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Vincenzo Nibali Reflects on Career, Clean Cycling, and Overcoming Sicilian Hardships

Italy's most decorated cyclist discusses his upbringing, the challenges of a doping era, and life after retiring from professional racing in a candid new interview.

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Overview

  • Nibali credits discovering cycling at age 12 with steering him away from a troubled adolescence in Sicily, where his parents faced mafia extortion threats.
  • He became Italy's most successful cyclist, winning all three Grand Tours, two Monument classics, and approximately 50 major races over his career.
  • Nibali insists he never doped, despite competing in an era rife with scandals, facing invasive scrutiny, and losing key races to riders later disqualified for doping.
  • His 2014 Tour de France victory brought both joy and overwhelming fame, which he described as an 'incubo' that led him to retreat from the spotlight post-retirement.
  • Now retired, Nibali focuses on promoting Italian cycling, spending time with family, and reflecting on the moral guidance his parents provided throughout his career.