Since then, sport has been on the up. On the 9th stage up to the blockhouse, he stayed in sight of the best for a long time. On Saturday he was one of the best himself. His team boss Alexander Vinokurov even considers third place in the final standings possible, said the Kazakh of the sports show.
Giuseppe Martinellilongtime athletic director Nibalis and in the support car at almost all of the Sicilian’s major victories, however, believes that concentrating on stage wins is more promising. “Has a stage win on a special day Vincenzo always in“, said Martinelli the sports show.
Aging shark like old wine
He sees the return Nibalis to Astana after several years with the racing teams Bahrain Merida and Trek Segafredo on reduced salaries not only as a homecoming of the athlete. “It is also a mutual gift. Vincenzo is giving us another season with him, and we’re giving him a season with a competition calendar of his own choosing” said Martinelli.
So everyone is in a giving mood at the moment. The Italian’s last home tour therefore takes on the format of a wine tasting. Just as one tastes the grape juice, holding it between the palate and tongue to prolong the pleasure, one now also watches this stylist’s appearances on the bike and enjoys his racing instincts. You don’t expect big promotions every day, because you don’t uncork an old wine every day.
Instinct for timing
With his farewell announcement proves Nibali a knack for timing a career. Its golden age is over. But he’s retiring at a time when he’s still competitive and not feeling pity, eh Chris Froomethe seven months younger permanent rival of the last decade.
For all these reasons, in the pink race of the Giro d’Italia also a blue streak of melancholy. Nibali is one of the few cycling players to have won all three major national tours over the course of their careers. In 2010 he won the Vuelta, in 2013 he celebrated the first of two Giro victories and in 2014 he confidently won the Tour de France.
Successor not in sight
During his 17 years in the professional peloton, Nibali has never been more involved in a doping scandal. He drove himself for affair teams like Liquigas, Astana and Bahrain – but nothing ever stuck to the skin of the shark. That too is a remarkable achievement.
So Italy bids farewell to a great man who knows how to recognize the signs of the times and for whom there is no successor in sight anywhere in the country. Best classification driver next to Nibali is currently the two years older Domenico Pozzovivo. This fact also makes the Farewell Giro des Vincenzo Nibali so special.
Another great round trip, tour or vueltawant Nibali ride throughout the season. The Lombardy tour in autumn will probably be the last big stage. “we are preparing something special again“said the route planner of Giro and Lombardia, Stefano Allocchio, the sports show. Brought the Giro Allocchio already home Nibalis. Lombardy is too far away. But there will certainly be gifts for the national heroes and special advertising mediums of the pink company.