Antonio Tiberi is competing in a Giro d’Italia beyond the wildest expectations. It’s difficult to ask for anything more from the Lazio native who was indeed the most awaited man for the Bel Paese on the eve of the general classification, but it must be underlined that this is the first experience as captain in a Grand Tour for the rider from Bahrain. Victorious at 22 years old.
If we add Oropa’s great misfortune, with a double puncture (and regrets are starting to increase…), Tiberi’s performances both in terms of performance and mental level were exceptional, with the pearl probably being that of today’s individual time trial in Desenzano del Garda.
Sixth positionas well as in Perugia, but in a completely flat time trial, in which he managed to keep pace with the best specialists in the world (only Ganna and Pogacar clearly separated him). More and more fifth in the general classification, more and more Maglia Bianca: the blue runner is putting on a show.
Now comes the most important obstacle: the mountains of the last week. Tiberi has been perhaps the bravest of the men in the classification up until now, trying to attack even by surprise. From tomorrow something more will be needed: he will start climbing historic mountains, the Alpine ones, with an altitude of over 2000 metres, a real test for the young star. If he were to pass this test too then we will have in our hands a rider capable of challenging for the podium in stage races in the coming years.
