Segafredo boss confirms Nibali transfer for 2020: Daily News Digest
Welcome to your Daily News Digest. Here’s what’s happening today:
Segafredo boss Massimo Zanetti confirms that Vincenzo Nibali will join Trek-Segafredo next year, Mikel Landa says he is aiming for the Tour de France GC, Giro launches new Imperial shoe. Those stories and more in today’s Daily News Digest.
Story of the Day: Segafredo boss confirms Nibali headed to Trek-Segafredo next year
The coffee magnate behind Segafredo has confirmed rumors that Vincenzo Nibali will leave Bahrain-Merida for Trek-Segafredo in 2020, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Massimo Zanetti, Italy’s “king of coffee” and one of the key financial figures for the WorldTour squad, told La Gazzetta that he has wanted to get Nibali on board with Trek-Segafredo for years.
“Vincenzo is the best in Italy and one of the best in the world,” he said, also praising Nibali’s qualities as a champion.
Vincenzo Nibali makes time for the fans before stage 17 of the Giro d’Italia. Photo: ©kramon
“What teams need is a family relationship,” Zanetti said. “Nibali will find all of that here, and we will build a high-level team around him.”
Transfers are not official until August 1, but that rarely stops teams from making deals even in the spring.
Nibali, 34, has ridden for Bahrain-Merida since 2017, when he made the jump from Astana. He is fresh off a runner-up ride at the Giro d’Italia, and his list of career achievements includes victories in all three Grand Tours, as well as three Monument wins.
He has said that his next goal for the season is the upcoming Tour de France, where he will ride in pursuit of stage wins and possibly the polka dot jersey.
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Race Radio
Landa: I will try to win the Tour
Nairo Quintana expects to lead Movistar at this summer’s Tour de France, but teammate Mikel Landa might have his own plans.
“I will go to the Tour with the same ambition that I had at the Giro, to contend. It will be difficult with the field of rivals, but I am going to try to win,” Landa said according to Spanish newspaper Sport.
Movistar’s trio of Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa, and Andrey Amador in a select GC group on stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia. Photo: ©kramon
Since coming over from Sky in 2017, Landa has generally shared leadership in big races with Quintana and others. Results have been mixed until the recent Giro, where Movistar’s oft-maligned multi-pronged approach worked to perfection. Movistar’s Richard Carapaz took the overall victory, while Landa finished fourth overall, missing out on a podium spot by just eight seconds after losing time to Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic in the final time trial.
It remains to be seen how Movistar officially plans to play things at the Tour. Quintana said recently that he expects to be Movistar’s featured rider there, but the presence of Landa and Alejandro Valverde could complicate things, as has become the norm at Movistar.
Potential Tour leadership intrigue is not the only interesting story involving Quintana this week, with rumors emerging that the Colombian could be headed to Arkéa-Samsic next season.
Aru to return to racing at GP Lugano
Fabio Aru (UAE Team-Emirates) will return to racing on June 9 at the GP Lugano after recovering from surgery to repair his iliac artery. The 2015 Vuelta a España winner last raced at Paris-Nice in March.
Fabio Aru at the Volta ao Algarve. Photo: NV/PN/Cor Vos © 2019
Aru was forced to miss an expected start at the Giro d’Italia, but the operation to treat the constricted artery in his left leg was successful, and the Italian will get back to racing his bike this weekend in Switzerland.
Tech News
Giro launches Imperial shoe, updates Empire SLX
Giro’s new Imperial shoe model aims to balance support and structure with malleability and lightness. They aren’t cheap ($425 USD/ €429/ £374) but as Caley Fretz writes, they hit the intended sweet spot.
Giro has also updated its Empire SLX model, featuring the new Synchwire upper also used in the Imperial.
Click here for the details on Giro’s new shoes.
Trust Performance suspension now available for dealer order in Australia and New Zealand
U.S.-based suspension design company Trust Performance is expanding distribution. A partnership with Bikesportz Imports will see the company’s Message multi-link suspension design available for Australian dealers to order starting now.
The Bikesportz arrangement will also allow for distribution to New Zealand dealers, at least on an interim basis “until Trust Performance establishes a long-term distributor partner” there.
In case you missed it …
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Feature Image: Vincenzo Nibali leading the leaders up the climb on stage 21 of the Giro d’Italia. Photo: ©grubers
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