Cycling and studying, two reconcilable activities that seem to be increasingly difficult for young runners to understand. The tendency to take an exception as an example as if it were the rule combined with the ambition of wanting to quickly become a professional by forging ahead, perhaps moving on to devo team of a WorldTour training, often pushes a boy (and his family) to put school aside to try everything with the bike. Nevertheless there are those like Laura Tomasi who were able to graduate in Business Economics and Management while she was busy running the most important races with your team.
«Probably one of the most difficult things I’ve done, but it was worth it», is the phrase of the new doctor from Treviso under her Instagram post from a dozen days ago to describe what achieving this goal entailed. For Tomasi a significant way to end the season, on the same date every three years ago – December 19th – when he had risked his life being hit by a motorist during training. That day he reported the incident through a video asking for more safety and respect for cyclists, this time he expressed his satisfaction with the completed route.
The countdown has already started, soon we will celebrate New Year’s Eve and so the last piece of 2025 is dedicated to Laura’s words – who will race with Uno-X Mobility in the next two years – and the message he wanted to leave as a gift to future generations.
Explain that sentence to us better.
I wrote the truth, referring above all to the journey made, which was particularly troubled. I had graduated from scientific high school which required university studies and so I studied biology in my first year at university. I wasn’t convinced and I stayed put for a year to find the right faculty. At that point, considering the competitive commitments, I enrolled in an online university and after four years, one of which was out of course, I managed to graduate. I’m very happy, considering that it was complicated to combine studying and cycling.
How complicated was it?
Studying doesn’t come easy to me and keeping up with the other students in exams was very hard. But Either I do my thing well or nothing, so I set myself to succeed. At the end of September I finished my last exams, but I must say that I was lucky because I took advantage of a coincidence of events. From mid-August to mid-October I only did two races and so I was able to write the final part of the thesis. I had done the bulk of it before and I got rid of the stress of studying while I was running.
Can your degree be an example for those young people who want to leave school to only ride bikes?
I wish it were like that. In high school I always had difficulty because not all institutes or all teachers recognize you in the “high-level student-athlete” project. As a junior I remember that I traveled all over Italy and sometimes abroad, like now, and I didn’t always have an easy life. For example, I was seen as a “student-worker” because I had not received any call-ups to the national team. From this point of view, the school system needs to be reviewed and should not penalize athletes.
Is it in this case that the weight of the family matters?
I think it’s okay for family to keep you in line. Despite everything, my parents supported me and for them school was the priority. They were right and I am convinced of it once more. I grew up thinking that you don’t necessarily have to graduate on time, just as I think that a degree doesn’t make one person smarter than another. But for me at least the high school diploma must be obtained, then we can organize ourselves for university. The discussion needs to be seen more broadly.
What do you mean?
Young people need to understand that we athletes live in a bubble. A beautiful bubble where we have everything, let’s be clear, but your career can end overnight and then you have to be ready. It is also important to get good advice from those who follow us as well as the family. You have to realize that you always need a plan B and I wanted the degree specifically for after my career.
Have you found similarities between studying and cycling?
Of course, cycling teaches us to persevere. If there are difficulties, such as reconciling study and competitions, our sport tells us to hold on and overcome them. Young runners who are in fourth and fifth grade must be able to overcome difficult moments at least in those two years. And they have to do it by thinking about how they approach a climb in a race. It’s hard to get over the top, but you get through and can reach the finish line.
Returning to the competitive side, how has Dr. Laura Tomasi’s impact been with her new team.
It was very nice. At the beginning of November we spent four days in Trondheim to get to know each other and celebrate the arrival of the men’s team in the WorldTour. Up there we had several meetings, bike-fitting and visited the Reitan Retail headquarters (the second sponsor, ed.). We didn’t do their traditional “team building” in the snow and with sled dogs. We were calmer (smiles, ed.).
Did you set up a draft calendar during the retreat?
We trained in Oliva in Spain from December 2nd to 11th. Lots of kilometres, testing and planning ahead of the Tour Down Under. I won’t go to Australia, I will make my debut at the end of January in the Mallorca races. Then I will do the classic block of the classics in the North. I shouldn’t race the Giro Women, the Vuelta or Tour Femmes would be easier, although we’ll have to see later. In general I understood that the team’s work is centered on performance and training. With them I changed trainer and way of working.
Did you also talk about your role?
Mainly I was hired to perfect the lead out for Zanetti, Andersen and Athosalo. Our sprinters department made a really good impression on me, then I will try to carve out my space if the opportunity arises. The Italian sector has also grown. Pellegrini and Vigilia will also be there as well as me. After three years there will be no more Confalonieri, but I told her that he left such a good memory that for 2026 they wanted to hire more Italians. All four of us joked about this, even with the staff. I am very motivated and the degree has made me calmer.
