Astana Qazaqstan Team have had a very complicated day at the Giro d'Italia yesterday, and today Vincenzo Nibali, who has taken some of the team's most important results over it's history, has announced that he will be retiring at the end of 2022.
"I was waiting for this stage for a while, for years, it’s where I started to ride and train, so I wanted to confirm that this is my last Giro and my last season. It’s time to call it a day. I’ve done so much for so long but it’s the right time," Nibali said in his home town of Messina at the end of the Giro's fifth stage - with RAI.
This news doesn't come as a surprise as the Italian had hinted this could be his last year in the peloton, as over the last few years a new generation has taken over and the 'Shark of Messina' didn't manage to perform at the same level from 2021 onwards. As the pandemic hit, it marked a new stage in the Italian veteran's career, and this will be his final Giro d'Italia - the 11th of his career.
Nibali has been one of the most marking figures of the last decade, having won all three Grand Tour, Milano-Sanremo, Il Lombardia twice and several other high-level races. One of the most prolific stage-racers, he rode at the very top of cycling since 2009 where he finished sixth at the Tour de France.
More will be shared regarding his plan, however for the time being the Italian is once again on the spotlight as he will be a dearly missed figure in the peloton.
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💥🚨 Última hora | Vincenzo Nibali anuncia que dejará el ciclismo al término de la presente temporada #Giro105
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