Tiberi knows when to strike to hit Giro target: “That’s when we need to go all in”

He finished third at Tirreno-Adriatico in March, but his final Giro tune-up in April was far from ideal. Tiberi was forced to abandon the Tour of the Alps as early as stage 2, due to what later turned out to be a gastrointestinal issue. That leaves even the Italian himself unsure about his form. “Since Tirreno-Adriatico, I haven’t really raced, so I’ll need confirmation in the Giro,” Tiberi told TuttoBiciWeb. “Missing the Tour of the Alps means I’ll get my answers straight away once the Giro starts. I spent two weeks on Teide, my form has improved and the legs should be turning well. Let’s hope that’s the case—we’ll know for sure in a few days.”

At Tirreno, his last full race before the Giro, the Italian put in a solid performance with that third-place finish. “That gave me a big morale boost, especially because it came during a busy period where I felt good but not exceptional. My top form was still building, and getting on the podium against guys like Ayuso, Hindley, Pidcock and Landa was a strong sign heading into the next few weeks.”

After his DNF at the Tour of the Alps, Antonio Tiberi heads into the Giro with a different build-up compared to last year when he rode to a strong fifth place. “Back then, I fought for the win until the end in the Alps and rode a Giro that built up in a crescendo,” he said, referring to his improving form throughout the 2024 edition. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have the Tour of the Alps this year, but the hope is for a Giro similar to last year.”

So, similar goals—or aiming even higher this time? Bahrain Victorious has already made it clear they’re backing the 23-year-old for the podium. “If you’re aware of what you’re doing and believe in the quality of your work, there’s nothing wrong with stating your goals,” Tiberi said. “If I finished fifth last year, it’s only normal to want to improve—and maybe even aim for the podium.”

Still, he stays grounded. “We’re not machines we’re human. Anything can happen, even at the last moment. Just look at what happened to me in the Tour of the Alps.”

Aside from the different preparation, the biggest change this year is the absence of Tadej Pogačar. “Without Pogacar, I expect the Giro to be more open and more tactical,” Tiberi said. “There’s no clear top favorite, no one who stands out above the rest on paper, so the race will open up to different scenarios where everyone can have a say.”

That shift is giving the Bahrain Victorious climber a boost though he knows it’s not just him feeling that way. “It gives you more morale, more drive, more hope. But what’s true for me is true for everyone. A lot of guys from our team are going into this Giro with big ambitions.”

Still, the Italian knows the race could come down to the two big favorites. “Then of course there’s Roglic and Ayuso, but over 21 days anything can happen and the hierarchy can shift at any moment. I think there’s room to try something.” Tiberi already faced Ayuso earlier this year, when the Spaniard won Tirreno-Adriatico and Tiberi finished third, 36 seconds down. “I wasn’t too far off, and like I said, I wasn’t the best version of myself back then,” he reflected. “I hope I’ve managed to close that gap in the past few weeks. And usually, I tend to get better as a Grand Tour goes on.”

That growing form will come in handy, as the Giro looks set to explode in the final week. Tiberi agrees the race will likely be decided in the third week. “That’s when we’ll need to go full gas. Before that, there will probably be a few skirmishes—maybe already in the time trial on stage 2 in Tirana, even though it’s short and technical. Then we’ve got the gravel in Siena and some other tricky finishes. But the real race will come in the last days. Until then, I expect a more tactical Giro,” the Italian hopeful concluded.