Vincenzo Nibali will be a part of Astana in 2017, according to team manager Alexandre Vinokourov. The Italian does not close the door despite the disagreements the parties have had since 2013.

Nibali, who recently turned 31, has achieved his greatest successes in the Astana jersey. He won the Giro d'Italia and Tirreno-Adriatico and was second in the Vuelta a Espana in 2013, and he won the Tour de France last year. This year he won Il Lombardia and he has been Italian champion for the past two years.

However, he has often expressed his sadness and bitterness about the team's situation: the pressure to win in 2014, the problems of doping, the license problems last year, doubts about his performance, lack of support from the team and riders…

Vinokourov has forgotten everything. "Why should he change?" he asked La Gazzetta dello Sport . “I contacted his agent today and Vincenzo feels good with us because at his disposal he has all the conditions to give him the best. I would say that, 99 per cent, in 2017 and 2018 he will race with us,” he added. Nibali confirmed that he has received the offer to renew.

Nibali joined Astana in 2013 after seven seasons at Liquigas (2006-2012) and adebut at Fassa Bortolo (2005).

Vinokourov’s ambition is to win the Giro-Tour double with Nibali and Aru, respectively, after winning the Big Three, the 2013 Giro, the Tour 2014 and the 2015 Vuelta.