Vincenzo Nibali will return to racing at the Trittico Lombardo on the 16th of September in order to prepare for an assault on the Rainbow Jersey at the World Championships in Spain.

Nibali is using the triptych of one-day races, Coppa Bernocchi, Coppa Agostoni and Tre Valli Varesine to prepare for the race at the end of the month where he hopes to put memories of last year’s fourth place behind.

He has been training with Alessandro Vanotti and trainer Paolo Slongo in Bergamo and tested himself on the 7.5km, 7% climb to Roncola.

"We are normal, neither particularly good nor particularly bad," Slongo told La Gazzetta dello Sport of Nibali's current form and condition. "There needs to be consideration that Vincenzo has had several engagements after the Tour, including the trip to Kazakhstan, but he has certainly not stopped riding."

"Clearly we now must intensify training because the Trittico Lombardo will be an important test and we can begin to understand something of what we will see from Nibali in Spain," Slongo added.

"This week I will probably join him in Switzerland to follow a couple of long workouts. We must be realistic and not think that Vincenzo may again be the same as he was at the Tour. But we must prepared to the fullest."