Vincenzo Nibali disappointed by current race style: "In my time, intelligence on the bike was also highly valued... Now it's all about watts and data"

The home crowds at Grand Tours are through a tough perioud with no host country winner since 2016. The last men who achieved such feat was Vincenzo Nibali back in 2016 and since then, Italy has been waiting for the next 'Nibali'.

Something the Italian, who is now ambassador of Corsa Rosa, misses in the peloton is that raw "attacking style" without big calculations behind each move. "The new Contador, the new Nibali... Soon there will be new Contadors or 'Sharks', but cycling has changed," Nibali said, reflecting on his own racing career in an interview with Marca before the start of Giro d'Italia.

"Now it's all about watts and data. Before, there was more race reading. Tadej Pogacar attacks at 100km, and that's impressive, but in my time, intelligence on the bike was also highly valued. I'm not saying it's better or worse, it's just different. I liked the strategy more, playing with the rivals. There was room for improvisation. Today, everything is measured."

Later, Nibali moves over to the matter at hand - the on-going Giro d'Italia. After three days, the situation in general classification is still very much open, just like the two-time winner anticipated: "The Giro looks exciting. Roglic comes with experience and ambition. Ayuso is young but has impressive class," Nibali said.

Whether we will see a home rider fight it out against the best to hopefully become successor of Nibali's throne? There is one man who he trusts to give it his best shot: "[Giulio] Ciccone is coming from a win and is in a great moment. Podium chances? It won't be easy, but he looks good."

"It's good that they earn well now. €4 or 5 million a year... It's good because cycling is not a second-rate sport. It has reached a very high level and we have all deserved it: riders, teams and fans. Cycling is now a Serie A sport," Nibali said.

One of the pioneer projects to take the professionalization to a new level is the One Cycling project backed by Saudi Arabian investment fund. Things have been in motion behind the scenes since late 2023, but as far no official statement has been made. Instead, Nibali thinks that the sport of cycling will gradually recolonize the North America with efforts to organize a top-level stage race in Colorado as soon as in 2026.

"I don't know what will happen [with One Cycling], but cycling is now much more attractive than before. There is interest in Europe and abroad. I think the next frontier could be America. It would be very interesting to go back there, with big events."