‘My best numbers ever’ - Domenico Pozzovivo eyes remarkable Giro d’Italia return at 44

When Pozzovivo spoke to Domestique at the Tour of the Alps in April, his return to the professional peloton was still something of an experiment. Eighteen months after stepping away from racing, the Italian wanted to discover whether the physical condition he had maintained in retirement could translate into results against a new generation of riders.

"I've kept training all the while, and my performance levels have remained very high," he said at the time.

Six months later, he has his answer.

Despite not starting his season until late April, Pozzovivo accumulated more than 500 UCI points in just 35 race days, collecting seven podium finishes across stages and general classifications. His contribution helped Solution Tech-NIPPO secure a place inside the top 30 of the UCI team rankings.

Now 44, Pozzovivo believes there is still more to come.

"The idea of continuing is there," he told bici.pro. "Obviously, I would want to maintain the same spirit and the same approach. That way, I could see myself doing another season without it becoming one season too many."

His season came to a painful conclusion at the Japan Cup, where he crashed after Attila Valter fell directly in front of him. The Hungarian's bike ended up underneath Pozzovivo's, sending the Italian off the road and into a field.

Although he initially appeared to have escaped without serious damage, Pozzovivo suffered a hand injury that required surgery.

It was a frustrating end to a campaign that had exceeded expectations, but the setback has done little to change his ambitions for 2027.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Pozzovivo's comeback is his claim that some of his physical numbers are better than ever, even at 44.

"From a physical point of view, the numbers I had already recorded in training were the best of my career," he told bici.pro.

Pozzovivo attributes his longevity partly to genetics, but also to advances in nutrition, technology and training methods that have transformed professional cycling during his two decades in the peloton.

He has also changed his own approach considerably.

In April, Pozzovivo explained to Domestique how stepping away from professional racing had allowed him to reconsider some of his established training habits.

"On top of that, I'm managing to do less quantity but more quality in training. Before I did too much altitude and too many training camps, so I was always away from home. Now, because I'm understandably at home more with my family, I found that it wasn't necessary to do all those altitude camps. After stopping, I realised that there was maybe a middle ground."

That adjustment has allowed Pozzovivo to spend more time with his family, particularly his young daughter Diana, without compromising the level of fitness required to compete professionally.

Still, he admits to some regrets over the advances that came late in his career.

"When I was younger, when my physical abilities were still greater, particularly before my accident in 2019, I didn't make full use of my potential," he told bici.pro, pointing to the lack of knowledge available at the time.

Pozzovivo hopes to resolve his future during November, with his preference being to remain at Solution Tech-NIPPO.

"I would like to continue with them," he said. "After all, they were the ones who had the courage to invest in a rider of my age, with so many years of racing behind him."

Having finished inside the top 30 of the UCI team rankings, Solution Tech-NIPPO is among the teams eligible for a wildcard invitation to the 2027 Giro d'Italia, potentially offering Pozzovivo the opportunity to return to a race where he has already made a record 18 appearances.

A 19th appearance would add another remarkable chapter to a career that began in 2005, although neither his contract extension nor the team's participation in the Giro has been confirmed.

For Pozzovivo, securing his future early would also make a significant difference to his preparations.

"I hope to get everything sorted out in November," he explained. "It would be very important for me to go into the winter with a programme already in mind and an idea of when and how to aim for my best performances."

And while Pozzovivo remains convinced that his body can withstand another season in the professional peloton, he believes the greatest challenge facing riders today is increasingly psychological.

"From a physical point of view, I have no doubts that you can race for many years, even in such a demanding sport," he told bici.pro. "Mentally, however, modern cycling wears you down much sooner."

After more than two decades in the sport, Pozzovivo appears to have found a way to manage both. And if his plans come together, the 44-year-old could yet add a remarkable 19th Giro d'Italia appearance to his extraordinary career.