Nibali at the same level as Froome/Contador?

[Miburo]

That's the hot topic now. I think he is, overall as a GT rider he's up there. I don't think he's a good as a climber though but he has other strengths.

And he has the never give up mentality. There's only 1 thing he still needs to prove imo and that is to win a GT against the very best. Aslong as he doesn't do that he won't be officially up there. Winning against mosquera, uran and valverde doesn't do it for me.

Btw there's an argument to be made that Contador isn't at that level anymore since he hasn't proven it since 2011 in a GT but i'm gonna be a fanboy and assume he was at that level this year

 

[Jspear]

I'd say he is half a notch lower than AC and Froome. On your last sentence: it doesn't take a fanboy to see that AC was back to his old self - just look at his results from this year.

 

[Hayabusa]

Contador hasn't proven himself in a GT since 2011? So the 2012 Vuelta doesn't count?

 

[Escarabajo]

I refuse to vote without seeing the Vino option first.

 

[Jspear]

Contador hasn't proven himself in a GT since 2011? So the 2012 Vuelta doesn't count?

People will say something like it was against a weak field and that he couldn't win the race in the high mountains.

 

[Miburo]

Contador hasn't proven himself in a GT since 2011? So the 2012 Vuelta doesn't count?

That wasn't the best Contador. It's still a miracle that he won that vuelta lol

 

[MBotero]

That's the hot topic now. I think he is, overall as a GT rider he's up there. I don't think he's a good as a climber though but he has other strengths.

And he has the never give up mentality. There's only 1 thing he still needs to prove imo and that is to win a GT against the very best. Aslong as he doesn't do that he won't be officially up there. Winning against mosquera, uran and valverde doesn't do it for me.

Btw there's an argument to be made that Contador isn't at that level anymore since he hasn't proven it since 2011 in a GT but i'm gonna be a fanboy and assume he was at that level this year

I can't vote,were is the option that is a level above those losers?

 

[Hayabusa]

People will say something like it was against a weak field and that he couldn't win the race in the high mountains.

Weak field? Sort of like the one Nibali is facing now?

Ooh controversial comment

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Of course he is. He is even more complete than the others.
I think he might end up with a better palmares.
We shall see.

 

[maxmartin]

I can't vote,were is the option that is a level above those losers?

exactly, NIbalis is obviously better than AC and CF this year. He is winning the Tour while the other two are licking the wound at home. LOL

 

[Jspear]

Weak field? Sort of like the one Nibali is facing now?

Ooh controversial comment

Yes, something like that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I'd say he is half a notch lower than AC and Froome. On your last sentence: it doesn't take a fanboy to see that AC was back to his old self - just look at his results from this year.

Agreed. Not at the same level, but very close.

For me:

Climbing - Froome = Contador > Nibali
TT - Froome > Contador = Nibali
Descending - Nibali > Contador > Froome
Tactics - Contador = Nibali > Froome

Climbing (x4):
Froome 9
Contador 9
Nibali 8

TT (x2)
Froome 9
Contador 7.5
Nibali 7.5

Descending (x1)
Froome 7
Contador 8
Nibali 9

Tactics (x1)
Froome 6
Contador 8
Nibali 8

Overall:
Froome 8.375
Contador 8.375
Nibali 8

Nibali was better on the cobbles this year, as expected, but then again that type of stage rarely features in a stage race.

All three are top notch GC racers. Together with Quintana they're way ahead of the rest.

 

[Fight.The.Power]

I Like Nibali the best but I'm afraid until there is concrete proof I have to think back to the last time the three were competing together and Nibbles got his **** whipped at everything by the other two.

Also the margins he is beating the field by on the last two days doesn't feel as big a margin as Contador or Froome would have.

Would expect the vast majority to vote NO as I have done.

Sorry Nibbles but the truth hurts.

 

[TANK91]

Completely agree, how embarrasing to have Peraud on you're wheel.

 

[Miburo]

exactly, NIbalis is obviously better than AC and CF this year. He is winning the Tour while the other two are licking the wound at home. LOL

Don't kid yourself, this man is completely serious.

 

[rhubroma]

Of course he is. He is even more complete than the others.
I think he might end up with a better palmares.
We shall see.

All of this must be contextualized. The Giro and Vuelta aren't the Tour, and he's winning this Tour in so dominant a fashion, only because the two favorites crashed out. He gained advantage on the cobbles, true, but that is such a specialized enterprise and as far as the Tour goes a relative rarity.

So we can say he's better on the cobbles, but based on his career and AC's we can't say he's more "complete." No way. Whereas Froome dominated a much stronger competition last Tour with Quintana, a super Rodriquez and, while Contador was hardly at his best at the time, the Madrilino too.

Better palmares than AC? He will need to win several more grand tours for that.

 

[R0BL4MBT0N]

Also the margins he is beating the field by on the last two days doesn't feel as big a margin as Contador or Froome would have.

Not really sure on this though you maybe right but he is certainly being flattered by the others just racing for podium and ignoring his attacks.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

I'll wait for the "Is Contador at the same level as Froome/Nibali?" poll

 

[LaFlorecita]

Don't kid yourself, this man is completely serious.

wut

 

[Dazed and Confused]

All of this must be contextualized. The Giro and Vuelta aren't the Tour, and he's winning this Tour in so dominant a fashion, only because the two favorites crashed out. He gained advantage on the cobbles, true, but that is such a speciality and as far as the Tour goes a relative rarity.

So we can say he's better on the cobbles, but based on his career and AC's we can't say he's more "complete." No way. Whereas Froome dominated a much stronger competition last Tour with Quintana, a super Rodriquez and, while Contador was hardly at his best last year, the Madrilino too.

Better palmares than AC? He will need to win several more grand tours for that.

Did you even understand what I wrote?
End up with a better palmares.

I stand by my view Nibali is a more complete rider. Not just cobbles. Very good at almost all disciplines in all conditions. Complete.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Agreed. Not at the same level, but very close.

For me:

Climbing - Froome = Contador > Nibali
TT - Froome > Contador = Nibali
Descending - Nibali > Contador > Froome
Tactics - Contador = Nibali > Froome

Climbing (x4):
Froome 9
Contador 9
Nibali 8

TT (x2)
Froome 9
Contador 7.5
Nibali 7.5

Descending (x1)
Froome 7
Contador 8
Nibali 9

Tactics (x1)
Froome 6
Contador 8
Nibali 8

Overall:
Froome 8.375
Contador 8.375
Nibali 8

Nibali was better on the cobbles this year, as expected, but then again that type of stage rarely features in a stage race.

All three are top notch GC racers. Together with Quintana they're way ahead of the rest.

Climbing:
Froome - 9
AC - 9
Nibbles 8,5

Doubt Nibali could put any time into any of them on a "normal day", but wouldn't loose many seconds on any mtf.

TTing:
Froome - 9
AC - 7.5 (on flat), 8.5 (on hilly)
Nibali . 8 (on flat), 8.33 (on hilly)

Recovery:
Froome - 8
AC - 9
Nibali - 8

An in-shape AC could probably deliver hard racing over multiple days in the mountians better than both Nibali and Froome, just a feeling though

Downhill:
Froome - 7.5
AC - 8
Nibali - 9

Stamina (long races, classic like stages)
Froome - 7.5
AC - 8
Nibali - 9

general bikehandling:
Froome - 7
AC - 8
Nibali - 10



Make what you want out of it

 

[Rollthedice]

There should be another option in the poll: maybe. And it should be stated: period of comparison - month of July 2014.

 

[whittashau]

Agreed. Not at the same level, but very close.

For me:

Climbing - Froome = Contador > Nibali
TT - Froome > Contador = Nibali
Descending - Nibali > Contador > Froome
Tactics - Contador = Nibali > Froome

Climbing (x4):
Froome 9
Contador 9
Nibali 8

TT (x2)
Froome 9
Contador 7.5
Nibali 7.5

Descending (x1)
Froome 7
Contador 8
Nibali 9

Tactics (x1)
Froome 6
Contador 8
Nibali 8

Overall:
Froome 8.375
Contador 8.375
Nibali 8

Nibali was better on the cobbles this year, as expected, but then again that type of stage rarely features in a stage race.

All three are top notch GC racers. Together with Quintana they're way ahead of the rest.

I wouldn't disagree with much of this. Perhaps I'd give Froome less when it comes to tactics. However, I feel awareness and general bike handling should be factored in. Nibali avoided two crashes this Tour which were right infront of him. If in a similar situation I feel the one in the first stage is one which I feel Froome would never have avoided, and that even Contador would have struggled to avoid.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Did you even understand what I wrote?
End up with a better palmares.

I stand by my view Nibali is a more complete rider. Not just cobbles. Very good at almost all disciplines in all conditions. Complete.

We'll see. I can't see Nibali win another Tour, really. He'd need at least 1 more Tour win and 2 more Giro/Vuelta to match Contador. Don't forget Contador has an amazing 1 week stage race palmarès.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wouldn't disagree with much of this. Perhaps I'd give Froome less when it comes to tactics. However, I feel awareness and general bike handling should be factored in. Nibali avoided two crashes this Tour which were right infront of him. The one in the first stage is one which I feel Froome would never have avoided, and that even Contador would have struggled to avoid.

It certainly helps Nibali, but I'm not sure it should be factored in to determine the best stage racer. This is all purely theoretical, while luck also plays a big part in avoiding crashes. How do we determine if a rider stays upright because of bike handling skills, or purely because of a reflex or luck.

For example this, skills or reflex/luck?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVzNFnOx-RA