VINCENZO NIBALI: THE SHARK OF MESSINA

But it does make you think. Why is the name of a cyclist linked to an animal and are there others? Just organize the brain and more names immediately bubble to the surface. Then look on the Internet and before you know it you have a whole list of animal names together. Usually such a nickname has a particular reason, for example, arising from the character of the man in question, or by his stature, performance and so on. Trying to figure this out would go too far for this article. It would be a nice basis for a book! In the case of Nibali, we did go on a search and we would like to put him in the spotlight.

It has already been touched upon that we are going to Sicily. It was in Messina that Vincenzo Nibali was born on November 14, 1984. That Nibali has to be considered one of the most versatile riders of the 2010s is obvious if you take a quick look at the hereby pictured list of his palmares! His first notable results are the national titles on the road in the juniors (2002) and in the underpromises (2004). It is precisely at the latter championship held in Verona that we must be to get to the source of his nickname. At one point, a RAI camera zoomed in on a roadside banner that read: Forza Nibali, lo squalo dello Stretto. The banner was made by a friend who traveled with Nibali’s parents to the championship in Verona.

It is a statement by the friend because from his first races, Nibali invariably went on the attack and rode aggressively. That’s why he called him Lo squalo or the shark. Stretto refers to the strait between Sicily and the mainland. That this was later turned into Messina we take for granted, because fully it is also the Strait of Messina. The shark is again described as a slender and fast animal. Again applicable to the young Nibali. He began his pro career in 2005 at Fasso Bartolo. He then joined Liquigas between 2006 and 2012. He represents the light blue colors of the Astana Pro Team between 2013 and 2016. Then three years (2017-2019) Bahrain-Merida and then two years (2020-2021) Trek-Segafredo. In 2022, he will return to Astana. Surveying his entire career, it is noteworthy that he is in the select company of riders who have won all three grand tours.