"Pogačar and Vingegaard are the Messi and Ronaldo of cycling": Giulio Ciccone no longer considers himself a Grand Tour contender

Trek-Segafredo's Giulio Ciccone is planning to improve on his three career Grand Tour stage wins in 2023, revealing "I'll do the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España: I prefer to win stages, I'm not thinking about the general classifications."

In an interview with Marca, the Italian discusses how his three victories at the Giro d'Italia in 2016, 2019 and 2022 have only bolstered his desire to taste success yet again. "Imposing myself in the general classifications of the Grand Tours is something I don't think much of now," he reveals. "I prefer stage wins to being fifth, sixth or seventh in a final standings. Winning is definitely a more beautiful result."

With his career-best Grand Tour finish coming at the 2019 Giro d'Italia where he finished 19th in the general classification, Ciccone who was once touted as a future Grand Tour winner has never really lived up to that potential and with competition now as fierce as ever thanks to the likes of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel.

“They are phenomenal. At the moment there are 4-5 riders who have an extra gear. The level has increased tremendously and the pace of the races is impressive," Ciccone says. "Pogačar and Vingegaard are the Messi and Ronaldo of cycling, they make the difference compared to the others. Remco Evenepoel? He has shown how strong he is, he is one of those phenomena I was talking about.”