Slightly critical Caruso sees team leader Tiberi crack in the Giro: "There’s still room for improvement"

Even when Tiberi was still high in the standings, Caruso consistently stayed with the best riders. The experienced Italian steadily climbed the rankings, allowing Bahrain Victorious to shift their focus to him. In Stage 17, Tiberi was dropped early on the Mortirolo climb, and Caruso was given the green light to ride for himself. Once again, he delivered a strong performance, now sitting in fifth place overall.

It’s been an impressive Giro so far, especially for a rider many thought was nearing retirement. “I really believed this would be my final year, and I wanted to finish strong,” Caruso told TuttoBiciWeb, reflecting on his preparation. “I spent all winter getting ready for the Giro, aiming to perform well with Antonio and hopefully reward myself with a stage win.”

Still, that plan fell apart when Tiberi crashed and saw his hopes of a strong overall finish go up in smoke. “What’s done is done. Unfortunately, not every body reacts the same,” said Caruso, who has been surprising even himself this Giro. “Honestly, I’ve noticed I’m in much better shape than I expected. There are still a few tough days ahead, and I want to enjoy them to the fullest. After a period of bad luck and physical issues, I’ve rediscovered the joy of cycling. That’s exactly why I’ve decided to extend for another year,” said the Italian, who has signed on for one more season.

The brutal third week still holds tough mountain stages on Friday and Saturday. Could Caruso possibly strike with a stage win? “That’ll be difficult, but never say never, anything can still happen. At the moment, finishing in the top ten is a solid and realistic goal, even though I’d love to end up in the top five. That would be amazing for me, almost like a victory.”

He currently sits in fifth place, 3 minutes and 6 seconds behind the pink jersey, Isaac del Toro. That’s why Italian hopes now rest firmly on Caruso. “Of course, it’s nice to know that Italians see me as a role model. I hope I’m a good one. I especially want to be a good example for Antonio, because there’s still some room for improvement,” said the Italian, still a bit critical of his teammate.

And when asked who he thinks will win the Giro in Rome, Caruso didn’t hesitate. “Carapaz,” he answered without blinking.