Nibali a future Tour contender, says team chief

By Bertrand Boucey

LE GRAND BORNAND, France (Reuters) - At 24, Italy's Vincenzo Nibali is coming of age as a cyclist and his Liquigas team chief is convinced the Sicilian will be a major Tour de France contender in the future.

"He's been with us for four years and we have made plans for him to become a real Tour rider next season," Roberto Amadio told Reuters at the start of the Tour's 17th stage on Wednesday.

Nibali is sixth in the overall standings, 2:51 behind Spain's Alberto Contador before the last stage in the Alps.

"He has everything it takes. He's good in time trials and he climbs well. The only question mark was his ability to last over three weeks," Damiano added.

Nibali, 20th overall last year, has shown a vast improvement in the past 12 months and next season could seriously challenge Contador, Lance Armstrong and the other big Tour specialists.

Ninth in this year's inaugural Tour time trial in Monaco, Nibali hn stayed with the very best in the mountains, surprising himself but not his team chief.

"I'm not surprised, I knew he had the legs to do it. He was the one who lacked self-confidence. At 24, he is not yet aware of his own potential," Amadio said.

His time trial skills could prove crucial in Thursday's 40.5km solitary effort in Annecy in which he could achieve his goal of a top five place in Paris.

Next year, one of his main rivals could be in his own team because Italy's Ivan Basso, the man Armstrong named as his likely successor when he retired in 2005, will be back on the Tour after a two-year doping ban.

Nibali could then be picked for the Giro d'Italia instead.

"It will depend on the course. The Giro d'Italia is the most important race for us. We're Italians," Amadio said.