The Shark knows what it takes to win at Tirreno-Adriatico having done so in consecutive seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Having missed last year’s race, he returns this time out with the chance to kick-start a season that, for his team Astana, has so far been dominated by off-bike headlines.

The future of the team remains in doubt, and they will be desperate for a big result with Nibali having started the campaign slowly – just as he did 12 months ago.

This, however, is a race which he clearly enjoys and has been well suited to in the past – and it represents an early chance to put to bed any suggestion he would not have won last year’s Tour had his main rivals not been absent or crashed out. Of course, Nibali’s real chance to answer that criticism will come at this year’s Tour, when Contador, Froome and Quintana are all expected.