The + Hungarian + antipasti + swallowed, a + first piatto + size is announced from the fourth stage on Tuesday: a summit finish on the southern slope of Etna and the first pedal strokes of this 105th Giro in Italy.

More precisely, on the land of Sicily, the native island of the man who almost single-handedly carries national ambitions, the aging Vincenzo Nibali.

At 37, the double winner (2013 and 2016) had presented himself in Hungary on the tip of the holds, "without specific ambitions yet", recognized "Lo Squalo" (the shark) at a press conference.

A blur sticking badly to this champion who marked a generation.

Even to the point of making the victories of others more beautiful, by their own admission, in particular that of Thibaut Pinot in the Tour of Lombardy 2018 in front of him.

"I arrive in this Tour of Italy a little ... not in great condition, but we have worked well in anticipation of this Giro", nevertheless assured Nibali last Thursday, on the eve of the start.

After the disappointment of the Tour of Sicily (4th), mid-April, where his compatriot Damiano Caruso, winner, dominated him on another side of the volcano, the Sicilian added the Flèche wallonne (34th) and Liège-Bastogne-Liège (30th) to its work program.

All while the Tour de France, his goal for the year, is still far away.

In the absence of Caruso, dolphin of Egan Bernal last year on the Giro, the Shark seems to be the only one who can make the tifosi dream.

After three days of racing, the ambitions of the other Italian contender, Giulio Ciccone, already seem to have begun, 50 seconds behind Simon Yates.

Conversely, those of Nibali, back at Astana, the team of his greatest years (2013-2016), are reinflated.

His time trial on Saturday in Budapest, where he finished 12th at 19 seconds from Yates, gives him the horizon of this very open Giro.

Vincenzo Nibali in action on May 7, 2022 during the 2nd stage of the Giro, a 9.2 km time trial in the streets of Budapest.

The Italian from Astana finished only 19 seconds behind the winner, Simon Yates, and far ahead of his teammate Miguel Angel Lopez, 59th at 42 seconds Luca Bettini AFP / Archives

"The road will decide"

On the eve of the big departure, questions from journalists - including Italians - about his role said more than his answers: no one asked Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez, his teammate, what his role would be, it being understood that he was leader.

Nibali's bib 31 seemed less to designate him as a leader than to have a symbolic value, until his convincing time in the streets of Budapest, when that of Lopez, 59th at 42 seconds, was less so.

"The leaders are him and Lopez", now clearly displays his team through the voice of his Italian sports director, Mario Manzoni.

"We don't have a sprinter so the team is built around them and then the road will decide."

The decision could come as early as Tuesday.

On the eve of the arrival of the 5th stage in his hometown of Messina, will the flamboyant striker embark on an assault of which he has the secret to endorse the pink jersey?

"Surprise, surprise", jokes Mario Manzoni.

Twelve years after having put on the fabric for the first time on the evening of the 4th stage of the Giro 2010, Lo Squalo may be playing his last "corsa rosa": "I don't know", replied Nibali.

Vincenzo Nibali on May 29, 2016 after his final victory in the Giro.

In ten participations, Nibali, double winner, has only finished off the podium four times Luk BENIES AFP / Archives

An event marked by his imprint, as his pride as champion recalled at a press conference: "I have ambitions: in ten editions, only four times have I finished outside the final podium."

The Shark is tough-skinned and "lots of fantasy", warns Manzoni.

© 2022 AFP