Vincenzo Nibali wins the 2012 Giglio d'Oro award
Vincenzo Nibali’s had a super 2012 season with several victories under his belt that earned him the esteemed Giglio d'Oro award in Tuscany.
The cyclist was overwhelmed on receiving the award and noted to Cyclingnews, "I'm honoured to win the Giglio d'Oro for a second time because I lived in Tuscany for 10 years and feel at home here".
"I've won the Vuelta, and the Giro will be a big goal next year but I also hope to win a Classic. I was close last year at Milan-San Remo and Liege-Bastogne-Liege”.
“I'd love to win Liege next year or maybe the Amstel Gold Race or the Tour of Lombardy. 2013 will be important for me, and I'm already back on the bike to get ready for my debut with Astana at the Tour of San Luis in Argentina".
The Italian claimed overall victories at the Tirreno-Adriatico, Giro di Padania along with the point’s classifications and a stage each.
He succeeded during the fifth stage of the Tour of Oman and occupied the second overall spot at the Tour of Oman 2012.
Nibali finished second at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, third at the Milan-San Remo and the Tour de France along with the fifth overall finish at the Tour de San Luis 2012.
The 28-year-old occupied the fourth overall position at the UCI World Tour Individual rankings with a total number of 400 UCI points.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver leads the category with 692 point while Bradley Wiggins (601) and Tom Boonen (410) securing the second and the third positions respectively.
Nibali was accompanied by the Italian National Champion Franco Pellizotti and Moreno Moser who was voted the revelation of 2012 after his tremendous performances at the Trofeo Laigueglia and the Tour of Poland.
Umberto Orsini won the most successful Italian Junior rider after he won the Italian National Road title, the award by received by his uncle, the former Paris-Roubaix winner Andrea Tafi.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver, the UCI World Tour winner claimed the International award in memory of Franco Ballerini which was received by Spain Consul.
The 28-year-old is all set to continue to start his seventh consecutive season with Team Liquigas with a Grand Tour overall victory as his major 2013 goal.
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