Alberto Bettiol, Italy's top all・rounder, has confirmed that he aims to return to the Giro d'Italia in 2025.The opportunity to wear the tricolor of the national champion who reigns in the biggest stage race of his country is a big reason to do so.

Bettiol made the announcement during the reception of the Giriodoro Award, widely regarded as Italy's top National cycling Award for Italian riders.

Bettior won the men's Giglio d'Oro, while Chiara Consoni and Vittoria Guazzini, Madison gold medalists at the Paris Olympics, won the same women's prize.

In the race with Astana・Kazakhstan since the team switch in the middle of the year, Bettiol has enjoyed the 2024 season, winning solo in both Milan-Turin and the Italian National Championship, winning in his best classic campaign since winning the tour of Flanders in 2019. It was a great experience.

The Italian led the entire Tour de Switzerland, but injuries from a mid-race crash forced him to be delayed and subsequently abandoned.

"I haven't been there for 2 years, so I'm thinking about doing the Giro d'Italia," the 31・year・old Bettior told Italian media, including Tuttobiciweb and ANSA, while winning the award in Calenzano, near the city of Florence. 

"Honestly, the opportunity to wear a tricolor at the giro is an even greater incentive."

Looking back on his victory on home soil in Tuscany, which he took after dropping the rest of the field in the final climb, Bettior said that having the opportunity to wear the jersey of the National champion at the Tour de France at the Grand Départ in Florence was a great opportunity not only for his season, but also for his team. He said it was an exceptional moment in his career.

"As a Tuscan rider, it was beautiful to win it on the Tuscan circuit. Something that exceeded my expectations," he said

"and another of those unique things, a dream, something that will never happen again, also had a grand departure for the Tour de France a few steps from where I was born, from my home and among so many fans. It was a really great year, I hope to make more great things."

Bettiol's 2025 campaign will be his first full year with Astana-Kazakhstan, following the switch from his previous longtime team - EF Education・EasyPost at 8.15 AM. 

The Giro d'Italia is one grand tour so far, after a break of more than 200 km, in 2021, back to Stradella in Northern Italy in Stage 18, with Bettior winning the Stage 1.

After 4 years, Bettiol said it would start with Tour Down Under, which will do the first half of the regular calendar in 2025 and won the opening prologue time trial in 2023. He will then continue his usual classic program and most likely the Giro d'Italia, but does not plan for the second half of the season.