Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali to race together to close season
Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) will act as co-captains on the road as their Italian squad closes out its season at tomorrow’s Giro di Lombardia. While it has been a relatively quiet season for both riders, either would be buoyed by a win at the hilly fall Classic.
Basso last participated in the Race of the Falling Leaves in 2009, when he finished thirteenth. For Nibali, it was last season, when the Sicilian was coming off of overall victory in the Vuelta a España. He fell on the descent of the Colma di Sormano, losing his chance of victory and going on to finish fifth behind winner Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto).
Although he took an overall win at the Giro di Padania in September, Basso has but a handful of racing days in his legs since finishing eighth overall at the Tour de France.
“Lombardia is one of the most charming Classics,” he said. “I like the new design of the course. I am confident and motivated to do well.”
As has been indicated by returning champion Gilbert and others, the finale of tomorrow’s race should come down to who has the freshest legs. Basso indicated that the win will be decided not just by who has enough left after a gruelling day, but also after a gruelling season.
“I believe that the key will be, first of all, how much you are able to save for the finish,” the Italian veteran said. “Do not forget that we are at the end of the season and that the race has significant mileage.
“Personally, I do not want to get lost in calculations or predictions. The level of competition will be very high and I will give my best to be among the protagonists.”
Though he was unable to repeat last year’s success in this year’s Vuelta a España, Nibali did manage a seventh place overall in the race. Like his compatriot and co-leader, Nibali does not have many days of racing in hand since the month of September began. But the younger Italian is coming off of two quality finishes, the first being a tenth place finish at the Giro dell’Emilia. Nibali followed that up with a ninth place at yesterday’s Gran Piemonte.
If freshness and good form are both necessary to take the Lombardia title, as Basso indicated, then it may be his team-mate who is best suited for the win.
“I am getting encouraging signs that I am on a good level,” Nibali stated. “Looking at the course, I am convinced that the race will be nervous and hard-fought. Getting through the decisive climbs will be hard.”
Nibali pointed to the penultimate climb, the Madonna del Ghisallo, as a primary threat. Featuring two major bumps, the climb is almost nine kilometers long but crests more than forty-five kilometers from the finish. The Italian will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year, when he was strong enough to attack, but crashed on wet roads and lost precious time and energy to the in-form Gilbert.
“Surely the Ghisallo is a major obstacle, but the last climb of the Villa Vergano will be a battle amongst the favourites,” Nibali added. “Last year was going well until the unfortunate crash. It will be important to mark the best riders and not get caught out in the final, then play my cards.”
Liquigas-Cannondale for the Giro di Lombardia:
Ivan Basso, Eros Capecchi, Damiano Caruso, Dominique Nerz, Vincenzo Nibali, Simone Ponzi, Cristiano Salerno, Sylvester Szmyd