Italian national coach Davide Cassani has heaped praise over Vincenzo Nibali, claiming that the success has not changed the Tour de France champion. Furthermore, he insists that he is confident in the future for Italian cycling.

Italian national coach Davide Cassani has praised Vincenzo Nibali, both for his skills as a rider and his personal attributes. Cassani claims that they have a "great relationship", mostly because he is "a rider who has not been changed by his success."

"Nibali is an unusual champion because he is still one of us," Cassani said at a ceremony in Viareggio. "That's not a given thing as he has won the most important race in the world, the Tour de France, just after he had won the Vuelta and the Giro. He is a classic rider who helps young people and those who will have an important role in the national team."

Cassani underlined that Italy is very competitive at the moment, especially in the grand tours, but admitted that there are "problems in the one-day races." Despite not being competitive in those races, the former RAI commentator is confident in the group of young riders whom he still wants to give time to mature into riders that can win big classics..