Nibali at the same level as Froome/Contador?

[Miburo]

If he won't become the best on his own.

The same could be easily said about Nibali a few years ago.

Oh excuse me, when did nibali beat the best in a GT?

Nibali had already proven at tj's age what enormous potential he has. Look at the giro '10.

Tj reminds me of kloden, usually follows, has a good ITT, but nothing extraordinary.

 

[Netbalp]

Oh excuse me, when did nibali beat the best in a GT?

Nibali had already proven at tj's age what enormous potential he has. Look at the giro '10.

Tj reminds me of kloden, usually follows, has a good ITT, but nothing extraordinary.

The way race unfolds thus far shows the battle between Contador, Nibali and Froome could have been memorable. I presume Nibs' domination casted a big shadow of doubt on both easiness of ACs (CFs) win and their probable wins themselves.

Kloeden podiumed several times at least.


I agree TJ doesn't look a like a guy born to be a climber, but who knows, he can improve, ASO may provide the 2012 Tour-esque route and then everything is possible.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Kloeden podiumed several times at least.

Alas, only in my dreams

 

[LaFlorecita]

Alas, only in my dreams

Nice

 

[offbyone]

Nibali can handle these types of climbs as good as Froome/Contador. While this year has plenty of climbing, the type of climbs are fairly shallow gradients. Even the pyrennes don't look to be really testy from a gradient perspective.
I think Nibali would suffer on steeper climbs, but from what I am seeing there is no doubt in my mind that he is on the same level as Froome/Contador for this race profile.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Nibali can handle these types of climbs as good as Froome/Contador. While this year has plenty of climbing, the type of climbs are fairly shallow gradients. Even the pyrennes don't look to be really testy from a gradient perspective.
I think Nibali would suffer on steeper climbs, but from what I am seeing there is no doubt in my mind that he is on the same level as Froome/Contador for this race profile.

How can you be so sure? We haven't seen them battle it out, so how can you be sure he'd match Froome and Contador?

 

[maxmartin]

Nibali can handle these types of climbs as good as Froome/Contador. While this year has plenty of climbing, the type of climbs are fairly shallow gradients. Even the pyrennes don't look to be really testy from a gradient perspective.
I think Nibali would suffer on steeper climbs, but from what I am seeing there is no doubt in my mind that he is on the same level as Froome/Contador for this race profile.

AC's preban level or after ban level? Preban level, I don't think Nibali is there yet, maybe 2012/13 Froom is close to it. But afterban level, meh, this year Tour Nibali is way better than that.

 

[djpbaltimore]

You can't compare Horner and Purito with Contador.

I agree. Throw in Levi who was also competitive at a more advanced age and the common bond seems to be fewer GTs raced at a younger age. That is not the case with Contador. Even if you want to use Armstrong as an example, he also limited his schedule (except 2009) to a single GT and had two breaks in the middle of his career.

Contador still has a good window of opportunity based on his performances this year, but I doubt he will be a big time podium contender into his late 30s.

 

[ILovecycling]

AC's preban level or after ban level? Preban level, I don't think Nibali is there yet, maybe 2012/13 Froom is close to it. But afterban level, meh, this year Tour Nibali is way better than that.

I used to like Nibbs,but this summer,especialy cuz of his fans Im starting to find this very hard to sustain...

 

[LaFlorecita]

I used to like Nibbs,but this summer,especialy cuz of his fans Im starting to find this very hard to sustain...

Yeah, me too

 

[LaFlorecita]

AC's preban level or after ban level? Preban level, I don't think Nibali is there yet, maybe 2012/13 Froom is close to it. But afterban level, meh, this year Tour Nibali is way better than that.

Contador 2014 = preban level

 

[Netserk]

Contador 2014 > preban level

Fixed

He was ready for a new VAM-record this July _O_

 

[Pippo_San]

Contador 2014 = preban level

 

[SeriousSam]

But afterban level, meh, this year Tour Nibali is way better than that.

No, he isn't. There is absolutely nothing in 2014 that indicates Nibali climbs better than Contador and plenty to suggest otherwise.

Getting left behind when the road goes up seems to be evidence of supreme climbing to the Nibali faithful. Porte must be the most fearsome climber in the Tour right now!

 

[Miburo]

So according to this guy nibali will eventually be able to obtain contador's pre ban level while he implied contador used doping during that period.

Pretty much meaning the clean nibali is the best rider from the last 30 years LOL

 

[LaFlorecita]

Fixed

He was ready for a new VAM-record this July _O_

No, he isn't. There is absolutely nothing in 2014 that indicates Nibali climbs better than Contador and plenty to suggest otherwise.

Getting left behind when the road goes up seems to be evidence of supreme climbing to the Nibali faithful. Porte must be the most fearsome climber in the Tour right now!

So according to this guy nibali will eventually be able to obtain contador's pre ban level while he implied contador used doping during that period.

Pretty much meaning the clean nibali is the best rider from the last 30 years LOL

Exactly!

 

[ILovecycling]

Fixed

He was ready for a new VAM-record this July _O_

according to his sensations,yes he was

 

[Rollthedice]

according to his sensations,yes he was

The Sensational Alberto Contador Band. Hit VAM of the summer. Too bad nobody gets to hear it, but it's a fantastic song.

 

[ILovecycling]

The Sensational Alberto Contador Band. Hit VAM of the summer. Too bad nobody gets to hear it, but it's a fantastic song.

What a joke,haha
He did 1850 VAM in 2009,and everybody who was with Alberto this year said he is in better form,form of his life.Im not saying he would have done it (lot of variables) ,but the chance in a longer attack to make it was big.
Im sorry for you that you cant handle reality,that AC is superior climber to Nibali or whatever.
Even few of his (VN) fans admited it,cuz its a simple fact.And because you have no arguments to support it, you make pointless jokes.Applause.

 

[Rollthedice]

What a joke,haha
He did 1850 VAM in 2009,and everybody who was with Alberto this year said he is in better form,form of his life.Im not saying he would have done it (lot of variables) ,but the chance in a longer attack to make it was big.
Im sorry for you that you cant handle reality,that AC is superior climber to Nibali or whatever.
Even few of his (VN) fans admited it,cuz its a simple fact.And because you have no arguments to support it, you make pointless jokes.Applause.

I have never said anywhere that AC is not a superior climber than Nibali. My problem is that I don't believe Contador would have won this Tour while 2:34 down in GC. Oleg, Bjarne and a few hardcore fans around here think he could. But I guess we will never find out the right answer, do we?

 

[spanky wanderlust]

i think this is the strongest nibali we've ever seen. he's got everything dialed right now. perfect timing of the peak.

(plus, he's a really terrific rider on every level, which is a joy to watch. super smart, professional, opportunistic, mentally tough, exquisite bike handling. just great stuff! but that's for the nibali thread)

would contador be better? maybe. lots of rumors he was on his strongest form ever, but that could just be saxotink bs hype. i was certainly expecting him to win. but at the start i had no idea nibali would be this good. he's really on a ride right now and i for one am enjoying it.

he's definitely stronger than froome would have been. i think froome didn't have it this time around. something went wrong. but sadly, we won't get to watch him crack. not this year.

 

[ILovecycling]

I have never said anywhere that AC is not a superior climber than Nibali. My problem is that I don't believe Contador would have won this Tour while 2:34 down in GC. Oleg, Bjarne and a few hardcore fans around here think he could. But I guess we will never find out the right answer, do we?

No,we dont.Better for 2015
bolded: yeah,few thousands around the world

 

[Netserk]

Verbier (8.3km@7.69%) 2009 was 1852m/h for 20'40''. A similar VAM for PdBF (5.9km@8.53%) would require a time of 16'17'', which funnily enough was Froome's time in '12, so if Contador had beaten that time (which he absolutely could) he would've set a new VAM-record. However PdBF is of shorter duration than Verbier, so he would have to do more than just narrowly beating Froome's time to do a better performance than Verbier.

 

[ILovecycling]

Verbier (8.3km@7.69%) 2009 was 1852m/h for 20'40''. A similar VAM for PdBF (5.9km@8.53%) would require a time of 16'17'', which funnily enough was Froome's time in '12, so if Contador had beaten that time (which he absolutely could) he would've set a new VAM-record. However PdBF is of shorter duration than Verbier, so he would have to do more than just narrowly beating Froome's time to do a better performance than Verbier.

IMO its nonsense to measure it in this short climb.Even Verbier is pretty short.

 

[Netserk]

IMO its nonsense to measure it in this short climb.Even Verbier is pretty short.

I'd say the opposite. It's nonsense on long climbs where tactics a more important, whereas (semi-)shorter climbs most of the time are full gas.