Vincenzo Nibali
Vincenzo Nibali (Italian pronunciation: [vinˈtʃɛntso ˈniːbali]; born 14 November 1984) is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer, who competed as a professional from 2005 to 2022. He is one of seven cyclists who has won all three of cycling's Grand Tours in their career – having won the 2010 Vuelta a España, the 2013 Giro d'Italia, the 2014 Tour de France and the 2016 Giro d'Italia.
Nibali in 2017 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vincenzo Nibali |
| Nickname |
|
| Born | 14 November 1984 Messina, Sicily, Italy |
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) |
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb; 10 st 3 lb) |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Climber |
| Amateur team | |
| 2003–2004 | Mastromarco–Chianti Sensi |
| Professional teams | |
| 2005 | Fassa Bortolo |
| 2006–2012 | Liquigas |
| 2013–2016 | Astana |
| 2017–2019 | Bahrain–Merida |
| 2020–2021 | Trek–Segafredo |
| 2022 | Astana Qazaqstan Team |
| Managerial team | |
| 2023– | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team |
| Major wins | |
Grand Tours
| |
Medal record | |
Born near the Strait of Messina, his nickname is the "Shark of the Strait", "the Shark of Messina" or simply "The Shark". His first major win came at the 2006 GP Ouest–France, a UCI ProTour event. However, experts such as Michele Bartoli have said Nibali is most suited to competing in multi-stage races. He is a highly capable descender and bike handler, very good climber and good time trialist. Nibali is an all-rounder, and is considered one of the strongest stage race riders of his era, having won Tirreno–Adriatico (2012 and 2013), the Giro del Trentino (2008 and 2013) and the 2016 Tour of Oman.
Nibali is most well known for his Grand Tour performances – finishing on the podium on eleven occasions – but he has proven to be a strong contender in classic cycle races as well, having won the 2014 and 2015 Italian National Road Race Championships, the 2006 GP Ouest–France and three 'Monuments' of road bicycle racing: the Giro di Lombardia in 2015 and 2017, and the 2018 Milan–San Remo. He has also achieved podiums in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and previous editions of the Milan–San Remo.