From cat killer to podium candidate in the Giro: “Antonio Tiberi has similarities with Vincenzo Nibali”

Wanted in the boot: an Italian who can make the tifosi dream of the maglia rosa. Normally no one will be able to match Tadej Pogacar this year, but at Bahrain Victorious they will put their eggs in Antonio Tiberi’s basket in the coming weeks and certainly in the following years. Sports director Franco Pellizotti portrays the controversial “cat killer”.

After his world title in junior time trial in 2019, almost every top team courted Antonio Tiberi, but after a bizarre incident he suddenly became persona non grata in the peloton at the end of February 2023.

Tiberi had to go through the dust after a distasteful piece of mischief in 2022. From a window, Tiberi wanted to test his air rifle and the Italian promptly shot dead the cat of the Minister of Tourism and Post of San Marino.

Tiberi could no longer stay at Trek-Segafredo, Bahrain Victorious picked him up from June 1.

Tiberi rode a solid autumn for his new employer, including an 18th place in the Vuelta, but especially this spring Tiberi gave a mature impression.

In Catalonia he finished 8th, in the Tour of the Alps he finished 3rd after finishing 7th, 7th, 6th, 6th and 2nd in the 5 stages. Didn’t buy a pig in a poke, in other words.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Antonio is on the podium of this Giro.

Franco Pellizotti, sports director Bahrain Victorious

Thanks to these achievements, Tiberi has quickly climbed the ladder of Bahrain Victorious. The Italian will therefore be played as leader in the coming weeks.

“We are aiming for the top 5 with Antonio,” sports director Franco Pellizotti is not playing hide and seek.

What’s more, the Italian goes one step further. “If you look at his form and the quality of the starting list, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is on the podium in Rome.”

“Maybe that is surprising to the outside world, but Antonio has the qualities for it. If it doesn’t work out this year, he can certainly claim it in the coming years.”

The false start to his professional career suggests otherwise, but – here it is – the Dolphin from Bibione characterizes his poulain as a “very good boy”.

“I worked with him a lot last season and he reminds me a bit of Vincenzo Nibali.”

Pellizotti shared joys and sorrows with the Shark of Messina during his career at Liquigas and Bahrain, among others. “I see the same character traits in Antonio. He knows he is facing his first Grand Tour as leader, but he remains calm and deals with it well.”

“Antonio is calm and does not feel pressure. The young Nibali also behaved that way. But if Vincenzo was given a shirt number, then he was a real leader and he wanted to win anyway.”

Antonio knows he is facing his first Grand Tour as leader, but he remains calm and handles it well.

Franco Pellizotti, sports director Bahrain Victorious

“What is perhaps still a bit lacking in Antonio is that cattiveria. See it as a portion of envy and cunning. Vincenzo always wanted to prove that he was the strongest, but that still has to grow with Antonio.”

“Although I saw him evolve and grow during the last Tour of the Alps. He has made mental progress.”

“And in Italy we simply need such figures. I am convinced that he can handle that role and if he does not succeed in this Giro, it will not be a defeat.”

A 7th place is the worst result for an Italian in the general classification of the Giro. That was in the 2020 edition, when Nibali finished 7th at 8’15” from Tao Geoghegan Hart. In all other years, an Italian always finished in the top 5.

Will it be a hit this year? “This Giro is a starting point for Antonio. We expect a lot from it, but it is just the beginning.”

There are 2 long time trials in this Giro. As a former world junior champion, Antonio Tiberi should have an advantage. His team leader qualifies.

“Antonio is not a pure time trialist,” said Franco Pellizotti. “Although he does have a margin compared to other classification men and he should therefore be able to grab time in Perugia and Lake Garda.”

“Now, in contemporary cycling everything is in balance. The time trials in a Grand Tour are won by men like Vingegaard, Pogacar and Evenepoel. Those guys are out of category. But uphill the real climbers no longer make too big of a difference.”