'We're ready to lose everything to try to win everything' – World champion Magdeleine Vallieres inspires EF Education-Oatly to aim even higher at Strade Bianche

World champion Magdeleine Vallieres has declared EF Education-Oatly's audacious intent for the upcoming Strade Bianche, stating the team is "ready to lose everything to try to win everything." The Canadian, set to debut her rainbow stripes on the iconic Tuscan gravel, is clearly a driving force behind this aggressive philosophy, aiming to translate her recent U23 World Championship success into a bold statement on Saturday's Women's WorldTour opener.

This declaration is particularly significant given EF Education-Oatly's relatively new status in the top tier of women's cycling, having only joined the WorldTour in 2023. Vallieres' U23 World Championship in Glasgow last year was a breakout moment, and her confidence, coupled with the team's willingness to gamble, signals a departure from more conservative tactics often seen from developing squads. It sets a high bar for a team looking to establish itself firmly among the sport's elite.

Such a high-stakes approach is certainly admirable, if not entirely pragmatic. In a race as unpredictable as Strade Bianche, "winning everything" often means risking precisely that.