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BigMac said:Battaglin could win this Oropa-style but he'll work for Kruijswijk instead.
That said, Rigo with a major comeback here.
Kwibus said:BigMac said:Battaglin could win this Oropa-style but he'll work for Kruijswijk instead.
That said, Rigo with a major comeback here.
Isnogood stop your Machado posts please.
This stage would be more exciting if they started the race directly in Bolzano.thehook said:IMHO, The Big Teams (Astana & Movistar) Have to hit Lotto Jumbo. Hard on the first climb. Isolate the Maglia Rosa. And work him over. If you do not crack him...You will be draining his energy for later in the week.
I think that's a bit harsh on Nibali. He's not one to throw in the towel, and certainly not on Italian soil. He will also know he's got next to no chance of doing anything other than stage-hunt at the Tour - given the level of competition there and the difficulty of this Giro.staubsauger said:Seriously it seems like Nibali is pretty much done with Astana and given his reaction after yesterday's mechanical, it even looks like he's done with this Giro. The restday might rebuild what the heat of the moment destroyed. But I wouldn't be surprised if Nibali ain't got no ambition to take any risk on and off the road, to win this Giro anymore. It might be pure preparation for the Olympics and the Tour from now on. Astana can't do nothing about it.
dacooley said:urggghhh... yet again if nibali / contador are not in the race lead, we allegedly need hell on the road, early attacks, risky moves, alliances,,, however everything is fine when they are in driving seat. people being victims of their own ionospheric hype make the forum board really hilarious.
shalgo said:Amador and Fuglsang should attack on the first climb. Kruijswick may be the strongest, but he has no team. If he has to chase, then Nibali or Valverde could attack on the Paganella when he is tired. The problem, I suppose, is that Tinkoff would likely ride to keep the gap small, to protect Majka's position.
jens_attacks said:Astana will send guys up front from the start
Nibali will attack on mendola. If he expects paganella, he can't take more than 30 seconds on Steve
Gigs_98 said:While everyone is taking down Nibalis shape we shouldnt forget that he was by far the third strongest rider in the queen stage and gained about 2 minutes on everyone besides Kruijswijk and Chaves. I don't think he will suddenly climb better than everyone else but I at least don't think that he will easily drop and be weaker than Valverde.
Ataraxus said:Gigs_98 said:While everyone is taking down Nibalis shape we shouldnt forget that he was by far the third strongest rider in the queen stage and gained about 2 minutes on everyone besides Kruijswijk and Chaves. I don't think he will suddenly climb better than everyone else but I at least don't think that he will easily drop and be weaker than Valverde.
You are right but this is nothing like the queen stage.
This is more like Roccaraso stage.
Arredondo said:Ataraxus said:Gigs_98 said:While everyone is taking down Nibalis shape we shouldnt forget that he was by far the third strongest rider in the queen stage and gained about 2 minutes on everyone besides Kruijswijk and Chaves. I don't think he will suddenly climb better than everyone else but I at least don't think that he will easily drop and be weaker than Valverde.
You are right but this is nothing like the queen stage.
This is more like Roccaraso stage.
But the Nibali from the Roccaraso stage, would have been in the Valverde group on the Corvara stage. That means he progressed during the Giro. I think the Siusi MTT was just an off day.
I can't see the big 4 changing after tomorrow. And i don't think he podium will be different at the end of the Giro.
This is maybe more like the Roccaraso stage but IMO that doesnt change anything. The Nibali of the Corvara stage also would have been better in Roccaraso, and the Nibali of the first week would have lost a lot of time on the Corvara stage. I doubt the general difficulty of the stage makes such a difference for the performance. Nibali isnt Quintana who is at his best in stages with 5 passes over 2000 meters, Nibali is rather the kind of rider who usually is good on hilly terrain as well, otherwise he probably wouldnt have won Lombardia.Ataraxus said:Gigs_98 said:While everyone is taking down Nibalis shape we shouldnt forget that he was by far the third strongest rider in the queen stage and gained about 2 minutes on everyone besides Kruijswijk and Chaves. I don't think he will suddenly climb better than everyone else but I at least don't think that he will easily drop and be weaker than Valverde.
You are right but this is nothing like the queen stage.
This is more like Roccaraso stage.