be invited to race among World Tour squads after winning the Italian Team Championships.

"Depending on their current condition, riders will be chosen by team directors and physicians," he says with caution and common sense about his possible participation in the Italian Grand Tour, but it remains clear what exactly the young rider is dreaming about.

"The stage with a finish on Monte Campione is still on my mind because it is well suited for me and it is not very far from home .."