On Friday, he was in Budapest for the official presentation of the MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort, then upon returning to Italy, Vincenzo Nibali could not refuse his friend Lorenzo Milani's invitation and gave in... to his passion.

Last Saturday, the Sicilian champion, one of seven men in the world capable of winning all three grand tours, pinned on his race number - number 216, to be precise - and participated in the first edition of the "Luigi Albertini Trophy", an amateur race dedicated to the historic cycling journalist for "il Cittadino" held in Borghetto Lodigiano.

The program included 108 km of Po Valley terrain, on a route from Borghetto-San Colombano-Graffignana-Borghetto to be covered nine times, flying by at over 45 km/h average and a post-race where the Shark performed brilliantly with autographs, selfies, and absolute availability alongside another great former pro like Claudio Chiappucci.

Nibali's presence drew 326 participants to the start line: "A success like this hasn't been seen since the Eighties," said Vittorio Ferrante, president of Sant'Angelo Edilferramenta, the organizing society now aiming to bring other great former professionals to the roads of Lodigiano. "In truth, we hadn't organized anything, it was Lorenzo Milani, Credit Agricole manager" (Regional Director for Romagna Marche Credit Agricole Italia and former amateur cyclist) who invited Vincenzo and lined up alongside him in the race."

Nibali, wrapped in the green Credit Agricole jersey, an institution of which he is a brand ambassador, finished 91st overall, 28th in the Veterans A category, showing he still has a mighty pedal stroke despite having little time to cycle.