Known as the Shark of the Strait, Vincenzo Nibali is an iconic figure in road cycling. Born on November 14, 1984, he shares his birthday with cycling greats Vittorio Adorni and Bernard Hinault, as if his destiny was written in the stars.
In Messina, the city that lies at the crossroads of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas, he took his first rides: "My earliest cycling memories are of a climb in my mother’s hometown, Venetico Superiore, near Messina. My first pedals were there... though my own city, particularly along the seaside promenade, also played a part, especially at the Batteria Masotto square near the fairgrounds and Villa Mazzini. The first races came later."
When did he realize cycling could be more than just a game?
"I realized it when I went to Tuscany. For me, it was always just fun in the end. I started racing pretty late, in the youth categories. I was already 12, while nowadays kids start racing at 6 or 7."
His impressive career boasts victories in all three Grand Tours, making him one of only seven cyclists in the world to achieve this feat: the Vuelta a España in 2010, the Tour de France in 2014, and the Giro d'Italia in 2013 and 2016. As a teenager, he was discovered by Carlo Franceschi and Bruno Malucchi, the Sports Director and President of Team Mastromarco, respectively, who invited him to move to Tuscany to support his development both personally and as a cyclist.
Continuing his journey and growth outside Sicily, how did it go?
"I was part of the Junior category, around 17 or 18 years old, and I initially lived in a house set up for the team’s boys, along with Carmelo Materia, another Sicilian. When Materia left, I moved to Carlo’s house, where the environment was much more family-like, and I attended school in Empoli."
Carlo Franceschi soon became a key figure for Vincenzo, almost like a second father—both proud and demanding, constantly pushing him to do his best. Franceschi's wife, Bruna, took on a maternal role, always ready to offer an extra bit of comfort. Their bond grew so deep that Vincenzo’s firstborn would call the couple “grandparents.” It was also in Mastromarco that Nibali’s fan club was born, a group that would support him from the beginning.
From Tuscany onwards, Nibali took flight, racking up win after win. Throughout his professional career, Nibali achieved a total of 54 victories, including two Tirreno-Adriatico titles in 2012 and 2013, and among the Classics, the prestigious Milan-Sanremo in 2018 and two Giro di Lombardia titles, first in 2015 and again in 2017.
What are his fondest memories, and what victory did he dream of as a child?
"Undoubtedly, my fondest memories are the Giro d’Italia, Milan-Sanremo, and the Giro di Lombardia... and the victory I dreamed of as a child was the Giro d’Italia. Maybe also Paris-Roubaix, though I never raced it. As a kid, I wasn’t really interested in the Tour de France—I didn’t watch it much... because I would be racing in the summer, training in the afternoons, so I missed the Tour. But I often watched the Giro d’Italia, as it was on TV when I got home from school. Compared to the Giro, racing in the Tour was more 'frantic,' and I have fewer memories of it."
"It’s clear, though, that an Olympic medal would have had a special value, but as a kid, I always thought about the Giro and stage races."
What about the role of teammates? For instance, it was one of them, Valerio Agnoli, who introduced you to your wife, Rachele Perinelli.
"It depends... with each domestique, you have a different relationship because everyone has their own personality, and so you express yourself in different ways. With some, you might be a bit more distant, while with others, you have a more brotherly bond. Sometimes, the domestique could be a friend who understands the situation, or a champion who isn’t able to break through, or even someone who mentally can’t make that decisive move. Or it could be a champion who takes on the role again, like Scarponi, for instance. I remember that during my Tour victory, they weren't just domestiques, they were all riding strong." And as for Valerio, yes, I can confirm the ‘mischief’!”
After your last races and your time with Astana, you’ve finally been able to indulge your other passions: motors, whether it's motorcycles, cars, or campers...
"Actually, even with remote-controlled gas-powered cars, although right now I’m really into vintage cars. I’d love to have a collection in the future, with my favorite being the Lancia Martini. I also love modern Porsches, but that's well-known... I even own a bright blue Vespa Primavera!"
The champion leaves us with a message to encourage young people to practice sports, whatever it may be: "Sport is essential for learning how to work as a team and collaborate with others. It's important for personal development and broadening your mind. Sport helps you release energy and gives you time to reflect."
