Ben Granger interview: from Lancaster to Empoli, the climb continues
From Lancaster to Firenze, Ben Granger keeps proving his class. After winning solo in the UK last summer, he’s now taken a gritty sprint victory in Italy’s season opener. “Sometimes you’ve just got to find another way to win,” he says. And he’s finding plenty.
Ben Granger is fast becoming a rider to watch. The 24-year-old Brit, now entering his third full season with MG.K Vis Costruzioni Ambiente, kicked off 2025 with a victory at Firenze-Empoli, Italy’s season opener and one of the most well-regarded races on the national scene.
It was a win that spoke volumes about his growing ability to read a race, execute a strategy, and deliver under pressure. Winning in cold, wet conditions, against a stacked field, was no fluke. It was further proof of the progress he has made over the past few seasons – a rise that has seen him rack up three major wins in Italy, including the Giro del Montalbano (2024) and Giro del Valdarno (2023).
But for all his success in Italy, Granger’s defining moment last season came on home roads, at the Lancaster Grand Prix in July, where he put in a stunning late attack to take his biggest UK win to date.
“It was a pretty special one,” he said at the time. “I’d been knocking on the door all year in National A races, so to finally get a big win at Lancaster, in the way I did, meant a lot. I knew I had the legs, but I also knew that if I left it to the final sprint, I’d be in trouble. I had to commit.”
That race – and the way he won it – solidified his aggressive, opportunistic racing style, a trait that has served him well both in the UK and abroad. In his last interview with The British Continental in September 2024, he described his racing philosophy as “controlled aggression” – balancing instinct and timing to get the best results. His latest victory in Firenze-Empoli suggests that 2025 could be another year of serious progression.
Ben Granger wins the 2024 Lancaster Grand Prix. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
Granger ended 2024 on a high, with solid performances in his final races, leaving him feeling optimistic heading into the winter. “I enjoyed the off-season a lot,” he says. “I finished the season pretty positively in the last couple of races, which left morale high. But yeah, I don’t get up to anything crazy – I really like just being back in the UK, spending time with family and friends that I don’t get to see much during the race season.”
His winter preparations weren’t all smooth sailing, though. “I had a mixed winter,” he admits. “I got ill a few times, which nearly kept me from racing Firenze-Empoli. I was still a bit unsure whether I should go, but on team camp last week I was ahead of where I thought I’d be, so we decided it was worth it. And yeah, that turned out to be a good call!”
Firenze-Empoli is no small race. As Italy’s first major national event of the year, it always attracts a deep, motivated field eager to test their early-season form. It’s not unlike the Portsdown Classic in the UK – an early-season showdown often shaped by testing conditions – but in Italy, the crowds are bigger, the racing is fiercer, and the stakes are higher.
As soon as we saw the bad weather, the team decided it made sense for me to get in the early break and roll the dice
“It’s a classics-style race, really,” Granger explains. “It’s the opening Italian national race of the season, so it gets a nice amount of attention in the scene out here. The parcours isn’t too hilly, but there are enough opportunities to make a difference—especially with the cold and wet weather conditions we had.”
With relentless rain and bitter cold, it was always going to be a war of attrition. That played into MG.K Vis’s hands. “As soon as we saw the bad weather, the team decided it made sense for me to get in the early break and roll the dice,” he says. “And it went exactly to plan, really. A strong group came across to us halfway through, with all of the big teams represented, which made it a race between just 15 or so of us. That simplified things a lot.”
Image: supplied
As the race wore on, the group thinned down further. “It ended up being four of us left in the final. I didn’t have the legs to go away, but that gave me the chance to show that I can dig out a bit of a sprint if I need to – and that I’m not just a one-trick pony who can only win solo!”
Firenze-Empoli marked an important evolution in his racing style. At Lancaster, he blew the race apart with a late solo attack. In Italy, he showed he could win in a different way—biding his time in the final and delivering in a reduced sprint. “It’s not normally how I win, but I backed myself,” he says. “Sometimes you’ve just got to find another way to win.”
It’s not normally how I win, but I backed myself. Sometimes you’ve just got to find another way
In his previous interview, Granger spoke about the pressures of being a Conti rider, saying, “You’re always trying to prove yourself because there’s always someone younger or stronger waiting for their shot.” With another season under his belt, his perspective has matured. “I don’t think it makes sense to fixate on turning pro rather than just focusing on improving,” he says now. “If you get better, the opportunities will come.”
Granger’s latest win marks another step forward in his development. Now in his third season with MG.K Vis, he feels at home in Italy. “I’ve got a good relationship with all the staff and riders, and my Italian isn’t too bad now, which helps a lot,” he says. “The team’s really good at giving us the right balance of opportunities—whether it’s racing Italian nationals, .Pro races, or one-day events. And I feel like it’s a really good place for my development, especially with the addition of some Northern European races to our calendar this season.”
Italy has been his base for a while now. In our last interview, he spoke about how much he was learning from being around experienced riders at Zappi Racing Team and racing in Italy. Now, with another winter under his belt, he sounds even more settled – his Italian has improved, and he’s embracing the long-term development process. “I’ve got an Italian visa, so I’m based out here most of the year,” he says. “I’m lucky to stay with Zappi Racing Team, and we’ve got a really good group of boys out here, which is great for morale and just helps you be a happier and better bike rider.”
Image: Pettinati Communication
With Firenze-Empoli in the bag, his sights are already set on bigger goals. Giro d’Abruzzo (2.1) in April offers the kind of terrain where his evolving race craft will be put to the test. “It’s a race I like a lot and should be a good indicator for where I’m at,” he says.
And then there’s the bigger question -does he see himself turning pro? “I really like the self-improvement aspect of cycling,” he says. “I don’t think it makes much sense to fixate on turning pro rather than just focusing on improving. But as a rider on a Conti team, the next step up is ProConti, so it’d be nice if I could improve myself to the point where I’m ready for (and wanted at) that level.”
I don’t think it makes much sense to fixate on turning pro rather than just focusing on improving
He knows it’s possible, citing a fellow Brit as proof. “The likes of Paul Double have shown that if you perform well enough, you can still turn pro well into your twenties. Like I mentioned before, I need to step up a level or two in some regards – but I believe that’s something I’m capable of doing.”
Three years in Italy, three big wins, and now a sprint victory to add to his skillset. If he keeps evolving at this rate, it won’t just be ProConti teams taking notice.
Ben Granger is fast becoming a rider to watch. The 24-year-old Brit, now entering his third full season with MG.K Vis Costruzioni Ambiente, kicked off 2025 with a victory at Firenze-Empoli, Italy’s season opener and one of the most well-regarded races on the national scene.
It was a win that spoke volumes about his growing ability to read a race, execute a strategy, and deliver under pressure. Winning in cold, wet conditions, against a stacked field, was no fluke. It was further proof of the progress he has made over the past few seasons – a rise that has seen him rack up three major wins in Italy, including the Giro del Montalbano (2024) and Giro del Valdarno (2023).
But for all his success in Italy, Granger’s defining moment last season came on home roads, at the Lancaster Grand Prix in July, where he put in a stunning late attack to take his biggest UK win to date.
“It was a pretty special one,” he said at the time. “I’d been knocking on the door all year in National A races, so to finally get a big win at Lancaster, in the way I did, meant a lot. I knew I had the legs, but I also knew that if I left it to the final sprint, I’d be in trouble. I had to commit.”
That race – and the way he won it – solidified his aggressive, opportunistic racing style, a trait that has served him well both in the UK and abroad. In his last interview with The British Continental in September 2024, he described his racing philosophy as “controlled aggression” – balancing instinct and timing to get the best results. His latest victory in Firenze-Empoli suggests that 2025 could be another year of serious progression.
Granger ended 2024 on a high, with solid performances in his final races, leaving him feeling optimistic heading into the winter. “I enjoyed the off-season a lot,” he says. “I finished the season pretty positively in the last couple of races, which left morale high. But yeah, I don’t get up to anything crazy – I really like just being back in the UK, spending time with family and friends that I don’t get to see much during the race season.”
His winter preparations weren’t all smooth sailing, though. “I had a mixed winter,” he admits. “I got ill a few times, which nearly kept me from racing Firenze-Empoli. I was still a bit unsure whether I should go, but on team camp last week I was ahead of where I thought I’d be, so we decided it was worth it. And yeah, that turned out to be a good call!”
Firenze-Empoli is no small race. As Italy’s first major national event of the year, it always attracts a deep, motivated field eager to test their early-season form. It’s not unlike the Portsdown Classic in the UK – an early-season showdown often shaped by testing conditions – but in Italy, the crowds are bigger, the racing is fiercer, and the stakes are higher.
“It’s a classics-style race, really,” Granger explains. “It’s the opening Italian national race of the season, so it gets a nice amount of attention in the scene out here. The parcours isn’t too hilly, but there are enough opportunities to make a difference—especially with the cold and wet weather conditions we had.”
With relentless rain and bitter cold, it was always going to be a war of attrition. That played into MG.K Vis’s hands. “As soon as we saw the bad weather, the team decided it made sense for me to get in the early break and roll the dice,” he says. “And it went exactly to plan, really. A strong group came across to us halfway through, with all of the big teams represented, which made it a race between just 15 or so of us. That simplified things a lot.”
As the race wore on, the group thinned down further. “It ended up being four of us left in the final. I didn’t have the legs to go away, but that gave me the chance to show that I can dig out a bit of a sprint if I need to – and that I’m not just a one-trick pony who can only win solo!”
Firenze-Empoli marked an important evolution in his racing style. At Lancaster, he blew the race apart with a late solo attack. In Italy, he showed he could win in a different way—biding his time in the final and delivering in a reduced sprint. “It’s not normally how I win, but I backed myself,” he says. “Sometimes you’ve just got to find another way to win.”
In his previous interview, Granger spoke about the pressures of being a Conti rider, saying, “You’re always trying to prove yourself because there’s always someone younger or stronger waiting for their shot.” With another season under his belt, his perspective has matured. “I don’t think it makes sense to fixate on turning pro rather than just focusing on improving,” he says now. “If you get better, the opportunities will come.”
Granger’s latest win marks another step forward in his development. Now in his third season with MG.K Vis, he feels at home in Italy. “I’ve got a good relationship with all the staff and riders, and my Italian isn’t too bad now, which helps a lot,” he says. “The team’s really good at giving us the right balance of opportunities—whether it’s racing Italian nationals, .Pro races, or one-day events. And I feel like it’s a really good place for my development, especially with the addition of some Northern European races to our calendar this season.”
Italy has been his base for a while now. In our last interview, he spoke about how much he was learning from being around experienced riders at Zappi Racing Team and racing in Italy. Now, with another winter under his belt, he sounds even more settled – his Italian has improved, and he’s embracing the long-term development process. “I’ve got an Italian visa, so I’m based out here most of the year,” he says. “I’m lucky to stay with Zappi Racing Team, and we’ve got a really good group of boys out here, which is great for morale and just helps you be a happier and better bike rider.”
With Firenze-Empoli in the bag, his sights are already set on bigger goals. Giro d’Abruzzo (2.1) in April offers the kind of terrain where his evolving race craft will be put to the test. “It’s a race I like a lot and should be a good indicator for where I’m at,” he says.
And then there’s the bigger question -does he see himself turning pro? “I really like the self-improvement aspect of cycling,” he says. “I don’t think it makes much sense to fixate on turning pro rather than just focusing on improving. But as a rider on a Conti team, the next step up is ProConti, so it’d be nice if I could improve myself to the point where I’m ready for (and wanted at) that level.”
He knows it’s possible, citing a fellow Brit as proof. “The likes of Paul Double have shown that if you perform well enough, you can still turn pro well into your twenties. Like I mentioned before, I need to step up a level or two in some regards – but I believe that’s something I’m capable of doing.”
Three years in Italy, three big wins, and now a sprint victory to add to his skillset. If he keeps evolving at this rate, it won’t just be ProConti teams taking notice.
Featured image: Pettinati Communication
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