2014 Tour de France July 19, Stage 14: Grenoble - Risoul 177km

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M

More Strides than Rides

Mar 15, 2011
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LaFlorecita said:
Fortunately I know there are even some Nibali fans who agree with me, so I'm not alone. Sheesh, might as well give Nibali 6 stage wins already and be done with it. I just hate riders who feel the need to stamp their dominance on a particular race. Sure, dominate, who cares. But why put so much effort in another stage win, when that same stage win could make another rider's career? Riders are driven by success, but what the hell is the difference between 5 or 6 stages?
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The difference between 5-6 is the same as 0 or 1. Do you want Boonen to pull aside in the velodrome at PR because he already has a few? Tony Martin to enter the WC TT on a commuter because he already earned multiple stripes?

Especially in this Tour, Nibali does need to stamp his dominance to legitmize his win in the absence of the pre race favorites. Further, he wants to seal a reputation as the great GT rider of our generation. 0 or 1 stage wins don't earn you invites to present at the award ceremony in 30 years. 5 stages instead of 6 don't earn memorials on the side of mountains after youre gone.
 
T

TheSpud

Jul 3, 2014
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LaFlorecita said:
People like Contador, Froome, aren't winners? :confused: I say, let others get their moment to shine. I'm not saying he should gift the stage win like Contador to Tiralongo, but no need to keep the break within 5 minutes.
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I assume they want to keep the break reasonably close just in case it gets so far ahead that it starts to bring Nieve / Thomas in to contention later in the race.
 
Rollthedice

Rollthedice

May 11, 2013
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LaFlorecita said:
It's called using common sense. Or do you think he'll let Pinot or Bardet ride away on the final climb? It'll be the same scenario as yesterday.
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He'll let Richie go.
 
whittashau

whittashau

Sep 2, 2010
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You simply don't understand the essence of cycling or sport. Nibali in the past hasn't exactly shown himself to be a "greedy" winner either. Gave Santambrogio a stage in the Giro last year.

It's not about proving his dominance. It's about delivering the tactics that they feel best suits them.

They're keeping the break at 5 minutes because they feel that's what they should be doing. Contador or Froome's team would do exactly the same if they felt the need to do so.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
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whittashau said:
You simply don't understand the essence of cycling or sport. Nibali in the past hasn't exactly shown himself to be a "greedy" winner either. Gave Santambrogio a stage in the Giro last year.

It's not about proving his dominance. It's about delivering the tactics that they feel best suits them.

They're keeping the break at 10 minutes because they feel that's what they should be doing. Contador or Froome's team would do exactly the same if they felt the need to do so.
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They're not exactly keeping them at 10 minutes, eh? They're keeping the break within striking distance;) But we'll have to agree to disagree.
 
T

Tournesol

Feb 19, 2014
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LaFlorecita said:
They're not exactly keeping them at 10 minutes, eh? They're keeping the break within striking distance;) But we'll have to agree to disagree.
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Nibali is a big champion.Astana are behaving properly here,respecting the jersey and controlling the race.They'll let the break win probably,Nibali isn't greedy.
 
LaFlorecita

LaFlorecita

May 15, 2011
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Tournesol said:
Nibali is a big champion.Astana are behaving properly here,respecting the jersey and controlling the race.They'll let the break win probably,Nibali isn't greedy.
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I hope you're right about that :)
 
l.Harm

l.Harm

Jul 24, 2011
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LaFlorecita said:
C'mon dude, can't you see the difference between Nibali and Pinot wanting to win the stage? :p
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Just kidding ;)


But Astana's just letting the break not going way too far. They're not going to bring the break back but it's also their responsibility to keep them within a certain distance.
 
C

Coat-O

Jun 29, 2014
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LaFlorecita said:
They're not exactly keeping them at 10 minutes, eh? They're keeping the break within striking distance;) But we'll have to agree to disagree.
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When a rider is clearly stronger than the rest there is no need to mask the situation by "letting" others win. It's almost offensive to do so.
 
Rollthedice

Rollthedice

May 11, 2013
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LaFlorecita said:
And then he'll catch him again;)

Anyway, you guys disagree, fair enough. Good luck to Nibali on his quest to win all mountain stages:)
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Please understand that this is not the main objective. He seems to have no choice because his main task is to put time in everybody who's following in the GC. And he has to do this now when he's feeling good and is healthy. Anything can happen in the stages that are left. Aside from Horner's unbelievable performance in last year's Vuelta, it was Nibali's mistake to let him go a few times early in the race, notably in stage 10, Alto de Hazallanas.
 
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