Damiano Caruso on Bahrain's 'special aura' at 2026 Giro and dream of retiring at the Tour de France

Damiano Caruso initially announced his retirement from professional cycling in 2025. Much to the request of Bahrain - Victorious (and Antonio Tiberi, has he told CyclingUpToDate this winter), he delayed it for 2026. He is now experiencing another dream Giro d'Italia, but confirms it will be his last.

The Bahraini team started off with Santiago Buitrago as their leader, aiming for a Top5. The Colombian withdrew from the race after crashing on stage 2; leaving Damiano Caruso and Afonso Eulálio with open roles. Initially domestiques and stage hunters; the duo became unlikely headliners on the entire race after stage 5.

Eulálio rode to the pink jersey with a stellar stage 5 performance and the minutes of lead he built up are enough for him to still carry the race lead up to stage 13. This Thursday, the team net its first win with Alec Segaert surprising the peloton on the arrival to Novi Ligure.

For the 38-year old Caruso, there are certainly no regrets about delaying his retirement, taking into consideration how his final Giro is being raced. “It's a nice feeling, especially for me. In this moment, in the team we have a special aura, because for him and for everybody it's something new," Caruso shared in words to The Cycling Podcast.

The veteran has previously finished on the podium of the Corsa Rosa, but has never led it. He's taken on a right-hand man role for Eulálio, as he did for Antonio Tiberi in the past. “We just think to do the right thing at the right moment and try not to put too much stress on us and live the dream day by day.”

Whilst his own GC and stage hunting ambitions have been put aside, it is expected that the team will let go of the maglia rosa on stage 14. With plenty mountain stages in the final week, Caruso can still hope to take one final Giro win in his career - his only one thus far was in 2021, at Alpe Motta.

He confirms once again that beyond 2026 he does not see himself in pro cycling, but he has one big goal left in his schedule. “No, no chance at all [of continuing]. At one point, you have to say stop. It's always nice when you can decide the end of the career. This is for sure my last Giro d’Italia. Maybe I will ride also the Tour de France".

And his dream retirement would be the finale of this summer's Tour de France, which would be his eighth. “What I can imagine is to retire at the Tour de France after the Champs-Elysées. It will be amazing".

This year's race begins in Barcelona and Bahrain - Victorious should have both Antonio Tiberi and Lenny Martínez at the start, two riders whom Caruso can be crucial towards. This week, it was officially confirmed that the 2028 editions will begin in the Grand-Est, with the Grand Depart being hosted in the city of Reims.