Italian Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas has been selected as one to watch for 2007 by Italian magazine Sportweek. In its late December issue the magazine selected different up and coming athletes from various sports as ones to watch for this year.
Along with 22 year-old Nibali, 10 young football players were selected, high jumper Andrey Silnov, swimmer Emily Seebohm, basketball player Greg Oden and Formula 1 pilot Heikki Kovalainen.
"He has lots of athletic qualities, courageous and the personality to strike out in a one-day race or stage race," said Sportweek of the Siciliano.
In only his second season as a professional, neo-pro with Fassa Bortolo, he took a stage of the Settimana Ciclista in March and then really put his name in the lights with the GP Ouest France-Plouay victory.
"This year, I found the right condition between San Sebastian where I came in the first group and the Tour of Benelux where I was 3rd. I came back to Plouay with the intention of doing well, but honestly I thought I was too young to win a ProTour race ahead of such great riders," said Nibali after his late-August ProTour victory in Plouay.
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