Vincenzo Nibali remains in shape but doesn't plan to ever race again: "Italian cycling needs a leader. I could come back in some capacity, but not as a rider"
Cycling
Vincenzo Nibali recently turned 40 and is thinking about what his next adventure in the world of cycling could be. The Sicilian champion, after being interviewed by RadioCorsa on November 14th on the occasion of his birthday, also made some statements to the newspaper La Repubblica that can shed light on what his future could be, two years after retiring from racing.
The former professional from Messina, winner of all three major tours in his career, hung up his bike in December 2022 and since then he has entered a new dimension that sees him appear as a face for various cycling brands and guest for some prestigious races such as the Giro d'Italia, which he won in 2013 and 2016.
"I remain a Ferrari, just a little dusty," said Nibali after racing the Singapore Criterium on November 10th to celebrate Mark Cavendish’s farewell to racing. "Italian cycling needs a leader. I could come back in some capacity, but not as CT rider, it’s a role that I don’t feel is mine."
Nibali, despite still being very active in cycling training, does not think of returning to compete in the saddle, nor is unsatisfied with this new chapter in his working career: "I’m fine like this."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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