Many Italians performed in the inaugural time trial of the 104th Giro’Italia. A test of strength run at high speed, very lively even, by Filippo Ganna and Edoardo Affini, the first two on arrival, at almost 59kmh of average. Stratospheric. But besides these rolling beasts, runners such as Gianni Moscon and Alberto Bettiol, 10th and 12th respectively, have also caught the attention of specialists. A great day for Italy, who can count on talented leaders to defend their colors at home. But among these leaders, exactly, there is one that has been concentrating all the hopes of the tifosi for years. You would have understood it, I'm talking about the Messina Shark, Vincenzo Nibali, who has the best results among all the riders present at the start. And on the side of the leader of the Trek Segafredo, a huge question mark hangs over this Tour of Italy, pitting the most ardent supporters of Squalo dello Stretto against the most pessimistic followers. So, what to think of Vincenzo Nibali's chances on this Tour of Italy 2021 ? Can he really get out of the game against the Bernals?, Yates, Landa and others Remco Evenepoel ?
A mixed start to the season
Used to impressive starts to the season, with among others two victories over Tirreno Adriatico and his memorable solo raid in the Poggio to afford the Primavera, we must admit that all is not rosy this time for the Italian. 26e of the Etoile de Bessèges, 17UAE Tour, then 10th in Gp Industria & Artisan, it was not until the Course des Deux Mers to see it really exist, with a 9th place overall after a barely satisfactory week. A very poor record for a champion of his caliber, especially in view of the results of his teammates Bauke Mollema, sharp since the takeover. Add to that a wrist injury within 3 weeks of departure, and you get almost the ideal picture of a runner about to miss his goal. Almost…
Off-side, really ?
Indeed, if it seems far enough from its best, a little more in-depth analysis makes it possible to qualify its position, and maybe even place him as one of the contenders for the final victory. For her first top 10 of the season for example, Vincenzo tied with Matteo Fabbro and Alejandro Valverde, without tactical possibility with the presence of Bauke Mollema and Gianluca Brambilla at the forefront. The same Valverde who finished among the 5 first of the three Ardennes classics 6 weeks later. In the process, the Italian slipped to 16th place on the Prati di Tivo stage won by Tadej Pogacar, far from the head of the race of course, but in front of Julian Alaphilippe, Tim Wellens or Marc Soler, about thirty seconds from the duo Bernal / Thomas, 10 seconds behind Romain Bardet. Even better, he pays himself the luxury of moving ahead in the final standings Simon Yates, the big favorite of the Giro, and Nairo Quintana. An honorable performance which testifies to a completely correct condition. From this Italian tour, the Shark no longer hung a bib, leaving doubt on its level of form. But the first time in this Tour of Italy gives us a first answer. With its 50th place, Vincenzo Nibali ranks around the same time as Egan Bernal, Simon Yates, Pello Bilbao or Hugh Carthy, and in front of references like Patrick Bevin or Ruben Guerreiro. He only concedes a good twenty seconds to the duo of Deceuninck Almeida / Evenepoel, deemed to be much better rollers than him. A rather positive first assessment that reassures his condition and offers the winner of the three big laps interesting prospects over these three weeks of racing.. To hope to hold out against the cadors, he will already have to establish himself as the leader of his team, and assert his status against Bauke Mollema and Giulio Ciccone, that he was ahead of on this first stage. One thing is certain, Vincenzo will do anything to get a third coronation on his national tour, and could take advantage of the dense enough level to attempt offensives, by relying on a very homogeneous collective. The 4th step, first explanation for favorites, should enlighten us on this subject and provide some initial answers, before the big fight which will begin on the 11th stage marked out on the roads of Tuscany and which should not displease the Shark of Messina…
