Nibali at the same level as Froome/Contador?

[IndianCyclist]

mountains
1. Quintana
2. Froome
3. Contador
4. Nibali
TT
1. Froome
2. Contador
3. Nibali
4. Quintana

 

[hfer07]

there are two undeniable facts:

Nibali beat Froome & Contador on stage 2 & was the best on the cobble stages with a 2:38 buffer to have handled both of then in the mountains had they remained in the race, as we can see it. IMO what was going to make the difference between the three of them is the ITT, but other than that - Nibali is riding this Tour tip top

 

[gregrowlerson]

I think it's a little more nuanced than just 'Yes' or 'No'.

This.

I voted no.

It often looks like his climbing is just as strong. But then one must also consider the opposition. Yesterday, on a multiple mountain alpine stage, Nibali finished not much more than a minute ahead of Zubeldia. It is difficult to imagine that Trek rider being as close to Froome or Contador.

Having said that, Nibbles could possibly have attacked from further than 3kms out and put in bigger time gaps, only he didn't need to, nor did he need to drop Peraud.

This is a black and white question, but not a black and white answer.

 

[Pulpstar]

I don't know is the honest answer. Nibali doesn't look as good as Froome 2013 level to me, and late 2000s Contador would beat him methinks.

2014 Froome & Contador - that is to my mind a different question - potentially very close all three of them, we won't know ever for definite though

 

[qwerty16]

He isn't near the level Froome displayed last year and Contador displayed this year. Not in the climbs and not in TT's. That said they both aren't in the race anymore. Neither is Quintana (who he probably would have beaten anway given stage 5, the TT and his overall form anyway).

 

[Broth3r]

In Nibali's current form? Absolutely, he's at their level, I have no doubt.

 

[Pippo_San]

Actually he's better, and has beaten every one of them in every single race (except the unimportant ones) since last year.

 

[the asian]

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

At least he's not in bed licking his wounds and contemplating his bike handling skills.

 

[the asian]

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.

Yep. Hope he wins a monument or two before winding up his career.

 

[movingtarget]

Nibali has to be close to Froome and Contador but it would be nice to see them all,over three weeks. I still think that Froome has the edge in the TT.

 

[alin.constantin89]

Nibali has to be close to Froome and Contador but it would be nice to see them all,over three weeks. I still think that Froome has the edge in the TT.

depends on the TT

 

[maxmartin]

Actually he's better, and has beaten every one of them in every single race (except the unimportant ones) since last year.

true to that

 

[The Hegelian]

I think yes, with a few caveats.

My sense was that AC would have climbed like an absolute gun in this tour; potentially taking little chunks of time off both Froome and Nibali.

Froome would have probably won a bit back off both in the tt.

Nibali had already gained with intuitive-classy attacking on difficult non-mountain stages, and may well have again.

i.e. Different kinds of riders, with different strengths.

Hard to deny that Nibali looks in bloody good form.

 

[Miburo]

Actually he's better, and has beaten every one of them in every single race (except the unimportant ones) since last year.

Of course you forgot the dauphine this year and he only beat them in the T-A...

 

[ralphbert]

Contador said he was in his best ever form. If he was as good as 2007 I think he would be riding off by himself every mountain stage like Rabo-Basso from 06 giro. Contador is not known for being discrete like nibs is at the moment.

 

[movingtarget]

depends on the TT

No it doesn't.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Actually he's better, and has beaten every one of them in every single race (except the unimportant ones) since last year.

Oh wow.

Care to explain why he is better?

 

[LaFlorecita]

true to that

Same for you, can you explain why he's better? The facts tell a different story.

 

[LaFlorecita]

In Nibali's current form? Absolutely, he's at their level, I have no doubt.

Hard to say that since we haven't seen them ride against each other.

 

[rhubroma]

Actually he's better, and has beaten every one of them in every single race (except the unimportant ones) since last year.

Like the Dauphine this year?

 

[LaFlorecita]

Like the Dauphine this year?

Didn't you know? Dauphiné is not an important race, and Nibali wasn't pushing it anyway Nibali beats them in every race, except when he doesn't try

 

[rhubroma]

there are two undeniable facts:

Nibali beat Froome & Contador on stage 2 & was the best on the cobble stages with a 2:38 buffer to have handled both of then in the mountains had they remained in the race, as we can see it. IMO what was going to make the difference between the three of them is the ITT, but other than that - Nibali is riding this Tour tip top

See, whe people respond like this; I say "good grief!"

The stage two was a well timed move of opportunity, in a moment in the overall economy of the race, when the bigs where testing the waters. Bravo Nibali, but that was a show of mental acumen that he needed, but not Contador or Froome. Why did he need it? Because, as Bugno said, Nibali had to make use of every occasion to win against Contador and Froome, because in a direct confrontation in the mountains or TT, he doesn't quite have enough to beat them.

Whereas the cobbles are not normal in a grand Tour; purely for the specialists and thus no indication as to what conventionally determines class in a three week race (indeed it's debated even whether or not they belong in the Tour - and there is a reason for that, because today many find they can falsify the event, but that's another story we've discussed before).

 

[rhubroma]

Didn't you know? Dauphiné is not an important race, and Nibali wasn't pushing it anyway Nibali beats them in every race, except when he doesn't try

Nibali won against a second rate Contador and an inept Froome at TA last year. The Italian would have been soundly defeated by AC at TA in this year's event, was beaten by Froome in Romandie as well and in all the other races like Catalonia would have been out of contention for the win. By contrast the others won, or were in real contention to do so in every event they participated in this year.

The Tour would have been no different.

 

[mr. tibbs]

Nibs went head to head with Contador on one uphill finish this year at the Tour. He was left gasping, and Contador was still doing the Sunday crossword, barely aware that a race was going on.

Having said that, I loved the stones stage. I loved the win on the hilly stage. Nibali is a class act, but he's no Contador and he's no Froome.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nibs went head to head with Contador on one uphill finish this year at the Tour. He was left gasping, and Contador was still doing the Sunday crossword, barely aware that a race was going on.

Having said that, I loved the stones stage. I loved the win on the hilly stage. Nibali is a class act, but he's no Contador and he's no Froome.

Good post Mr. tibbs