For Vincenzo Nibali, the Giro was the first Grand Tour he took a truly commanding win at, way back in 2013. Three years on, he once more finds himself as the favourite to win the biggest race in his home country.
But in 2013, Nibali was on fire pre-Giro, winning both Giro del Trentino and Tirreno-Adriatico before taking his first Pink Jersey. In 2016, he started well and won the GC in Oman, but has looked poor ever since.
“I wasn’t overly happy with how it went but I am pretty calm and confident and ready for the Giro. Immediately before Trentino I had previously trained very hard, so it was almost like I was recovering from that spell of training as I headed towards Liege-Bastogne-Liege. I ‘m building towards this Giro and the biggest stages, the key stages, will show us what is what,” he said at his pre-race press conference.
Mikel Landa, who won in Trentino this year while Nibali was only 21st, is certainly the best pure climber at the Giro. Nibali has the advantage of a 40km time trial and he intends to make full use of it.
"Up until now the time trials have always been Landa’s weak point. The time trial should, therefore, be a point in my favour," he said. “It is going to be first key battle, too: it’s got so many curves, and has a very technical, lumpy course. I don’t want to forget the [stage eight] Arezzo roads with the strade bianche. But the time trial is where we will really get a feel for who’ll be in top form for winning the Giro.”
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