ROME (AP) — When the team directors at Astana sat down to plan this season, the outline went something like this: A pink jersey for Vincenzo Nibali, a yellow jersey for Fabio Aru, and a gold medal for Nibali.
Nibali carried out the first part of the plan to perfection by winning the Giro d'Italia. Aru has to do his part when the Tour de France starts on Saturday at Mont-Saint-Michel. Then Nibali is expected to lead Italy's team in the road race at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics with support from Aru.
While Nibali's Giro victory was produced in dramatic fashion by taking the lead on the penultimate stage, winning the Tour on Aru's debut in the French classic should be a much tougher assignment, even with Nibali aiding Aru as an unlikely support rider.