Vincenzo Nibali: "I think many of us have underestimated covid infection"

Vincenzo Nibali has suffered from Covid-19 back in February and has talked about the effects he has suffered in the weeks after. Having had respiratory issues, he's only returned to competition at Milano-Torino and is still fighting to recover form ahead of the Ardennes classics and the Giro d'Italia.

In an interview with Italian Corriere della Sera, Nibali has said: "I think many of us have underestimated covid infection, trying to recover too quickly, it is no coincidence that many riders are out of order. For this reason, after Coppi & Bartali I came to altitude [he spent two weeks at Mount Teide] instead of competing: I wanted to recover completely."

"I am behind schedule. I will race the Giro di Sicilia, then Flèche Wallone and Liège, and then I will fly to Budapest for the departure of the Giro d’Italia. Over the years I have learned to make the best of a bad situation: you have to get by with what you have," he added.

He is on track to make another bid to the Giro d'Italia. His preparation has been far from ideal, however as Mathieu van der Poel shown in the last few months, avoiding injuries and ilnesses in this period can reward the riders later on. Nibali has lost a significant portion of his early season, however the big goal is approaching: "After the arrival in Verona I will put a point and I will decide what to do. Racing Giro and Tour would actually mean finishing the season in Paris and instead I would like to end it in a different way, perhaps preparing well for Lombardia which I have already won twice."

Asked about possible retirement plans, Nibali's answer is clear: “I never answer, because I don't know what to answer. In fact, I don't know what to do. I can't plan my retirement like other athletes do, to say on day X after run Y I will be a former rider. I think of an ending that comes suddenly for inspiration, but I still don't understand what it should be inspired by," he concluded. Today Nibali will return to racing in his home region of Sicily. With the modest startlist, the 'Shark of Messina' will possibly be eyeing a result, specially in the queen stage that will go up Mount Etna.