Vincenzo Nibali and his Trek-Segafredo team acknowledged that the younger generation was simply superior in this year's Giro d'Italia, with Ineos Grenadiers' Tao Geoghegan Hart taking the overall win from Sunweb's Jai Hindley.

"It was a difficult and complicated year in which we had to revamp everything in preparation for the reduced calendar, without forgetting the final approach to the Giro," Nibali, winner in 2013 and 2016, wrote on the team website.

"I have to accept the results of this Giro as they are. It was not what I expected and at the same time I had to deal with young climbers, but I applaud them for their beautiful performance.

"Now it's time to wrap up the year, both athletically and humanly. And with the coaches and the team, it will be time to analyze what has been and, above all, to plan for what is to come."

Trek-Segafredo highlighted Nibali's seventh-place finish in this year's Giro, his lowest finish since 2008, when he finished 11th.

"We close this Giro fully aware that we did not leave any stone unturned to achieve the best result," said Guercilena.

"We can't blame Vincenzo and the rest of the riders, they are the only ones who could have done it.

Guercilena acknowledged that the team went into the race with the highest ambitions and kept pushing all the way to Milan, but lost Pieter Weening early in stage 5 due to a crash the day before, and Giulio Ciccone and Gianluca Brambilla to bronchitis and earlier respectively. The fact that they had to leave the race in the final week due to the effects of the crash certainly did not help their cause. [We must not forget that Ciccone, Brambilla, and Weening all made essential contributions.

"After this strange and extraordinary season, we will have time to analyze our performance objectively," Guercilena added. But one thing is clear. The dedication seen in this Giro must be a boost for the restart next season. And Vincenzo Nibali's talent, determination, and professionalism will undoubtedly be fundamental to our restart."