Team Bahrain Merida captain Vincenzo Nibali and Sports Director Alberto Volpi met the media at the NH Orio al Serio Hotel today, where riders and staff members are spending the second rest day of this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Nibali, who trained on the rollers this morning due to bad weather, sits in third place overall going into the final decisive week of the Corsa Rosa. The Italian is 1’47” behind race leader Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team) and 1’00” behind second-placed rider Primož Roglič (Team Jumbo-Visma).
“A very tough week awaits us,” Nibali said. “We’ve already done some difficult stages, but starting from tomorrow we all be more tired. In general I feel right, because I know my worth. I don’t want to say more, but I know that I can do well in this Giro. I don’t take nothing for granted.
“The Giro is unpredictable as always. I don’t know what will be the good strategy if to try to gain seconds day by day or give a ‘KO punch’ to my rivals in one stage. This is a very tactical Giro and we saw many phases of study so far”.
Tomorrow’s stage will feature a new route, without the Gavia climb – because of the risk of an avalanche.
“This change will take something out for sure. We will still have to face the Mortirolo. That is a brutal climb anyway,” said Nibali.
Sports Director Alberto Volpi agrees. “It was the Queen stage with the Gavia, but Mortirolo is a very hard climb and with the risk of rain it will be more complicated, not only for climbing, but especially going downhill”.
