Vincenzo Nibali has so far refused to reveal his major goals of the 2016 season. Astana team manager Alexander Vinokourov has told Cyclingnews that Nibali will target the Giro d'Italia, while Fabio Aru is team leader for the Tour de France. However Nibali is also keen to ride the Tour and then go on to ride the Olympic road race in Rio. He has so far refused to accept the idea that he cannot decide his own Grand Tour goals, even if 2016 is the final year of his current contract with the Astana team.
Nibali now admits he had a difficult 2015. He was the defending Tour de France winner after dominating the race in 2014, yet he struggled to be competitive in the build-up to July and then lost time in the echelons on stage 2. He lost any chance of overall victory in the Pyrenees but bounced back to win a stage in the Alps and was fourth overall behind Chris Froome (Team Sky). He was disqualified from the Vuelta a Espana on stage 2 for holding onto his team car but bounced back with a show of anger and won Il Lombardia with a daring solo attack in the hills.
Nibali turned 31 on November 14 but insists he remains determined and focused for the new season, after spending the winter at home with his family and training for 2016.
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Cyclingnews: You recently said you prefer to go to races feeling happy than feeling angry, perhaps referring to pressure in the Astana team during 2015. Is that true?
Vincenzo Nibali: I've always felt that way. It was like that when I was with Liquigas, which was more like a big family. I've had some great moments at Astana and then other moments when things were more difficult. But when you leave home and you're happy and focused on doing well, I believe that things work out better, that good results will always come along.
CN: Is it a question of character?
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