Vincenzo Nibali training on the track, but not for the Hour Record
Tour de France champion Vincenzo Nibali is honing his form in the velodrome for the road season ahead, rather than training for the Hour Record
Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) is training on the track in Valencia, Spain, this week, to prepare himself for the 2015 season... but not the Hour Record.
"I don't think he'll ever attempt the Hour Record," Astana's head coach, Paolo Slongo told Cycling Weekly. "He's too skinny to race for the Hour Record."
Nibali won the 2014 Tour to add to Grand Tour wins in the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. This winter, the team met twice in Spain to train together ahead of 2015. Nibali's aim is to defend his title in the Tour de France, this July 4 to 26.
At the 250-metre Palacio Velódromo Luis Puig, Slongo is testing Nibali and Fabio Aru while they ride in circles.
"We are getting important numbers," Slongo said. "Specialized has its experts here to help with such things as aerodynamics on the time trial bikes. We can make slight adjustments in their positions that they can work on when they are at home training alone."
>>> Vincenzo Nibali’s 2015 race schedule revealed; fewer racing days for the Italian
Nibali will begin his season at the Dubai Tour, February 4 to 7. He will continue with the Tour of Oman, facing Chris Froome (Sky), before returning to Italy.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
His schedule skips the Giro d'Italia and takes him to the Tour de France, and has no space for an Hour Record attempt. Instead, Australians Jack Bobridge (Budget Forklifts) and Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing), Alex Dowsett (Movistar) and Bradley Wiggins (Sky) will try. Austrian Matthias Brändle (IAM Cycling) currently holds the record at 51.852 kilometres.
"Nibali won't, though," Slongo added. "Fausto Coppi did it, but those were different times and he was one of the first. Tony Martin and Brad Wiggins can go for it, above all Wiggins is the one that can make it stick."
Nibali told Cycling Weekly in September "no" when asked if he would consider an attempt. His track events will be limited to testing and honing his aerodynamics ahead of the 2015 Tour de France.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
The Rugby Flyer flies again: the story of the first sub-hour '25' time trial
How one record-breaking bike – and the memory of the man who rode it – live on
By James Shrubsall Published
-
Chinese X-Lab vies for global domination as it equips XDS Astana with bikes for the WorldTour
A new partnership sees Astana aboard new bikes with increased funding for 2025
By Joe Baker Published
-
Miguel Ángel López takes Astana to court over ‘unlawful’ breach of contract
The Colombian was dismissed by Astana Qazaqstan in December, and is now seeking damages
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Mark Cavendish signs for Astana-Qazaqstan and will remain on the WorldTour for 2023
The transfer saga is over, Mark Cavendish has officially found a team, and will chase the Tour de France stage win record
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Is Mark Cavendish heading to Astana?
The Manx Missile has been heavily linked to Astana since the departure of their GC rider Miguel Ángel López
By Adam Hart Published
-
Astana Qazaqstan drops Miguel Ángel López over 'probable' doping case links
The 28-year-old had extended his contract last month
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Vincenzo Nibali explains decision to retire
The Italian rider announced his retirement in his hometown of Messina at the end of stage five of the Giro d'Italia
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Public prosecutor's office opens judicial investigation into Astana Qazaqstan's license holder
Abacanto SA has held the WorldTour team's license since 2010, but is being charged with violations of the Luxembourg criminal code
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali misses upcoming Ruta del Sol after testing positive for Covid-19
Astana-Qazaqstan shared on Twitter the Italian is currently "asymptomatic"
By Ryan Dabbs Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali will not ride Paris-Roubaix in order to focus on the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France
Italian says it would have been "really cool" to ride all five monuments but it wasn't "possible"
By Adam Becket Published