Vincenzo Nibali is certain of Ivan Basso’s form ahead of the Giro d’ Italia 2012
Vincenzo Nibali has backed his team-mate Ivan Basso for the 2012 edition of the Giro d’ Italia and is positive that Basso is amongst the top overall contender for the race.
Nibali is having a terrific season and has filled his bag with numerous victories in the earlier part of the season.
He claimed the top overall position at the Tirreno-Adriatico and also bagged the fifth stage of the race.
The Italian also finished second during the Tour of Oman, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and third at the Milan-San Remo.
Nibali told Radio Sportiva, “I saw Ivan when we did the training camp in Tenerife”.
“He wasn’t in the greatest of condition because he had a series of bad luck but there in Tenerife, he wanted to get back on the right track by training hard, as he only he can”.
“I have to say that in those days he already improved a lot, and then I could see at the Giro del Trentino and the Tour de Romandie that his condition was really growing”.
“So I’m certain that at the Giro d’Italia he can do great things”.
On the other hand, Basso has not started his winning account of the 2012 season and Nibali is determined that his compatriot will find his winning ways at the Giro d’ Italia 2012.
Ivan marked his debut appearance at the Giro during the 1999 edition of the race and has participated at the race on six different occasions.
He secured the first overall position during the 2006 and the 2010 editions of the race and finished fourth at the Giro d’ Italia 2009.
Alberto Contador was an ultimate favourite for the race but his two-year ban from professional cycling restricts him from riding the major cycling events of the season and Giro d’ Italia is on top of the list.
Nibali himself has strong chances of occupying the top podium spot after the final general classifications.
The 27-year-old rode brilliantly in the most recent edition of the Giro and achieved the second overall position.
He finished 46 seconds behind the race leader Michele Scarponi and also claimed the third position after the point’s classifications.
Tags: