"It is not easy to return to the top level in the Tour" - Vincenzo Nibali comments on Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar's Tour de France story

Vincenzo Nibali, Giro, Tour and Vuelta winner retired at the end of 2022, recently took part in the Singapore Criterium that marked the farewell of Mark Cavendish to professional cycling. He had quite some attention on him and was asked about Tadej Pogacar and which riders attract him the most currently in the sport - the answer is surprising.

In an interview to diario AS in Asian lands, the Shark of Messina spoke about the extraordinary 2024 season of Tadej Pogacar: "He was fantastic, the greatest of this year. His main competitor, Vingegaard, had an unfortunate two months before the Tour and, despite a quick recovery, it is not easy to return to the top level in the Tour, but it is that the level of competition now is extremely high, as is the average time".

He talks about the difference in cycling today compared to his time, especially in training and access to materials and professional preparation for the very young: "The approach and mentality have changed a lot. Now, the youngest riders have everything: trainers, nutritionists... and at 18 years of age they take the leap, when before you had two or three years to make progress". Nibali is a rider who has performed strongly right up until his late years in the sport, and managed to witness a complete transformation of the sport at the top, with performances rising sharply over the past decase - this year marks the 10th anniversary of Nibali's Tour de France triumph.

He gives importance for the future of Italy of the Junior World Championship won by Lorenzo Finn, and also praises Juan Ayuso who he argues is one of the most exciting talents coming up the ranks: "There are several very strong youngsters coming up, and I like Juan Ayuso. He has something special. When you are in a team with a very high level it is complicated, but he is brave, he is not shy".