Vincenzo Nibali advised Remco Evenpoel to develop his Grand Tour career with the 2023 Giro d'Italia as his goal, but if he wants to add Maria Rosa to the winner's red jersey at the Vuelta a España, he will have to face tough mountain He warned the young Belgian that he would face a battle.

The 2023 Giro d'Italia includes a total of 70.6 km of time trials, but before the final mountain time trial to the Monte Russari sanctuary near the Slovenian border, there are over 51,000 m of climbing and high peaks in the Alps and Dolomites.

Evenpoel could easily beat some of his rivals by two minutes in the time trial, but he will have to do well in the cold and snowy mountain stages of late May. The toughest stage of the Giro ends at the top of the Tre cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites after a 5400 meter climb. Nibali won his second Giro d'Italia on this stage in 2013 in a snowstorm.

Evenpoel has yet to decide whether to ride the Giro d'Italia or go straight to the Tour de France to take on Tadej Pogachar and Jonas Vingegaard, but seeing the Giro d'Italia 2023 route on his honeymoon might have tempted him.

"If I were Remco Evenpole, I would go for the 2023 Giro. He has won the Vuelta, so his best bet is to develop gradually in the Grand Tours. The Giro would be another important step in his development as a rider," Nibali suggested to Cycling News and other media at the route announcement in Milan.

"It's a great Giro. It is well-balanced. There is a lot of climbing from the south in the beginning. The final time trial will be interesting and terrifying for the riders.

Nibali was one of the last to leave the theater in Milan where the 2023 Giro d'Italia presentation took place, seemingly clinging to the final moments of his athletic career and suppressing the thought that he would not be at the start of the 2023 It seemed as if he was. He was the last Italian to win the Giro in 2016, and his home country hopes the young rider will soon step up and show similar potential.

"The Giro has always been special for me. From the first time I discovered the Giro as a young rider, I became a leader, won it twice, and finished fourth this year, my last season as a professional.

"Last week I ran my last race. I feel like I've finished the season, I'm having a lot of fun, and maybe when training camp starts in December will be the moment I fully realize I'm retiring."

Nibali, who will turn 38 in November, had a strong final week at this year's Giro d'Italia, finishing fourth. He warned Evenpoel about the strength and endurance of veterans like Geraint Thomas and Primos Roglic.

"Thomas could do something and get on the podium," Nibali predicted. The final mountain time trial suits Roglic, who is closer to Slovenia. He will be able to run defensively and gain time before that."

Nibali won the mountain time trial at the Porsa ski resort in the Trentino region in 2013 before taking the win at the top of Tre cime di Lavaredo. Ten years later, he knows the importance of pacing for the overall win. Evenpoel would probably be wise to follow his advice.

"The first week should be strong, but from the time trial in Romagna to the end, there are 11 days of hard racing. We are used to seeing riders making up time in the early stages of Grand Tours, but it could be dangerous in the 2023 Giro," Nibali warned.

"There will be important time differences in the time trial, but the subsequent stage to Crans-Montana will be crucial and will make the GC more clear. It's a chance for the riders who are in good shape to further reduce their times."

"The final week will be hard, but by then the hierarchy of GC riders will be clear. Of course, it is the Giro, so there could be a surprise like this year when Jai Hindley dropped Richard Carapas on the final mountain stage to win the Giro. The last three stages are where someone can turn the Giro upside down, but it's a big challenge. But I'm sure someone will rise to the challenge."