Vincenzo Nibali has won the Giro d'Italia twice, in 2013 and 2016, and yesterday, in his role as an RCS testimonial, he commented on the route of the 2026 Giro d'Italia.

"The Giro d'Italia is beautiful from the inside when you're a rider and it is also beautiful from the outside, even if it's easier this way. The route is always very beautiful and in the last week there will be some very important mountain finishes."

The Sicilian champion specifically refers to stage 19, finishing in Alleghe, and the following day's stage with the finish in Piancavallo.

"Along the route we will appreciate explosive stages where there will be great selection. For example, Aosta-Pila which has 4000 meters of elevation and it will be important to have the team nearby. Moving forward, it will be a crescendo of great emotions with the finish in Alleghe, which could make the difference. But if I have to give a judgment, there will be the stage from Gemona del Friuli to Piancavallo that reminds us of Marco Pantani's feats and could overturn the standings. That will be a day where the general classification riders will have to play all their cards."

The Shark of the Strait has raced the pink race 11 times and finished on the podium in six editions: in addition to his victories in 2013 and 2016, he obtained two second places in 2011 and 2019 and two third places in 2010 and 2017. Nibali is also one of the 7 riders to have won all three grand tours and hopes that Vingegaard, by coming to race in Italy in 2026, could enter this select group of champions.

"Of course Vingegaard is very strong. He just won the Vuelta and if he were to win the Giro he would certainly achieve another important result. I read that he would like to come and I hope he really does, just as I hope he can also come to the Tirreno-Adriatico. It would also be nice to see a young rider like Del Toro, who is showing incredible growth."

There are also the Italians and the Sicilian thinks that next year our guys will definitely be protagonists of the pink race.

"There is Giulio Pellizzari, who just turned 22. Then he races in an important big team and for this he could have good opportunities, but we also need to see who will be in the team besides him. There is also Antonio Tiberi. He had a difficult season and I don't know what his program will be, but I think next year he will be recovering."

There are young riders and then there are more experienced riders and Nibali wants to add Giulio Ciccone, the Abruzzese with whom he raced until 2021.
"I know Giulio well and he is a great rider. I know he doesn't want to aim for the general classification and I think this is the best choice. If he could win some stages, I would be really happy for him".