"I have big ambitions, and my goal is the podium" - Antonio Tiberi does not hold back into 2025 Vuelta a Espana

At the start of Grand Tours it is normal to see riders understate their own ambitions as means to shift the pressure away from their shoulders. That's not the case with everyone however, Antonio Tiberi starts the Vuelta a Espana with the goal of finishing on the final podium and does not hide it ahead of a home start in Italy.

Tiberi couldn't experience a Grande Partenza in Italy, instead Albania back in May, but he is starting a Grand Tour in his home country nonetheless as the 2025 Vuelta starts in an unusual location - Torino, which has literally hosted the start of the Giro d'Italia one year ago and also hosted the finale of a Tour de France stage just over 12 months ago. The eastern-Italy city payed their way into La Vuelta now, but that comes as a big boost for those who will race on familiar roads.

Such as... The leader of Bahrain - Victorious. "I'm here at the start with enormous motivation," the 24-year old said in a press conference ahead of the race. "I'd even say an extra boost of motivation, since the start is in Italy. It reminds me of the 2024 Giro, and I hope to finish this race as well as I did last year's Giro."

Bahrain - Victorious experienced an important setback on the eve of the Gran Salida as Damiano Caruso, fifth at this year's Giro, suffered a hand fracture having slipped in an unusual incident already at the team's hotel this Thursday evening. Whilst it is definitely an obstacle in the way of the team's ambitions, it does not end them.

"I'm here for the general classification, so my focus will be mainly on that rather than chasing stage wins," Tiberi adds. He was fifth at last year's Giro d'Italia but later abandoned the Vuelta due to a heat stroke. This year he was back in the fight for the Giro's podium but a crash and sustained injury in the finale of the wet stage 14 saw him fall out of contention.

Alongside Santiago Buitrago, the Italian aims big for this Vuelta and does not try to cover his ambitions up. "But if the opportunity arises, I'll try to attack. My form is good. My comeback in the Tour de Pologne has given me both confidence and motivation, and also clear signs that I can perform well. I have big ambitions, and my goal is the podium."