Tiberi’s last chance? Caruso says Bahrain has done its part — now it’s on him

Damiano Caruso is counting on Antonio Tiberi to deliver for Bahrain Victorious in 2026. The now 24-year-old Italian came to the team in mid-2023 and immediately delivered in 2024 with place five in the Giro d'Italia. The next step was expected in 2025, but it did not come partly due to physical malheur. In his final year as a pro, Caruso is counting on Tiberi to be there next year.

Tiberi seemed on his way to top form several times in 2025. For example, he finished third in the Tirreno-Adriatico, but fell ill just before the Giro. After a second place in the Tour of Poland, revenge seemed to come in the Vuelta a España, but Tiberi finished anonymously 41st. Caruso saved the furniture with place five in the Giro, but he missed the Vuelta due to an accident in the bathroom the day before the start in Turin.

The golden duo of Bahrain Victorious will ride together one more time in 2026, as Caruso will retire after next season. The 38-year-old Italian won a stage of the Tour of Burgos last season and felt there was still something in it. One more year at a high level should be possible, OA Sport said.

After two consecutive seasons of the Giro d'Italia-Vuelta a España double, Bahrain Victorious plans to play out Tiberi in the 2026 Tour de France, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. It would be the Italian's debut in the Tour de France. Lenny Martinez is also basically on it for the Tour, as in 2025. Caruso will undoubtedly support Tiberi as a mentor, Santiago Buitrago will then do the Giro.

It will thus be a great opportunity for Tiberi to compete with the absolute world's best for once, a step that Caruso also believes was about time. "Antonio will soon be 25, so there are no more excuses. He will have to decide what kind of rider he wants to be. As a team we invested a lot in him and tried to give everything we could. Now it's up to him; he is the architect of his own destiny."