He won Milano San Remo 'cause he had great endurance and the race that year was hard because of rain and head wind, none of the favourite was able to produce a decent acceleration on the Poggio. Trentin tried to chase him on the flat but exploded after 500 meters. He was the best that day. Plus he has a podium and 2 other top 10 to his name in the race.
Also, he lost Liege to flipping Iglinsky, while in the 2013 WC he was really strong, but crashed in the second to last lap, and had to make it back to the field, then lost ground after Uran crashed in front of him in the last descent and subsequently had to close Rodriguez.
In 2016 ORR he was in the front group with Henao and a toasted Majka but crashed in the descent,
He also crashed in 2010, 2012 and 2013 Lombardia when he had a shot at all 3, especially the last.
Nibali could not win Flander, but when it came to climby and hilly one day races, he was as good as anyone in the 2010s
Disagree a bit, while agreeing with a lot.
He finally won MSR when he didn't even try anymore, that win was a bit lucky. Looked like Sagan decided not to chase, not feeling like having to do the whole work while then being countered by others. And when he went nobody probably thought a not very in form Nibali could go through. So tempo out, but Nibali's class was enough to win even when he clearly didn't have the form of other years. Wasn't the best, but his endurance and fighting spirit won it that day. Grande Nibali!
IMO Nibali's career has to be split in 2 halfes. Debut till 2013, then 2014 on. The old Nibali rode a lot, rode to win, which didn't always work. Until 13 though he was there in spring, Tirreno, fighting for Milano Sanremo and Liège wins. Just never worked, but he wasn't that far off. His lack of sprint didn't help.
From 14 on he was mostly focused on 1 goal, 14+15 TdF, nothing really before, spring a far cry from previous years. And IMO that was a mistake. When he finally won MSR in 18 it was great, but as I said, don't think his form was all that, he just benefited from his class and the race situation. He basically gave up on the spring, but instead concentrating on his 1 GT, and was then there for Lombardia.
Which was the thing that pissed me off to no end. After 14 he should have gone full classics immediately, while of course still going for the GTs. Flanders? you say could not win, I'm not so sure, IMO something like that fit him quite well. Remember the crazy TA stage where he went off the front with Sagan, the over the top walls one after another? Or a "wally" Oman stage? Those short steep intense climbs fit him quite well, he really should have tried Flanders. Not wait until late in his career and with a basically non-existent spring form. 2015, 2016 17 would have been the time. But by then he had basically given up on the spring. And then won Sanremo 18! As for Roubaix, after his pavé show at the Tour, that was worth a try too, but can understand the reluctance to start there. More than in Flanders you do risk the whole season there.
But his spring form, season planning from 14 onwards just was very frustrating, try it dammit, Nibali didn't have to be scared of anybody in MSR, RVV, LBL. Maybe he never wins any of them, but at least try.
Rio 2016, I was convinced he'd won that.
Firenze 13, the crash cost him I think. Don't remember him being involved in the Uran crash, thought he was ahead of him still? But ok, just think that without his own crash he wouldn't have had to chase Rodriguez later while having Costa and Valverde on his wheel, but could be wrong.
Don't remember the early Lombardias, but ok.
Generally agree with the feeling, just not some details
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