In 2014, Fabio Aru emerged as a potential grand tour winner when he finished third in the Giro d'Italia and fifth in the Vuelta a Espana. Next year the young Italian may make his Tour de France debut after he has led Astana at the Giro.

Vincenzo Nibali has made it clear that he wants to try to win the Giro-Tour double but has admitted that he also has to take the wishes of Fabio Aru into account. The Astana youngster had a breakthrough season as a grand tour rider in 2014 when he finished on the podium in the Giro d'Italia and was fifth in the Vuelta a Espana after having won stages in both races.

Last week Nibali's trainer Paolo Slongo outlined a schedule that would see the current Tour champion arrive in top condition for both grand tours. However, it is no secret that Astana manager Alexandre Vinokourov has different plans and wants Nibali to focus exclusively on the French grand tour while he hopes to see Aru lead the team in Italy.

Now La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Aru may in fact be the rider to do the Giro-Tour double. The Italian newspaper reports that Astana is seriously considering sending the youngster to France after the Giro. With a repeat win in the Tour de France being the biggest goal of the season, the team apparenly wants the strongest possible roster on the start line and the A team definitely includes Aru.

Before making a final decision, the team is waiting for the Vuelta a Espana course to be presented on January 10 and for a discussion with Nibali to have taken place. As things stand, however, the team hopes to have Aru lead the team in the Giro before he goes onto support Nibali at the Tour.

More is expected to emerge in November when the team has had its first gathering for the coming season.