Vincenzo Nibali to ride Giro d'Italia in 2016 while Fabio Aru targets Tour de France
Vincenzo Nibali will return to the Giro d'Italia for the first time since winning it in 2013 and Fabio Aru will start his first Tour de France
Vuelta a España winner Fabio Aru will be given his first shot at the Tour de France in 2016, with Astana boss Alexandre Vinokourov confirming his key riders' targets for next season.
Vincenzo Nibali will aim for glory in the Giro d'Italia on a course that suits his strengths more than perhaps those of Aru, while the younger Italian will lead the Kazakh squad in July.
Nibali won the Giro d'Italia in 2013 but has not returned to the race since, instead focusing his season on the Tour de France - winning it in 2014. Aru, meanwhile, has ridden the Giro and Vuelta in both the last two seasons, finishing in the top five each time.
“Without doubt, I am certain that Nibali and Aru will have two different programmes,” Vinokourov told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Vincenzo feels a lot towards the Giro, he wants to return. Aru is 25 and he has progressed extraordinarily: in two seasons he has been third, fifth, second and first in the Grand Tours that he’s ridden - there is nobody like him in the world.
“In two or three years he can win the Tour and I would like to test him immediately. They are two great leaders that have won a lot, it is right that everyone has their own objective.”
>>> Giro d’Italia 2016 route officially revealed
Vinokourov also suggested that Nibali could ride alongside Aru at the Tour de France in preparation for the Olympic Games road race in Rio next August. Aru could also feature in the Italian team, but Vinokourov insists it will depend on how he comes through the Tour.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Chris Froome and Nairo Quintana have already stated their desire to win both the Tour and Olympics next year, so any challengers will have their work cut out.
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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
We rode and reviewed the Ouray, Parlee Cycles' first new bike model since facing bankruptcy
The storied American brand continues with a Portugal-made carbon steed that goes zoom but doesn’t fit like a race bike
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Changing of the guard: Seven top cyclists who have retired in 2022
Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tom Dumoulin have all called time on their careers this year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Italian neo-pro Michele Gazzoli banned for one year for 'non-intentional' anti-doping violation
23-year-old has Astana-Qazaqstan contract terminated as a result of sanction
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘I was rubbing shoulders with Nibali and Valverde’ - Oliver Knight gets starstruck at Vuelta a Burgos
UAE Team Emirates rider makes big step up in key race before the Vuelta a España
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Miguel Ángel López suspended by Astana-Qazaqstan over reported links to doctor under police investigation
Team suspend Colombian rider until circumstances of the Police investigation are clarified
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
-
Miguel Ángel López forced to abandon Giro d'Italia on stage four
Astana-Qazaqstan rider suffering from hip injury
By Adam Becket Published
-
Joe Dombrowski 'on track' for the Giro d'Italia, his 'favourite race'
The Astana-Qazaqstan rider ready to support team and look for opportunities in Italy
By Adam Becket Published