Vincenzo Nibali must answer the same questions as everyone else
All riders should be asked the same tough questions, not just selected individuals

I’m not opposed to anyone and everyone being quizzed about doping. Why shouldn’t pro riders be asked awkward questions? The problem comes when one team or certain individuals are singled out for special treatment, as seems to be the case with Sky, Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins.
A couple of years ago, Sir Brad famously lost his temper in a press conference when he was repeatedly asked to justify his form, and then, 12 months ago, it seemed that Froome was asked nothing else.
“It’s been a challenge, but it’s understandable,” said Froome in reaction to the deluge of doping questions last year. “Whoever was going to be in this yellow jersey was going to come under the same amount of scrutiny, and I can understand that.”
Fair enough, Sky should be asked tough questions, but why should Nibali be let off the hook? He’s every bit as dominant as Froome was 12 months ago, but there doesn’t seem the same appetite to question his performances.
General manager of Nibali’s Astana team is the notorious Alexandre Vinokourov, who failed a dope test in the 2007 Tour. Nibali’s team-mate Michele Scarponi was suspended for blood doping, and his directeur sportif Giuseppe Martinelli was Marco Pantani’s former team manager.
None of these facts mean that Nibali is a doper, but the set-up at Astana is the polar opposite of Team Sky’s zero-tolerance approach.
At the very least, Nibali should be subject to equal scrutiny, not less.
Robert Garbutt is editor of Cycling Weekly
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
-
-
Doing more cycling in the 'sweetspot' training zone could revolutionise your fitness - here's why
The ‘comfortably hard’ zone just below FTP promises sweet rewards for your aerobic fitness, but how much and how often is best for you? Pro coach Brendan Housler explains
By Brendan Housler • Published
-
Are you getting the most out of Strava? Five tools to enhance your Stava experience
Whether it’s deeper analysis, stitching together activities or showcasing your ride, there’s a lot more you can do with Strava integrations
By Stefan Abram • 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
-
Vincenzo Nibali compared to Zlatan Ibrahimović by impressed Astana-Qazaqstan DS: 'He has some surprises in store'
The Italian last won a race in October, his first in more than two years
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'My final year? I haven't made a decision yet'
The Italian returns to Astana for 2022, but hasn't yet figured out whether it will be his swansong
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali abandons Tour de France 2021
The Italian star is the latest to leave the race ahead of the Olympics
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'My Giro started uphill and isn't getting much better'
Italian throws support behind team-mate Giulio Ciccone after crash on stage eight
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Astana-Premier Tech sports director wants Vincenzo Nibali to finish his career with the team
The general manager of Astana-Premier Tech has said that he wants Vincenzo Nibali to return to his team for the last season of his career.
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali says riders should switch off bike computers following Mathieu van der Poel’s Strade Bianche win
Vincenzo Nibali has said riders should avoid looking at their power meters in races, after Mathieu van der Poel’s phenomenal victory in Strade Bianche.
By Alex Ballinger • Published