Vincenzo Nibali: 'I'm not going to risk my season in the Tour of Flanders'
Italian Vincenzo Nibali plays down expectations that he could go for the victory in Sunday's Tour of Flanders after his win in Milan-San Remo
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) says that he will not jeopardise his season by riding the Tour of Flanders on Sunday.
Attention falls heavily on the Italian Grand Tour star after his solo Poggio attack and Via Roma win in Milan-San Remo two weeks ago. It is his first race since then, and his first time racing on the Tour of Flanders' cobbled roads.
"I made requests in the past to race Flanders, but it didn't happen," 33-year-old Nibali explained.
"I am going to race here with much attention. There are often crashes here that could impede the rest of your season. For sure, I won't risk it out there."
Nibali's season is built around Liège-Bastogne-Liège and racing the Tour de France for a second title. Racing the Tour of Flanders was planned initially simply to have some cobbles mixed into his schedule with the Tour's 'Paris-Roubaix' stage nine.
>>> Tour of Flanders 2018: Latest news and race info
Celebrating on Via Roma was not even a consideration when 2018 began with him missing the Vuelta a San Juan due sickness on the eve of the tour.
Now, however, with that win in Milan-San Remo, some insiders say Nibali should be among the race favourites even if it is his Flanders debut.
"I don't think I am a favourite. The favourites are Philippe Gilbert, Sep Vanmarcke and Peter Sagan, these are the men for Flanders," Nibali added.
"The important thing will be to get to these climbs with team-mates who can guide me, and then try to do a good race. It will be hard to do well in my first year on the race, but on the face of it, it's a race that I like."
Nibali arrived on Wednesday and Thursday. Before a team press conference in Kortrijk at the team hotel where Fabian Cancellara and CSC/Saxo Bank used to sleep, he previewed the final 80 kilometres of the Tour of Flanders.
"It's significant pavé and you'll feel it in your legs because you are burning so much energy in the race. If I'm honest, though, the cobbles in Paris-Roubaix are much harder and more difficult to manage.
"Here the pavé's pretty good. In some points, it's a bit broken up, especially at the top of the Kwaremont. It's going to be hard. The difference can be made there, just being at the front."
In Milan-San Remo, no one considered a successful solo ride from the top of the Poggio possible, but Nibali attacked with 6.4 kilometres to race and held 10 seconds over the top of the climb. He carried it to victory and gave the dreamers ammunition for future Milan-San Remos and other Classics.
"I don't know where I could attack Flanders. It's going to be a new experience so I need to see how it goes. For sure, on the final part [of Kwaremont], if I have the legs and the form to try to make a move then... We just need to see as the race goes on if I have an opportunity, right now I don' t know," continued Nibali.
"To be sincere, after Milan-San Remo, my morale is high and that let's you know that you are going well because after 300 kilomeres, I finished the race and I was truly well.
"In Flanders, I came here with respect for the race and for my rivals. They are true players. There are other objectives this year, but I'm going to try to do the best I can here. Can I win? I'll be honest, I don't know, but I'm going to try to have a good race."
Thank you for reading 10 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.
-
-
How E3 showed us what Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pogačar need to do to win the Tour of Flanders
Wout van Aert might have won on Friday, but everything could change next Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Primož Roglič powers to victory on stage five of the Volta a Catalunya
Roglič extends his lead over Remco Evenepoel in the overall classification
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
How E3 showed us what Van Aert, Van der Poel and Pogačar need to do to win the Tour of Flanders
Wout van Aert might have won on Friday, but everything could change next Sunday
By Adam Becket • Published
-
All Flanders Classics races, from Omloop to the Tour of Flanders, to have equal prize money
Women will earn the same as men from this year, as €400,000 is split across six races
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Adrie van der Poel reveals banter exchanged with Mathieu before CX World Championships
Van der Poel senior says that his sons cyclo-cross season has been ‘perfect’ preparation for a strong start to the cobbled classics
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar eyes Tour of Flanders revenge in 2023
The UAE Team Emirates rider hopes to add to his Monuments collection next season
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Julian Alaphilippe: ‘I want to be 100% for the Tour of Flanders’
The Frenchman has said the Monument is his “big goal” for next season.
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Giro d’Italia 2023 route: Every stage detailed for the 106th edition of the Corsa Rosa
Taking an in depth look at all 21 stages of the 2023 edition of the Italian grand tour
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated
-
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
-
‘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