Astana team manager Giuseppe Martinelli has confirmed that Vincenzo Nibali will not ride the Giro d’Italia as he is focussing on defending his Tour de France title. 

Asked if it was 100 per cent certain that 2013 Giro winner Nibali would not race in the Giro, Martinelli told Cyclingnews, “Yes, yes, it’s definitive. He has the Tour de France in his head and he’s 100 per cent focused on that.”

With Fabio Aru leading Astana in the Giro, Nibali is free to not ride the build up events and is taking part in the Ardennes Classics, where Liege-Bastogne-Liege will be his goal, after finishing second in 2012.

“Liege-Bastogne-Liege suits him the best. And he’ll be in good condition for that. Amstel’s a bit tricky for him, [because] it’s not as tough [a race].”