Time to stop underrating Nibali

[K-0tic]

yesterdays stage makes me respect Nibali more than before.

Well at least he fought , fought and fought. Earns a lot of respect on this way.

 

[Climbing]

Yeah, he tried, and maybe it could have even worked out, if not for the help given to Contador from other teams.
Maybe he could have tried in the last descent instead, but there would have been harder to make selection.
He paid his effort, but still didn't give up and fought till the end.
A true grit.
Still a good shot for 2nd GC.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

he fought, but also he hung at the car at the Fedaia, hmm

 

[Parrulo]

he fought, but also he hung at the car at the Fedaia, hmm

SEND HIM TO JAIL NOW!!!!

seriously as if it is the first time a cyclists does that . . . . its just part of the sport

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

for sprinters yeah, for gc riders its a no-no

 

[Dedelou]

yesterdays stage makes me respect Nibali more than before.

I do respect most cyclists who keep on fighting for a spot and don't give up. But I have to admire the courage it takes (contador ) to attack and go alone on a climb in Italy when you are not a local. Most riders such GC position as Contador woud sit behind Italians and try to survive the drunks swaying in front after they exhaust themselves pushing their favorite for a few meters. It has always being a tradition in Italy , but over the years it has become a disgrace for the Italian climbers and probably why they don't do so well when they race outside of Italy.

 

[Eshnar]

after they exhaust themselves pushing their favorite for a few meters.

You really think those "pushes" (maybe "slaps" is more appropriate) can help a rider?
C'mon...
Garzelli tried to hit them, so I don't think italian riders rely so much on those people as you say.

 

[Climbing]

I must have surely missed all those pushes and Nibali hanging to the team car, still i've watched the entire race - twice.
Yeah I saw a couple of push for Scarponi, but I even saw Nibali taking bottles from his car 3-4 times, without the usual long grab to get trailed away and rest a bit.
Or do you guys mean the team car covered Nibali to avoid wind?

On the Fedaia Volpi was screaming for a long time to Nibbles "stai calmo!!!"
which means "don't panic", cause i think at first he panicked a bit when losing the wheels of the group!
If you lose your head in a day like that, it can easily became "bye bye GC", and that also means losing months and months of preparation.

Btw sorry for my poor english!

 

[CatsNK]

I'm a fan of Nibali. Here's what I like about him:

US Announcer: Nibali's been DROPPED! He's shot out the back of the group

4 minutes later...

US Announcer: Here's NIBALI!! He's back with the group! He came back!!!


The guy just does not give up. I love that. He cannot be counted out. What a great quality in a racer. I found both Saturday and Sunday to be more exciting because he was there.

 

[CatsNK]

Most riders such GC position as Contador woud sit behind Italians and try to survive the drunks swaying in front after they exhaust themselves pushing their favorite for a few meters. It has always being a tradition in Italy , but over the years it has become a disgrace for the Italian climbers and probably why they don't do so well when they race outside of Italy.

On a 7-hour ride I'm not buying that a push from a few fans is going to make any significant difference. In fact we saw riders having to elbow fans out of the way, including an Italian rider!

 

[Duitama]

On a 7-hour ride I'm not buying that a push from a few fans is going to make any significant difference. In fact we saw riders having to elbow fans out of the way, including an Italian rider!

I think calling those idiots "fans" is way too benevolent... they'd better stay at home. Running along the riders has become usual but someday they're going to make someone crash...

 

[Publicus]

The guys that Garzelli elbowed (one cat got it twice) weren't pushing them along. They were running along screaming in his ear/face. Hence the elbow.

 

[Lanark]

I think calling those idiots "fans" is way too benevolent... they'd better stay at home. Running along the riders has become usual but someday they're going to make someone crash...

Those guys aren't fans. The only thing they are interested in is seeing themselves on the TV screen when they get home. The fans are the people on the roadside, cheering them on, at a respectful distance.

 

[YoRUsh]

Those guys aren't fans. The only thing they are interested in is seeing themselves on the TV screen when they get home. The fans are the people on the roadside, cheering them on, at a respectful distance.

And, if I might add, the people that cheer everyone on, even if they just dropped your personal fav. Every rider deserves respect for making it to the top ranks.

 

[Duitama]

Those guys aren't fans. The only thing they are interested in is seeing themselves on the TV screen when they get home. The fans are the people on the roadside, cheering them on, at a respectful distance.

In the running of the bulls in Pamplona there are some guys with big sticks running behind the bulls beating the crap out of people who is dumb enough to try to touch the bulls from behind/holding them/etc...

I think Zomegnan could use some of them on motorbikes...

 

[Midnightfright]

There seems to be a lot more people in the anti nibali camp then I expected

 

[CatsNK]

Here's a clip from US about the fans in Stage 15:

http://www.universalsports.com/vide...5620db4d71.html#2011+giro+stage+sights+sounds

 

[Dedelou]

You really think those "pushes" (maybe "slaps" is more appropriate) can help a rider?
C'mon...
Garzelli tried to hit them, so I don't think italian riders rely so much on those people as you say.

Honestly I am NOT sure what the "slaps" or the "minipushes on the shoulders of a rider and the shouting and running along does or does not to the riders. I can only assume from what I know by experiences on the big climbs that even the slightest touch in the right direction helps much more than one can imagine. Those who have experienced it can speak of it better than me. On the other hand, the danger that such people bring along must be so damned intimidating . I am trying to be honest here and balance the two realities: Yes, pushes do help, of that I am sure, but all the craziness has to hinder the climbing even slow some riders down in certain situations. If the crowd is not friendly and we have seen that happen, it must be horrible. I would love to hear from former pros on the topic. I remember Indurain , Hinault too, saying that at the end of a mountain stage their backs were bruised from people slapping them.

 

[maxmartin]

this is supposed to be nibali fan thread LOL

 

[AussieGoddess]

I am definitely cheering much more for Scarponi than Nibali - but Nibbles has certainly shown a lot of guts in the last couple of stages .... deserves respect.

For anyone to beat him they will have to earn it. Nibali has shown he is definitely someone who fights on.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

LMAO

What "freedom" did Rujano have in this race exactly? He's gained no time from a long breakaway or whatever. He followed the best on Etna and stayed with AC, then did the same at Grossglockner. No freedom involved, he was the 2nd strongest. Even with 5 minutes time loss on the sterrato he is 6th overall. Take out the 5 minutes lost on the sterrato and he would be 2nd overal despite poor performances on Zoncolan and Gardecchia.

yeah remember when he attacked before both times ac attacked and no one choose to react But Like I said some degree of freedom, and again like I said he probably would have followed regardless.
LMAO learn to read

---

anyway I don't he was using the car as much as people think.
He certainly rode alongside it a couple times to get a drink, and get a little rest I guess, but I don't think it was as bad as people are saying.
But I can concede this is a no no, and he might've been punished.

 

[Midnightfright]

Ok can some clarify the whole car/pushed along thing and what actually happened? I seemed of missed all this when I was watching.

 

[JimPanzen]

Sastre is (or better was) also riding like this during several races. And so was Scarponi on the last climb on sundays stage. If you can't follow an attack it's better to continue with a steady rhythm to get back to the group.

I also liked how Nibali was trying to put pressure on AC, although his comments ("AC didn't respect me"; "AC got help from Lastras." "The race would have been totally different (in my favor) with the Crostis.") are somewhat ignorant.

I'm a fan of Nibali. Here's what I like about him:

US Announcer: Nibali's been DROPPED! He's shot out the back of the group

4 minutes later...

US Announcer: Here's NIBALI!! He's back with the group! He came back!!!


The guy just does not give up. I love that. He cannot be counted out. What a great quality in a racer. I found both Saturday and Sunday to be more exciting because he was there.

 

[maxmartin]

nibali did a great job today, sadly AC is just at another level right now

 

[WonderLance]

Nibbles needs to learn about cadence.

I know a guy that can hook him up.