Valentina Scandolara took up cycling as a child and went on to become a three-time European champion, twice on the road and once on the track. Her work now continues on the other side of racing. In 2026 she leads the World Cycling Centre women’s road team, which brings together ten riders from ten countries.
European races give the riders a chance to learn what a training plan cannot fully teach. In a crowded peloton they must make decisions, hold position and cooperate with teammates. Scandolara knows that transition from her work helping young athletes gain racing experience in Europe.
She also sees team relationships and a balanced workload as part of performance. Having experienced the effects of overtraining herself, the former racer wants to pair demanding work with attention to each rider’s wellbeing. Coaching carries on after the finish: helping athletes recognise what the whole team achieved, beyond the name at the top of the results sheet.