European Champion Affini got strength from his grandfather’s words: ‘He always believed in me’
For Edoardo Affini, 2024 was a year to remember. The Italian rider for Team Visma | Lease a Bike reflects on a season that, especially in its second half, was marked by personal triumphs.
“I think this was one of my best seasons ever,” Affini begins. “The start of the year was challenging due to crashes involving our team leaders, but even then, we had great moments. Matteo’s victory in Paris-Nice and Olav’s stage win in the Giro are memories I’ll cherish for a long time.”
Following an intense Vuelta, where Affini completed his second Grand Tour of the year, the Italian entered a period of glory. In Hasselt, Belgium, the 28-year-old time trial specialist claimed the European time trial title. Just one day later, he and his teammates were crowned European champions in the Mixed Relay. A few weeks after that, Affini earned bronze medals in both disciplines at the World Championships in Zurich.
"Those were special moments"
Affini describes the weeks between the European and World Championships as the pinnacle of his career. “That period was undoubtedly the best of my season and, honestly, of my entire career. Those were special moments I will always remember,” he says.
The European Time Trial Championship posed an additional challenge, coming so soon after the Vuelta. “The Vuelta was really tough, and I had never raced a time trial so soon after finishing a Grand Tour,” Affini explains. “I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t in the hot seat for long, just a few minutes. The most nerve-wracking moment was when Stefan Küng posted his intermediate time. That’s when I started to believe a bit more. In the end, when I saw that he couldn’t match my time, I was able to throw my hands in the air.”
"I thought of my grandfather right away"
After his victory, Affini’s thoughts turned immediately to his grandfather, who had passed away earlier in the year. “I thought of my grandfather right away. He passed at the beginning of the year, and I know he would have loved to see me win. He always believed I could do it. After that, I couldn’t wait to see my family. They were in Hasselt to cheer me on.”
Affini’s European time trial victory gave him a significant morale boost. “I wouldn’t say I grew wings, but it was certainly a confirmation of my form,” he admits. As for his preparation, he remains grounded. “We didn’t do anything different this year compared to previous ones. I kept working and training on the time trial bike, and together with the team, we optimized the equipment. These performances also set the stage for what’s to come in 2025.”
