Image 1 of 5 Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) (Image credit: Bettini Photo) Image 2 of 5 Vincenzo Nibali on a training ride (Image credit: www.portraitofanathlete.com) Image 3 of 5 Former two-time winner of the Giro d'Italia, Vincenzo Nibali walks on stage at the 2018 route presentation (Image credit: Michael Aisner) Image 4 of 5 Vincenzo Nibali in yellow next to Chris Froome at the 2014 Tour de France (Image credit: Michael Aisner) Image 5 of 5 Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Ilnur Zakarin on the 2017 Vuelta podium (Image credit: Michael Aisner)

Vincenzo Nibali says that with Bahrain-Merida's new signings he will have a stronger team behind him when he targets the general classification at next year's Tour de France. The WorldTour team has added Domenico Pozzovivo and Gorka Izagirre, who joins his brother Ion on the roster.

Nibali is set to return to the French Grand Tour in 2018 after skipping the race this season in favour of his home race, the Giro d'Italia. The Italian played his cards close to his chest when pressed on his chances of taking yellow for the second time, but believes that he has a better backing to help him in his ambitions.

"I have a good team for the new season and we are training together now. I feel like I've got more support with this team now with the new riders," he told Cyclingnews in a combination of English and Italian. "It is a good opportunity to win the Tour and that is why I am going to it and I will go there to do my best."

With its tough opening week that includes cobbles, several punchy finishes, and then a heavy concentration of high mountain stages, Nibali believes that next year's Tour de France route has a good resemblance to the one he claimed victory on in 2014.





Froome and the Vuelta a Espana

Nibali is hoping to add a fifth Grand Tour title to his palmares next July but he could achieve that before he even reaches France. It was announced earlier this week that Froome was under investigation after a urine sample he gave during the Vuelta had more than twice the permitted level of salbutamol. If the UCI chose to hand Froome a suspension, the overall title would go to Nibali.

Nibali was initially quoted by the Italian press questioning Froome's use of the substance, although he later claimed that the report was incorrect. With a day more to consider his position, Nibali was circumspect in his response, but he still had difficulty in reconciling the situation.

"I think that Sky is one of the best teams in the world and they are a team that always apply the rules 100 per cent. I find it difficult that Chris has gone over such a limit of what is allowed and it is difficult to understand and it is difficult to accept this," he said. "It was a spectacular race for everyone, for the fans and everyone that I rode against. What happened has maybe put a bit of a cloud over things now but that doesn't change the spectacle that was put on at the Vuelta."

Nibali finished second at the Vuelta a Espana in September just over two minutes behind Froome with Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) taking third place. Nibali would replace Froome as champion if he was suspended, but the Italian says it is hard to know how he'll feel about taking it until such time as it happens, if it happens.

"It has never happened to me before and I don't know what the emotions will be like. All I know is that I gave everything to be on the top step," he told Cyclingnews. "I was on the podium, standing on the second step, and if the victory is given to me those emotions will never be the same. It will never be known what it is like to stand on the top step in this Vuelta a Espana.

"I'm not interested in pushing for this kind of victory or asking for it. It is not in my interest at all. I believe in the rules and regulations, and I believe that the authorities will do what they have to do and whatever comes of it comes of it, but those emotions will never be felt."

Feeling the loss of Scarponi

There was a lot for Nibali to celebrate this season with his 50th career victory when he won his second Il Lombardia, and he was one of only two riders to make the podium in two Grand Tours – the other being Froome. However, it was also a tough year for Nibali as he had to come to terms with the loss of his good friend and former teammate Michele Scarponi. The 37-year-old was killed when he was hit by a car while out training after the Tour of the Alps in April.

Nibali and Scarponi raced together at Astana for three seasons before the former moved to Bahrain-Merida for the 2017 season. Scarponi had been due to lead Astana at the Giro d'Italia after Fabio Aru was forced to pull out due to an injury. In the end, the team rode with just eight riders instead of the usual nine. Still visibly emotional talking about his friend, Nibali said that it was difficult to race after Scarponi's death.

"It's a difficult question to answer because I was so close to Michele and we had such a good friendship," Nibali said about racing at the Giro d'Italia. "Being in different teams maybe helped me a little bit. If we had been in the same team then it might have been harder but it was still not an easy situation to be in. I still feel the loss of Michele. We used to exchange messages every two or three days and even though we separated teams I really felt his loss.

"He left a hole and he left a lot of beautiful things in cycling."