Cycling, Italy has the stage racing man (Tiberi) and the sprinter (Milan). Who to hope for for the one-day races

From the great darkness that has existed in recent years (intermittent lights such as Damiano Caruso’s podium at the Giro d’Italia in 2021 and Sonny Colbrelli’s victory at Paris-Roubaix in the same season) now Italy seems to have found a glimmer of opportunity for men’s road cycling.

In fact, three names emerged from the Giro who will be fundamental for the future. As regards the stage raceswho had a generational gap in the post Nibali-Aru, that’s it Antonio Tiberi, splendid fifth in the Corsa Rosa and winner of the youth classification. Great show of strength from him, for the first time as captain and excellent in managing pressure. Formidable in the time trial, he holds up well uphill: he is ready to go chasing the podium.

Pure climber instead it is Giulio Pellizzari, born in 2003: always on the attack in the last week, he has shown that he has the same skills in the mountains as his rivals (obviously excluding Tadej Pogacar). He is ready for the leap in quality in the World Tour, we look forward to seeing him soon to see what he can give in the coming years, obviously with the aim of improving in time trials.

It is not new, but it is a confirmation, with perhaps further growth, that of Jonathan Milan. Italy has its own luxury sprinter: the blue, triumphant at the Tokyo Olympics with the quartet, can have his say in any sprint and is ready for stages such as the Tour de France. Three stage victories, an infinite number of placings and the second consecutive Ciclamino Jersey.

All that’s missing to complete the circle a classic man. Also because we haven’t talked about the time trials, but the certainty is there and it’s called Filippo Ganna. Perhaps he could be the one-day racer: he has already demonstrated it at the Milan-Sanremo, we are waiting for him next spring to compete in all the classics, even in the North, as captain. Luca Mozzato found the podium at Flanders, but he doesn’t have the right engine, at least at the moment to compete with the various van der Poel and van Aert, while Alberto Bettiol remains very inconsistent. Among the potential talents, Filippo Baroncini has still managed to express his full potential, often stopped by bad luck, while Francesco Busatto has already come to the fore.