The future is on Giada Martinoli’s side: first he thought about graduating, then about winning important trophies on a mountain bike. Giada, 19 year old from the Carabinieri-Olympia Sports Grouplives in Bedero Valcuvia with mother Alessandra, father Adriano and brother Valerio. Miss Martinoli started cycling at the age of 14, not very early, yet she boasts a palmares full of titles and podium medals.
The Varese native hit the ground running especially as a junior. In fact, in 2024 she became Italian cross country champion ahead of the highly rated Elisa Ferri. Also in 2024, Giada Martinoli she won the Italian team relay championship and in the same specialty she won the European Championship with the national team. At the 2024 European individual cross country championship she secured herself the bronze medal.
In 2025 he made his debut with the Under 23s, winning the Italian team relay championship again. And to think that the girl from Bedero practiced other sports: «I started with swimming – explains Giada, brown hair and brown eyes – and then moved on to climbing. I also practiced running, injuring my meniscus.”
In this circumstance, cycling proved to be the most classic of recovery therapies: «The doctors advised me to cycle precisely to speed up my return to sporting activity – continues the compatriot of Binda and Ganna – and so I approached cycling initially without participating in the competitions.”
Then Ju Green Gorla registered her in competitive sports and Giada has reciprocated the trust of the green and white club with victories. As a rookie she also triumphed in the road time trial in Trontano (Verbano Cusio Ossola) ahead of Alice Bulegato, Erja Giulia Bianchi and other well-known athletes in the pink youth cycling parterre.
«Trontano is the only road race I have taken part in in my career. I would like to try road racing again in the future” specifies Giada Martinoli, still very attached to the Ju Green Gorla jersey despite being proud to belong to the Carabinieri Olympia Sports Group. The slogan «give me a climb and I will lift your ride» suits her perfectly: «I prefer mountain bike routes with long climbs, where resistance is crucial. However, I also like the descents, especially the technical ones.”
Miss Martinoli set the “mtb” record in 2024: «I won all the cross country competitions held in Italy». At the ’24 World Championship she placed seventh in the cross country event. «”Some mechanical problems penalized me, it could have gone better.” In 2025 as an Under 23, although she won the Italian team relay again, she had to slow down her momentum: «My cycling activity was strongly influenced by school. I graduated in health and environmental biotechnology. I cared a lot about the diploma and I achieved my goal. This made me happy even if the professors proved to be strict and unwilling to grant permission for training. In that period, competing was difficult. It’s one of the reasons why I look forward to the new year with the hope of enriching my palmares”.
Nothing will be left to chance. «In January I will train first alone and then with other bikers in Liguria. I will be based in Pontedassio: in the beautiful hinterland of Imperia there are hills and paths ideal for those who practice cross country mountain biking.” In February the Carabinieri will carry out more specific work. «In the second and third week me and other members of the Carabinieri Olympia team we will train on Etna».
The multiple winner since she has been practicing cross country mountain biking has role models to inspire her: «In men’s activity certainly Nino Schurter, a true legend. Among the girls, I and many other cyclogirls dream of imitating the British Evie Richards”.
We are in the holiday season, it’s time to circle the goals for 2026 with red ballpoint pen. «First of all I would like to win my third consecutive Italian title in the team relay. Clearly, in addition to obtaining results, I want to improve technically.”
Martinoli will make his competitive debut in Marchor. «The international competition in Albenga intrigues me a lot, it would be wonderful to win it, knowing that I will have very fierce competition». Logically the biker is also thinking of other very important international challenges. «I’m happy that among the World Cup trials there is the one in La Thuile, in Valle d’Aosta; I really like the route”.
The Italian Champion jersey will be awarded to Nervesa della Battaglia, in the Treviso hills. The fight between the Under 23s will be electrifying: «I want the tricolor shirt back and beating Valentina Corvi, Elisa Ferri and other good cyclists won’t be easy.”
2026 will be a great year for mountain biking: the World Championships will take place in Val di Sole. «The route is very beautiful, albeit with tree roots that create difficulties. It will be crucial to drive the vehicle well.” Italy coach Mirko Celestino has a lot of confidence in the Varese team: «Giada, after a difficult 2025, can return to expressing herself at a high level because she has a great engine. Furthermore, he is a good person, kind and simple despite his wealth of victories: he knows how to make himself loved. In 2026 I expect a lot from her.”
