Milan - San Remo 2018

[tobydawq]

Re:

A fairly predictable edition. Congrats to Nibali. Also happy to see Ewan doing well again.

I know you don't want to talk with me, but predictable?

This was probably the biggest upset in a monument since Zaugg won Lombardia. Maybe Hayman...

 

[Kwibus]

Awesome nibali! That was fantastic.

Not 1 of the big favourites and attacking at the right time gave him a very solid gap. Despite that it was still a headwind and he still managed to win.
Very impressive win!

A rider like him needs that little luck to win a race like this. Im not saying it was a lucky win, he 100% made it happen himself, but if any of the other favourites wouldve chased directly its over. They didnt and now they saw him raising his arms when he crossed the line.

Last 10km can't get any better. Terrific racing.
Still I think le Manie needs to return.

 

[d-s3]

I think Sagan's / Bora's error was that Sagan was not on the wheel of Burghardt when he drilled it up the Poggio.
That way he would put pressure on other teams while keeping the best position to respond to attack(s).

Anyway, Nibali deserves this not only for having balls today but also for the aggressive riding he often employs.

 

[delgado]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

 

[red_flanders]

Re:

A fairly predictable edition. Congrats to Nibali. Also happy to see Ewan doing well again.

You predicted Nibali would win? That is impressive, I never would have picked him.

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

But to be honest Nibali role was to mark attackers on the Poggio, without working.
When he and the team noticed that he got like 6-7 seconds immediately (TBM sudden stop at the front created a big gap), he was told to just go.
Then he accelerated on the harder part of the Poggio and after the descent it was a while before teams could organize the chase.
Of course the favorites watched a bit at each other and that just was just barely enough to do it.

Everything did go the perfect way for Nibali, and for him to win MSR there was no other way.
Still, a legendary ride.

It's a lot of small things that helped Nibali win today.

The first thing I noticed when I rewatched it was Bahrain was the only team collectively well positioned on the Poggio. There were a few attacks, and when Nibali joined the initial move his teammates stopped riding and there were no domestiques at the front to follow. That's why he got the initial gap so 'easily'. They probably also underestimated him, and the headwind probably made them reluctant to do work as well.

The 7 man teams also played a role. There were just less domestiques on the Poggio and in the last kms to the finish.

And I wonder how the riders were affected by the massive rain in the first part of the race. Several riders complained about being cold in the first part, and Nibali doesn't do no cold.

Add Cavendish crash to the list. A good chunk of riders were gapped due to it and never got back.

It was the perfect set up for Nibali and he made perfect use of it.

Colbrelli was the designated captain. Nibali had to cover the attacks on Poggio but then had such a big gap he decided to go all in.

 

[Kwibus]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

The hugs and smiles after the finish line do not suggest anything you are suggesting.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

 

[delgado]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

The hugs and smiles after the finish line do not suggest anything you are suggesting.

look at the birds eye replay from the chasing bunch crossing the line, Colbrelli passes the jubilating Nibali and does not even glance his way. Also I did not make him out among the first huggers. Anyways, no blame, it's not like he beat his handlebars

 

[Rollthedice]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

The hugs and smiles after the finish line do not suggest anything you are suggesting.

look at the birds eye replay from the chasing bunch crossing the line, Colbrelli passes the jubilating Nibali and does not even glance his way. Also I did not make him out among the first huggers. Anyways, no blame, it's not like he beat his handlebars

Look here, he's happy now on the bus:

 

[El Pistolero]

Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

Not Gilbert...zero GT credentials. Only Valverde. Nibali is clearly above Don Alejandro on the GT side, and with this win, we can argue that he's just as good in one-day races.

 

[delgado]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

The hugs and smiles after the finish line do not suggest anything you are suggesting.

look at the birds eye replay from the chasing bunch crossing the line, Colbrelli passes the jubilating Nibali and does not even glance his way. Also I did not make him out among the first huggers. Anyways, no blame, it's not like he beat his handlebars

Look here, he's happy now on the bus:

I was obviously referencing the spontaneous reaction, not the party after dawn

but far be it from me to pick on todays racing!

 

[Lo squalo di messina]

Mohoric went crazy when he saw nibali won. If only i could find the video again..

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

Not Gilbert...zero GT credentials. Only Valverde. Nibali is clearly above Don Alejandro on the GT side, and with this win, we can argue that he's just as good in one-day races.

I don't think you can argue that Nibali is as good in one day races as Valverde based on the numbers.

How many other wins or podiums in one day races does Nibali have besides the 1 podium at Liege, the 2 Lombardia wins and now on win at MSR? Compared to Valverdes 4 Liege wins, 5 Fleche Wallone wins (included in that is 3 Ardennes doubles), 3 Murcia wins (that is just for it as a one day race, 2 wins as a stage race), a couple of podiums at Amstel Gold, 6 Worlds podiums, podium at Strade Bianche, 2nd place twice at Lombardia.

Since you are going to include Nibali's 1 2nd place at Liege you then MUST also include Valverde's 2 2nd places at Lombardia.

 

[delgado]

Mohoric went crazy when he saw nibali won. If only i could find the video again..

of course. I had singled out Colbrelli.

 

[ColonelKidneyBeans]

Re: Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

Not Gilbert...zero GT credentials. Only Valverde. Nibali is clearly above Don Alejandro on the GT side, and with this win, we can argue that he's just as good in one-day races.

I don't think you can argue that Nibali is as good in one day races as Valverde based on the numbers.

How many other wins or podiums in one day races does Nibali have besides the 1 podium at Liege, the 2 Lombardia wins and now on win at MSR? Compared to Valverdes 4 Liege wins, 5 Fleche Wallone wins (included in that is 3 Ardennes doubles), 3 Murcia wins (that is just for it as a one day race, 2 wins as a stage race), a couple of podiums at Amstel Gold, 5 Worlds podiums, podium at Strade Bianche, 2nd place twice at Lombardia.

Since you are going to include Nibali's 1 2nd place at Lombardia you then MUST also include Valverde's 2 2nd places at Lombardia.

Nibali also has Plouay and a bunch of lesser italian one day (tre valli varesine and coppa bernocchi if my memory does not betray me), but yes Valverde is clearly the superior one day racer, having a devastating sprint helps a lot.

 

[Koronin]

Re: Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

Not Gilbert...zero GT credentials. Only Valverde. Nibali is clearly above Don Alejandro on the GT side, and with this win, we can argue that he's just as good in one-day races.

I don't think you can argue that Nibali is as good in one day races as Valverde based on the numbers.

How many other wins or podiums in one day races does Nibali have besides the 1 podium at Liege, the 2 Lombardia wins and now on win at MSR? Compared to Valverdes 4 Liege wins, 5 Fleche Wallone wins (included in that is 3 Ardennes doubles), 3 Murcia wins (that is just for it as a one day race, 2 wins as a stage race), a couple of podiums at Amstel Gold, 6 Worlds podiums, podium at Strade Bianche, 2nd place twice at Lombardia.

Since you are going to include Nibali's 1 2nd place at Liege you then MUST also include Valverde's 2 2nd places at Lombardia.

Nibali also has Plouay and a bunch of lesser italian one day (tre valli varesine and coppa bernocchi if my memory does not betray me), but yes Valverde is clearly the superior one day racer, having a devastating sprint helps a lot.

Thank you.

By the way I have no problem saying Nibali is a better Grand Tour rider. He's got 5 wins (not sure how many other podiums he has, but I know there are a couple). Valverde has 8 Grand Tour podiums which is a nice result, ties Indurain for officially the most Grand Tour podiums for a Spaniard (Contador officially has 7, unofficially has 9). I've also have no problem saying Contador was a better Grand Tour rider than Valverde.

 

[Rollthedice]

Nibali has 4 GTs currently, 10 Grand Tour podiums.

 

[The Hegelian]

One can only say: chapeau Nibali. I'm not the biggest fan, but time and time again he really exhibits panache.

And I think a great result for Ewan too - probably eclipses his GT stage wins.

 

[deneb]

you'd think Colbrelli could at least muster a smile, crossing the line... BahrainM plan gone wrong, maybe?

The hugs and smiles after the finish line do not suggest anything you are suggesting.

look at the birds eye replay from the chasing bunch crossing the line, Colbrelli passes the jubilating Nibali and does not even glance his way. Also I did not make him out among the first huggers. Anyways, no blame, it's not like he beat his handlebars

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DYg1FLKXcAEH5ZW.jpg

 

[ferryman]

Just saw the highlights. Great ride by Nibali. Was that a phone that was thrown at him about 400 metres from the finish. He obviously saw it coming and sort of ducked but it still bounced off his shoulder! Did someone really do that Mental.

 

[robertcatuara]

WOW ! What a finish. It was the perfect scenario for Nibali. I'm sure it was just as he planned. Attack on the Poggio, descend like a madman, and pray you don't get caught in the last 2k.

As a Cav fan, it was painful to watch him crash. He does have a win here though, probably his only.

 

[jaylew]

Re: Re:

Nibali wasn't even a poll option. We totally failed again.

What a rider man, Lombardia x2, all GT's, San Remo and 2nd in LBL. There is nobody as complete.

Gilbert imo, but that's pretty much it.

Gilbert? Laughable.

 

[ngent41]

Just saw the highlights. Great ride by Nibali. Was that a phone that was thrown at him about 400 metres from the finish. He obviously saw it coming and sort of ducked but it still bounced off his shoulder! Did someone really do that Mental.

It wasn't actually thrown. Just a fan sticking his arm out holding his phone, nibali rode into it.