Vincenzo Nibali is a done deal. As the Giro d'Italia enters its third weekend, the nation turns its lonely eyes to him. Or, as journalist Angelo Costa wrote in Tuttobici, "Italy pins its hopes on him when he rides the Grand Tour, when he rides the big classics, and when he rides his bike to the supermarket.

This year's Giro has taken on increasing shades of symbolism as Italy's response to the coronavirus pandemic, with EF Pro Cycling's request to end the Giro a week early being perceived in some quarters as an attack on the race, with headlines such as "It's shameful!

and "The Giro is a disgrace.

And Nibali was asked to defend the race before winning it. Appearing via video link on RAI TV's "Processo alla Tappa" program Friday night, he was asked for his opinion on the strength of EF Pro Cycling's proposal and the COVID-19 protocol in the Giro.

"To be honest, I haven't been told about the idea of stopping the race," he said. 'Certainly, there are a lot of questions. I think it all depends on what the (Italian) government says. They will decide if the race can or cannot take place. But I think the Giro d'Italia is an important race for Italy.

Nibali's approach to racing during a pandemic has been more cautious than most; since competition resumed in August, he has strictly adhered to Italian racing, racing a series of local one-day events rather than flying far for a stage race. His Giro bubble effectively began then.

"All I can say is that the bubble is still going," he said Friday night.

Still, uncertainty continues to pervade the race, and even Maglia Rosa winner Joao Almeida confessed that he was not sure if the Giro would make it to Milan on Sunday, a week later. Even if the Giro does take place, the risk of snow in the high mountains casts doubt on at least part of the route.

Historically, Nibali has approached the final week of the Giro the same way Eliud Kipchoge approached the last six miles of a marathon. This year's Giro is more focused on this weekend's GC doubleheader: the Valdobbiadene time trial on Saturday and a tough mountain stage to Piancavallo 24 hours later.

"This year, with COVID and the weather, we're spending a little more time every day because you never know what's going to happen tomorrow," Nibali's coach, Paolo Slongo, told Cycling Newson on Friday. "This weekend might be more important than the other Grand Tours, because we don't know if the stages will happen or not. Because it's better to take something away to be more secure before a week where you don't know if a stage is going to happen or not.

Nibali has had a solid, if unspectacular ride so far, and enters the third weekend of the Giro in fifth place overall, 1:07 behind Almeida. He rode well on stage 3 in Etna, but suffered a mild setback in Roccaraso last weekend, and the opening time trial in Palermo was marred by bad winds.

Slongo suggested that this weekend will shine a big light on the contenders: the shape of the GC may change in a more "correct" way, so to speak. We cannot lie in this time trial."

The 34.1 km from Conegliano to Valdobbiadene is an undulating course through the heart of Prosecco.

"It's only a little over a kilometer of climbing, but it averages 14%, which is unusual for a time trial.

Nibali will see the course for the first time on Saturday morning, but can rely on the reconnaissance of Slongo, who hails from nearby Treviso. 'Given the distance, there will be gaps,' Throngo said. Vincenzo, based on his past performances, looks a lot like Wilco Kelderman, and Almeida, while an unknown, should be able to set himself apart from the rest of the field."

On Friday afternoon, Nibali echoed this assessment, highlighting the threat posed by Kelderman, who is currently second overall by 40 seconds.

"It's hard to say if I can improve my time in Almeida," he said. I know how much effort Dečuninck-Quickstep puts into their time trials. I expect him to do a good time trial. And the one I think is in the best shape is Kelderman.

On Sunday, the Giro abruptly switches gears and moves to the neighboring Friuli region for a stage with four passes: the Serra Chianztan, the stage where Stephen Roche attacked teammate Roberto Visentini's Maglia Rosa in 1987, Forecella di Monte Resto, and Forecella di Para Balzana, the three passes that make up the Category 1 section to Piancavallo at the finish. Those who failed to make up ground in the previous day's time trial will pay a heavy price.

"In a time trial like Saturday, you have to ride as hard as you can," Nibali said.

"The next day, on a hard climb like Piancavallo, the intense effort will weigh heavily on the legs of some riders.

Slongo, meanwhile, noted that Nibali's time trial position was specifically tailored to ease such a transition.

"We always have a good compromise where Vincenzo may be a little less aerodynamic than the other riders, but he will not have muscular problems when he returns to his road bike the next day," said Throngo.

"In a race like this Giro, where there is a mountain stage right after the time trial, that could be an advantage.

Nibali's Trek-Segafredo team was trying to tee up Nibali a week ago at Roccaraso, but with Giulio Ciccone, who contracted coronavirus in August, out of shape and Gianluca Brambilla, who crashed in Vasto, also injured, The Sicilian looked increasingly isolated in the hilly stage finale.

"On the climb, I take care of myself.

Of course, we have no idea how many days we still have in this giro. Nibali cannot afford to run out of road; two decisive stages await.

"We have an important weekend ahead of us, and we can only assess the situation on Sunday evening," Nibali said.