Vincenzo Nibali: "I gave a lot to cycling and now it’s time to give time back to all the people who sacrificed things for me"

Vincenzo Nibali has announced his retirement from pro cycling at the end of 2022 yesterday at the arrival in his home town of Messina, and has since explained his decision to wrap off an incredibly successful career at the end of the current season.

He had told RAI yesterday that "it’s been a difficult day for me and for my family. I’ve been waiting for this stage for a very long time." He revealed that the decision was already taken, and feeling of anticipation were present throughout his race so far - which sees him currently in 30th in the overall classification. "There was a lot of emotion riding into Messina, my home, my family, my friends. It’s my city and it’s where I started racing and training so I want to confirm here that this will be my last Giro and my last year," he added.

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Nibali affirmed, emotionally: "It’s time to call it a day. I’ve done so much for so long but it’s the right time. I can’t forget that I left home when I was 15 years old. I think I gave a lot to cycling and now it’s time to give time back to all the people who sacrificed things for me.”

Over the last few years the Italian has struggled to get the results which have gotten him to have a place in cycling history, having been one of the few riders to have won all three Grand Tour - a feature significantly harder in modern times. It is likely that the Sicilian will over the next few days shed time in order to focus on stage wins, which he had said at the beginning of the race that could be a goal of his if the overall classification didn't pan out well. 

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"I’ve got lots of memories from my career and lots of things to look back on. There were good and bad moments, injuries that played a part in the outcome of my career, but that’s cycling, there are always good and bad times. It’s all been incredible," he concluded.