Vincenzo Nibali aiming to assemble super-squad around him for Giro d'Italia defence
Nibali looking to the likes of Joaquim Rodriguez, Ion Izaguirre and Giovanni Visconti in the new Bahrain-Merida squad


Vincenzo Nibali, the 2013 and 2016 Giro d'Italia winner, says that he will have a super-squad around him next year. The Sicilian is expected to line up again in 2017, the 100th edition, given the race's visit to his hometown.
>>> Why Chris Froome won’t jeopardise Tour hopes by riding the Giro
RCS Sport presented the 100th edition on Tuesday evening in Milan. It starts in Sardinia, visits Sicily and travels from the toe of the boot to the Alps in the north.
Nibali, who is leaving team Astana to lead Middle East team Bahrain-Merida, could bring heavy ammunition along for the three weeks, May 5 to 28.
"It's going to be built for the need, if it is this Giro or any Grand Tour," Nibali told Cycling Weekly after the presentation in Milan's Ice Palace.
"I need to speak to the riders in the next days. We have Joaquím Rodríguez, Ion Izaguirre and Giovanni Visconti, riders I didn't have this year. We can create a great group around me for the Giro."
Nibali just arrived from the Abu Dhabi Tour where his Astana team-mate Tanel Kangert won the overall. He left the presentation for his home in Lugano, Switzerland, where he will hang up his Astana kit and pack his bag.
>>> Giro d’Italia 2017 route revealed
He leaves for Croatia one Wednesday to meet his new Bahrain-Merida team. The team is built around Nibali and is expected to give him an A-team like none other for the Giro.
He will need it given the Giro route presented for next year. It finishes up four climbs and includes high Alpine passes like Stelvio and Pordoi.
The first week, however, already presents several opportunities (or pitfalls), including a Mount Etna finish on stage four.
"It's one where you need to arrive ready from the gun. It's a truly hard and difficult Giro with many summit finishes," Nibali said.
Watch: 2016 Road World Championships highlights
"There are some big stages. Already with Etna, where we saw in 2011 that it's a very demanding climb, even if it's not the same side that Alberto Contador used to win. That year taught us how important the climb is."
The 17.45-kilometre climb up Etna comes after a big start of three stages in Sardinia and a transfer/rest day to Sicily. On stage four, the race will reach 1,892 metres on the south side of the active volcano.
"Then Blockhaus, another important stage, the summit finish to Oropa... One after another," Nibali added. "If a rider is not good then anything can happen. It's hard, complicated and difficult in 2017."
Nibali already won the Giro twice, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Given organiser RCS Sport will finish stage five in his hometown of Messina, the Sicilian is almost obliged to race.
"I don't know if I will yet," Nibali added. "Clearly for me, this is a special Giro: the 100th edition and it visits, Sicily, my region. It's very interesting. I like it."
Thank you for reading 5 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.
-
-
EF Education-EasyPost and Israel-Premier Tech to race all-new Maryland Classic in September, one of just 4 UCI races in the US
A truly international field slated to attend America's newest UCI race
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Kristen Faulkner cools down after making a splash at the Giro Donne
The American headed straight for the sea to after winning the stage and taking the Giro Donne overall lead
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
‘No more questions’ - Bahrain Victorious shut down pre-Tour de France press conference
Team hotel searched by Danish Police day before racing begins
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Bahrain Victorious hotel searched by police day before Tour de France starts
Danish Police searched team hotel at 5.30am on behalf of French prosecutors
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Stevie Williams says every day in Tour de Suisse lead is 'a bonus'
Williams backed up a win on the opening stage, retaining the overall lead after stage two
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali rolls back the years with shark attack on stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia
37-year-old up to fifth on general classification with five stages left
By Adam Becket • Published
-
The general classification just got even tighter: Five talking points from stage 16 of the Giro d'Italia 2022
There was climbing, climbing, and more climbing on Tuesday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'Not easy, but not impossible': After Tour of the Alps stage win, Pello Bilbao 'dreams' of Giro d'Italia leader's jersey
Bahrain-Victorious rider sprints to victory after teamworks brings the race back together
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Bahrain-Victorious terminate rider's contract after Covid rule breaches
Alejandro Osorio dismissed by team after just eight days of racing for team
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Sonny Colbrelli suffered an 'unstable cardiac arrhythmia' at the Volta a Catalunya, cause still unknown
Bahrain-Victorious say their rider is in a "good" clinical situation
By Adam Becket • Published