Astana officials told VeloNews in an email that the Italian would not be riding the Giro d’Italia this year.

“For sure, he will be at the Tour, [but] it’s difficult to see him at the next Giro d’Italia.”

Alberto Contador of Tinkoff-Saxo is attempting the Giro-Tour double, but Fabio Aru, third in the 2014 Giro for Astana, is expected to lead Astana in the race once more this year.

Nibali will make his season debut at the Dubai Tour on February 4, followed by the Tour of Oman in mid-February. His European debut will come on home roads, with a return to Tirreno-Adriatico after racing Paris-Nice last year, followed by Milano-Sanremo in March. After that, he will return to the Ardennes, with starts at Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. This is what the Astana official confirmed to VeloNews for Nibali so far for 2015.