Ballerini is back! A love story with the cobbles.
Davide Ballerini shares the exhilarating tale of his comeback to the competitive arena on the iconic cobblestones of the north.
Published: April 10, 2025
Between myth and reality, the races of the Northern Classics are the very essence of cycling. Exhaustion, determination, pain, and passion intertwine in a dance of light and shadow. The cobblestones, with their unrelenting toughness, become both inspiration and teachers.
At the heart of these legends, the emotions are palpable, the cheering a torrent that sweeps you away, and every km ridden a step towards immortality. For many riders, these races are not just a competition, but a mirage in the desert. It is here, among the northern winds and the harsh beauty of some of the sectors, that Davide Ballerini has found, and rediscovered, his place as a cyclist and as a man.
A childhood dream.
Fascinated by cycling from a young age, for Davide Ballerini the Northern Classics was love at first sight. Tough, extraordinary and incredibly engaging. That's why he dreamed of riding them one day when he turned professional, following in the footsteps of his idols.
"I've been dreaming about it since I was a kid," he explains, "ever since I started watching cycling on TV. When I started riding, I realised that I had the right skills for this kind of racing, and the first results came".
As time went on, the passion turned into a reality of sacrifice and success. The experience of the classics has allowed him to hone his skills, but above all it is helped him to understand the importance of every single detail: endurance, mental strength and the ability to adapt to the changing conditions of the race.
"I am really happy to be back at a good level. I've been chasing it for a long time and I've worked hard this winter. The Ronde was incredibly emotional, especially on the Kwaremont. There were so many people and the cheering here in Belgium is something you can't describe."
Facing the cobbles.
With their irregular and capricious nature, mastering the cobblestones is the ultimate test for any cyclist. Davide knows this well, and it is on these stones that a rider's true greatness is measured. The ability to tame them, both physically and mentally, is one of the keys to success.
"These are one-day races," he adds, "where everything is on the line. A real double-edged sword. A lot of things can go wrong, but when you get the result, you can't put into words the emotions you feel".
The dream of a lifetime and the return to form focusing also on technical changes.
Of all the races, Paris-Roubaix holds a special place in Davide's heart. More than just a race, it is the dream of every cyclist, a legendary place where anything can happen. It is where the long sacrifices of a career can be rewarded. But it is also an incredibly tough challenge, difficult to interpret, requiring a combination of luck, preparation, clarity at crucial moments, and attention to detail.
"Roubaix is the race of my dreams and always will be. I don't want to take anything away from the others, but it's really beautiful. It takes your breath away, in every sense of the word. But it's also very difficult to interpret. You need a lot of luck and to be ready in the crucial moments."
You can't approach Roubaix without meticulous preparation. Davide knows this very well.
"In the last few months I've worked really hard to get back to my level. I feel competitive and ready. I've gone through a period of intense training and made a lot of small but important decisions. Some of them have to do with my equipment," he explained. "This year, I decided to focus on every aspect, and the decision to switch to Nimbl shoes was one of those crucial details. When I tried the Ultimate Exceed over the winter break, I immediately felt good. They're lightweight, yet incredibly stiff. The stiff sole gives me this great feeling of directing lots of power on the pedals, they're also very comfortable and fit my racing style perfectly. It's been an important step, a change that has add to my confidence and is one of the factors that has allowed me to feel at my best for the challenges ahead".
Recovery also plays a key role, especially after races like Flanders that test both body and mind. Rest and training are essential in order to approach the cobbles with the right energy, both physically and mentally, and to arrive at Roubaix in optimal form.
The "Holy Week".
The week between Flanders and Roubaix is one of the most symbolic and decisive. The accumulated fatigue leaves its mark and requires careful management to best tackle the end of the northern campaign.
"The most important thing these days is to recover from the Ronde, which was a very tough race. We have done a reconnaissance of the last 150km ahead of Sunday. It has been useful to assess the cobbles and the tire pressure management. As for the rest, I just want to stay focused and give it my all. It's too important a race, not only mentally, but it's a part of me".
The queen waits quietly for her heroes, and all of them, up there in the north, are preparing for the most glorious and grueling day. Davide knows that his dream is just a whisker away - he has to keep going. To soar, even over cobblestones, you must first build wings.