Pozzovivo isn't stopping: at 43, he dreams of the 2027 Giro d'Italia.

The years pass, but Domenico Pozzovivo continues to ride. Twenty-two years after his first Giro d'Italia, the veteran from Basilicata could return to the Giro d'Italia next season. His goal is to extend his career with the Italian ProTeam Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali into 2027.

Pozzovivo will turn 44 in November. He last rode the Giro in 2024, finishing 20th and announcing his retirement at the end of the season. In 2026, he returned to the peloton with Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali and is now hoping to renew his contract. He says he recorded some of the best power outputs of his career this year.

A haul of over 500 UCI points

The lightweight climber collected more than 500 UCI points in 2026 and finished the year as the team's second-highest scorer. Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali finished 26th in the team rankings, well within the top 30 required for Grand Tour participation. The other Italian ProTeam, Bardiani-CSF-7 Saber, fell short of that threshold. Pozzovivo's team therefore has a good chance of earning a wildcard for the 2027 Giro d'Italia .

The team hasn't yet finalized its 2027 roster. In an interview, Pozzovivo said he expects news on the renewal within this month. "The idea of ​​wanting to continue is there," he explained.

The rider also spoke of his gratitude towards those who bet on him: "I'd like to continue with Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali, because in the end they were the ones who had the courage to invest in a rider of my age, with so many years of career behind him."

Then he looked ahead to the winter: "I hope to have everything finalized in November. It would be very important for me to approach the winter with a plan in mind and an idea of ​​when and how to achieve my best performance."

A CV from a Corsa Rosa big name

Pozzovivo made his Giro d'Italia debut in 2005 and finished fifth twice, in 2014 and 2018. His only stage win in the Corsa Rosa dates back to 2012, at Lago Laceno. His last WorldTour victory was a stage of the Tour de Suisse in 2017.

After his first retirement at the end of 2024, the rider from the province of Matera signed with Solution Tech-Nippo-Rali in April. His 2026 season was a high-level one: third in the Czech Tour and third in the Giro dell'Appennino.

Pozzovivo attributes part of his newfound form to the modern nutrition and training methods that have transformed the group in recent years. "Physically, the numbers I'd already recorded in training were the best I've ever been," he said.

He then acknowledged his contribution: "My contribution in terms of points, all earned in Europe, was not marginal. I am therefore proud to have kept the promises I made to the team when I arrived."