Memories… of Monte Grappa, 2010: Nibali’s phenomenal descent for his first success in the Giro

 

At the beginning of his career, Vincenzo Nibali was almost said to be stronger on the downhill than on the uphill, but over the years, the Shark has proven himself to be a complete champion, capable of winning on any ground. His history with the Giro d'Italia is glorious, but he had to wait for his third participation, in 2010, to taste victory, at the age of 25, when he reached the fullness of his means.

That year, the Sicilian had already worn the Maglia Rosa for three days, thanks to his victory in the team time trial with the Liquigas-Doimo team, before losing it during the muddy day on the roads where he found himself on the ground. In the meantime, there had also been the now famous breakaway from L'Aquila, which had shattered the general classification and forced him, with his leader Ivan Basso, to launch major maneuvers

The climb began on stage 14, which led from Ferrara to Asolo and included the demanding ascent of Monte Grappa on the Semonzo slope . At the summit, there were 40 kilometers left to go. As expected, Liquigas increased the pressure from the first ramps of the climb, put the wearer of the Maglia Rosa Richie Porte in difficulty and launched Nibali, whose acceleration 5 kilometers from the summit was only followed by Michele Scarponi, world champion Cadel Evans and Basso. From the start of the descent, the Requin displays its immense technical quality, skimming the turns with precision and audacity, and quickly breaking away from its rivals. The Italian arrives at the bottom of the descent 50 seconds ahead of his first pursuers, a margin he will maintain during the 15 flat kilometers that follow to Asolo.

Liquigas' mission was accomplished with the triumph of Ivan Basso in the arenas of Verona and the third place of Nibali, who thus won the first of his eleven podiums on the Grand Tours. In the descent of Monte Grappa, the Sicilian won his first stage victory in the Giro. Over the next few years, he would win six more. Above all, he will reach the final podium five times, the triumphs of 2013 and 2016 embellishing a legendary career

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