Vincenzo Nibali will lead Team Italy at the UCI Road World Championships
Vincenzo Nibali is amongst the most experienced players in the current Italian squad and his tremendous performances in the 2012 have earned him a leadership spot at the UCI Road World Championships.
The cyclist was somewhat surprised to hear the news of FCI to bar the cyclists who have previously been tested positive as well as the ones whose names are involved in ongoing doping investigations.
Nibali will go to Valkenburg with a young team and believes that his side has very strong chances of winning the event.
“I’m enthusiastic about the idea of a young national team with me as the point of reference,” Nibali told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I have a bit more experience [than the rest of the team] but in terms of spirit, desire and curiosity, I feel very young”.
“Moreno Moser and Diego Ulissi, to name two of the guys mentioned by Paolo Bettini, are riders of real worth, Classics riders,” Vincenzo cited.
“They’re the two I know best, Enrico Battaglin is another with great qualities, but I don’t know him well and this year our calendars have been different”.
The 27-year-old is enjoying a terrific form and his performance during the Tour de France 2012 was a major highlight of his 2012 season.
He was the only cyclist who gave a real competition to the British cyclists, Bradley Wiggins and Christopher Froome throughout the three-week race.
The Italian was impressive during the event and occupied the third overall position after the final general classifications at the race.
He also secured the first overall position at the Tirreno-Adriatico and second overall at the Tour of Oman, including a stage each at both the races.
His other performances in the current season include a second place finish at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and third at the Milan-San Remo.
Nibali will now be seen in action at the Giro di Padania, where he will fine tune his form ahead of the UCI Road World Championships.
Giro di Padania started back in 2011 and it has faced much critique during the first edition but Vincenzo is hopeful that the coming year of the race will be less controversial.
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