"Over the next few years I will try to win the Maglia Rosa" - Antonio Tiberi makes Italian fans dream after securing White Jersey on Giro debut

Only getting stronger at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, Bahrain - Victorious' Antonio Tiberi has been one of the most impressive riders at the opening Grand Tour of the year. On the final general classification challenge on stage 20, the Italian finished 4th and secured a 5th overall finish.

For a while, on the final ascent of the Monte Grappa, it looked as if the 22-year-old, in just his third career Grand Tour could dream of the podium as he raced ahead of rivals Geraint Thomas and Ben O'Connor. In the end that wasn't to be, as the duo fought back well and finished alongside Tiberi and others, over two minutes down on the stage winning Maglia Rosa, Tadej Pogacar. Nevertheless, Tiberi did manage to secure himself the White Jersey for Best Young Rider, a sure sign of his immense performance over the last three weeks.

"Today I maybe had my best day here at the Giro," the Bahrain - Victorious man reflects with a smile in his post-stage interview. "I was feeling super good all day and yeah, it was also the last opportunity to try and gain something so on the last climb when Pogacar attacked, I tried to do my best to go full gas. I saw also O'Connor and Geraint starting to drop a bit but when I looked back they were always there within 20 or 25 seconds maximum. I did the downhill full gas but they came back on the last kick."

"It was a super nice day for me," he assesses. "Tomorrow will for sure be one of the best days of my life ever. Riding in Rome, my region, with my friends in Italy and the Giro d'Italia White Jersey, it will be a super special day."

With Italian cycling crying out for the next generation of Grand Tour contenders following the retirement of Vincenzo Nibali, can Tiberi be the one to lead the way and come back in future to win the Maglia Rosa? "Haha hopefully," he laughs when asked. "For sure over the next few years I will try to win the Maglia Rosa."