The pair arrived in Australia in early January. On the other side of the world, the professional careers of the two 21-year-olds will officially begin. The Santos Tour Down Under will also be their first race at WorldTour level. “A dream come true”, Rex says. “When I joined the team last year, turning professional was my main goal. The fact that it has already happened makes me incredibly proud.”

In his first year with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, the strong all-rounder immediately made his mark with the Development Team and was soon given several opportunities with the WorldTeam. “Many of the races I rode with the WorldTeam even ended in victories. Winning the Coppi e Bartali with Ben Tulett and the Tour de l’Ain with Cian Uijtdebroeks was amazing. Those are experiences I’ll never forget.”

“I also had a lot of success riding with Matthew Brennan, including his victory in Denain. I really enjoy working for a teammate. It’s great to ride for someone when you know he can win”, Rex explains. The same goes for Mattio, who has already played a key role in victories by Brennan and former teammate Olav Kooij.

The powerful Italian rider has been part of the Dutch squad for some time now. After three seasons with the Development Team, he too feels ready to take the next step. “Of course it’s a big step, but I feel ready for it. The races I have already ridden with the WorldTeam have only made me want more. I’m absolutely not afraid to join the professional peloton.”

In the span of three years, Mattio’s life has changed completely. “Before this, I rode for a small club team in Italy. When I joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike, I entered a completely different world. Race preparation, training, nutrition; everything is done so professionally. Here, I learned what it really means to work together. We are not competitors, we are teammates.”

“And last winter, something else changed for me”, Mattio laughs. “My preseason didn’t start on skis in Norway with the Development Team, but straight on the bike in Spain.” He is referring to the WorldTeam’s training camp in December. “There, I was training alongside riders I used to watch on television. My goal is to perform at a good level throughout the entire season and support our leaders.”

During the training camp, Rex shared a room with fellow Belgian Victor Campenaerts. “That was great fun and we had plenty of good conversations. I can learn so much from him, and the whole team has really welcomed me. I feel myself improving all the time. I’m making big steps both physically and mentally.”

“This year is all about learning and gaining experience for me. My ultimate dream? One day lining up at the start of the Tour de France”, Rex says with a smile. But first, the Santos Tour Down Under awaits the two young talents. “It’s really nice to race that event together. It feels familiar. Pietro is a real teammate with whom I immediately clicked. I can't wait to start the season with him.”