Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[cineteq]

Basso showed today he is willing to do some domestique work, good news for Nibali

Yes, he's walking the talk!

Sagan:
"Today I knew the sprinters wouldn't be there at the finish and it ended up with (Ivan) Basso and (Vincenzo) Nibali working for me! I would shine Basso's shoes if he asked, so I really can't say thank you enough to him."

 

[maxmartin]

without that final stupid crash, Nibali should be able to gap a few seconds against some people

 

[maxmartin]

This is an important weekend and Monday. Guess Nibali's placement after Monday?

My bet is top4, 1:30 trailing Wiggins.

 

[gustienordic]

This is an important weekend and Monday. Guess Nibali's placement after Monday?

My bet is top4, 1:30 trailing Wiggins.

I think top 5 for sure, 1:00 back from Evans

 

[maxmartin]

I think top 5 for sure, 1:00 back from Evans

somehow I doubt Evans can produce a fantastic time on the first ITT, so I think the gap between Evnas and Nibali will be less than 1min. Just my 0.02.

 

[Carols]

I just finished watching the stage...any news on his condition? Looked like a Nasty Tumble

 

[SafeBet]

I missed the stage. What happened?

 

[maxmartin]

I just finished watching the stage...any news on his condition? Looked like a Nasty Tumble

that is not him

 

[Carols]

Really??? Sure looked like a #51 on the riders back....who was it?

 

[cineteq]

Really??? Sure looked like a #51 on the riders back....who was it?

The panda boy

 

[maxmartin]

The panda boy

guess Nibali's rank after Monday?

 

[maxmartin]

Really??? Sure looked like a #51 on the riders back....who was it?

are you talking about this?
http://www.steephill.tv/players/720...d=tour-de-france&id=48082954,33399756&yr=2012

 

[cineteq]

Cool Pic!

The most exciting rider there is with 2012 TdF winner

 

[SafeBet]

After Dauphine I'd say it's very optimistic to say Nibali will lose less than two minutes to Wiggins in the ITT. Sure Nibs was far from top form back then, but still there's a huge difference between the two.

I have no idea of what to expect from Saturday's stage though.

 

[Carols]

Okay I see there is no blue on the sleeve Phew~!~!

Not that I wish anyone that tumble....just glad it wasn't the Shark

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

After Dauphine I'd say it's very optimistic to say Nibali will lose less than two minutes to Wiggins in the ITT. Sure Nibs was far from top form back then, but still there's a huge difference between the two.

I have no idea of what to expect from Saturday's stage though.

Nibali's general problem in GTs , and I bet this has been mentioned before (didn't read a lot of the thread tbh), is that he doesn't have any strength except his downhill skills. He's OK for a contender in long TTs, but not good, and he's rather in a defensive position in the climbs as well.
I personally like him a lot as a rider, he's one of my favorites to be exact, but I don't see how he could win a Tour without improving massively in climbing or time trialing. Both I don't think will happen as he seems to have reached his peak. He's a bloody consistent rider though who knows what he can do an can't , which means he might have a chance if others fail.
Let's not forget he won his Vuelta against Mosquera, and it was rather a close deal. (43 seconds against Mosquera isn't a huge margin at all really)

Edit:
I actually have to add that in a TdF with two long time trials as a contender Nibali's ITT performances aren't OK but simply not enough to win it.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

After Dauphine I'd say it's very optimistic to say Nibali will lose less than two minutes to Wiggins in the ITT. Sure Nibs was far from top form back then, but still there's a huge difference between the two.

I have no idea of what to expect from Saturday's stage though.

knowing the tour it will be a huge dissapointment, but maybe one or two of the GC men still in it will fail.

 

[SafeBet]

Nibali's general problem in GTs , and I bet this has been mentioned before (didn't read a lot of the thread tbh), is that he doesn't have any strength except his downhill skills. He's OK for a contender in long TTs, but not good, and he's rather in a defensive position in the climbs as well.
I personally like him a lot as a rider, he's one of my favorites to be exact, but I don't see how he could win a Tour without improving massively in climbing or time trialing. Both I don't think will happen as he seems to have reached his peak. He's a bloody consistent rider though who knows what he can do an can't , which means he might have a chance if others fail.
Let's not forget he won his Vuelta against Mosquera, and it was rather a close deal. (43 seconds against Mosquera isn't a huge margin at all really)

Edit:
I actually have to add that in a TdF with two long time trials as a contender Nibali's ITT performances aren't OK but simply not enough to win it.

In general, I concur with what you say.
But the thing with Nibali is that he's always been able to surprise me. And in a way I still expect him to do it, though I try to keep my expectations as low as possible.

knowing the tour it will be a huge dissapointment, but maybe one or two of the GC men still in it will fail.

How many do you consider GC men? 5? 10? More?

 

[Jan the Man]

In general, I concur with what you say.
But the thing with Nibali is that he's always been able to surprise me. And in a way I still expect him to do it, though I try to keep my expectations as low as possible.


How many do you consider GC men? 5? 10? More?

The tour is shaping up to be ideal for the likes of Wiggins, Evans, Menchov and Klöden. These are the best TTers of the GC guys and have stayed upright over the first week. Without Contador and Schleck I do not see enough explosive climbers to cause the diesels too much trouble.

Although i may be biased as my two pre-tour bets were each way on Menchov (33/1) and Klöden (100/1).

 

[Hammerhed]

You know, isn't it crazy that after only six days of racing, and only the first day relevant to GC, that we have "narrowed it down" to two contenders, Wig and Cad? Shouldn't the organizers have anticipated that we need a bit of GC excitement near the beginning to fire our interest? OK, I love the sprinters too, but, Damnit Man, throw us a bone to chew on. Let us worry about who could win the race.
Had they thrown in a stage like maybe Saturday's a bit earlier, a stage that maybe Sammy Sanchez or Nibali or Gesink could win, maybe we could have fretted all week about the GC picture instead of talking about how boring the race has been--a common topic on these and other boards, no?

 

[iZnoGouD]

Basso will podium

 

[cineteq]

Basso will podium

Just a friendly reminder this is a Nibali Thread

 

[maxmartin]

Nibali stays safe Thanks God.

 

[will10]

Step 1, decent prologue.
Step 2, survive week 1.

Tomorrow will be interesting.

 

[maxmartin]

Step 1, decent prologue.
Step 2, survive week 1.

Tomorrow will be interesting.

yep after next two days GC shape should give us a clear pic who is the real contender. A lot of people are already out of the door.