Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[CycloAndy]

disappointed. i knew it was always going to be extremely unlikely but a small part of me had hoped neither froome nor contador would win the tour. will be a race for 3rd for nibali

I wouldn't read too much into today's stage, it didn't suit his style as the descents were far too far from the finish. The only thing to take from today is that Nibali will need to take time on his rivals in TdF stages with tricky descents near the end...if there are any?

 

[SafeBet]

For now I think he can ride like in 2009 in this Tour, but to win he'll need to be at either 2007 or 2013 level in climbing. Taking time in GB and northern France is still a possibility though. And still anything can happen.

Maybe wrong thread?


As for Nibs, I'm fairly satisfied with his result today, but it's hard to envision an improvement giving him the chance to compete with Froome and Contador. A podium in the TdF is the most likely scenario, unless he goes all in and tries to win the whole thing with some crazy attack.

 

[Jspear]

As i wrote on the Stage thread- Froome, Contador, Kelderman, Talansky & VdB were pushing really hard, while Nibbs just "cruised" - they dropped him & he kept cruising to get back up to them again and again- last 500 mts it was the last acceleration while he just crossed the line cruising.......

he looks good

This exactly....to me it looked like he was just riding his own tempo. Besides I don't think he has ever been one of the "explosive" climbers.

 

[Jelantik]

disappointed. i knew it was always going to be extremely unlikely but a small part of me had hoped neither froome nor contador would win the tour. will be a race for 3rd for nibali

Well compare to his early season, he wasn't that bad though. If his coach said was actually the truth, then he will get some gap for good reason. But if he bleeds a lot more.. like minutes during the last two mountain stages, not even an altitude camp for 3 weeks can help him winning TDF. He'd better pray Valverde is less strong than him, otherwise podium is out his reach. So I'm still giving him a benefit of the doubts. (especially because the distraction from his team, which he doesn't need it at this time)

 

[IndianCyclist]

This exactly....to me it looked like he was just riding his own tempo. Besides I don't think he has ever been one of the "explosive" climbers.

Nibali has always been attacking just not in complete form in this Dauphine. Besides he has never matched Contador in the big GTs. He has to play a tactical game in the TDF and not follow explosive accelerations by the big 2 and allow them to neutralize themselves. Also considering that Froome's acceleration made Astana's numerical superiority useless.

 

[Pentacycle]

Maybe wrong thread?

Source is jens_attacks' blog, 100 best times on Zoncolan. I was like

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Guys listen. Nibali will have the same pregression as Aru had from Trentino. Going from not being able to follow Evans to being the second best climber in the giro = not being able to follow AC and Froome to being the awesomest super best climber in the universe.

 

[Pentacycle]

Guys listen. Nibali will have the same pregression as Aru had from Trentino. Going from not being able to follow Evans to being the second best climber in the giro = not being able to follow AC and Froome to being the awesomest super best climber in the universe.

Tbh I think Aru is a bigger talent than Nibali, and certainly a better climber. But that is not the point of discussion of course. You can never rule out a Tour victory, but it will be hard. AC and CF were playing with him today, and both of them have to fail at le Tour if Nibali wants to have a chance. And then there's a bunch of other riders left who are also trying to get on the podium. But with you, I am hoping he can put up a decent fight against the current big 2. Especially in the first week, where his classics pedigree will help him.

 

[christopherrowe]

Does anybody here have Nibali's "official App" installed on any of their devices? He just tweeted that his statement about today's race is available there.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Tbh I think Aru is a bigger talent than Nibali, and certainly a better climber. But that is not the point of discussion of course. You can never rule out a Tour victory, but it will be hard. AC and CF were playing with him today, and both of them have to fail at le Tour if Nibali wants to have a chance. And then there's a bunch of other riders left who are also trying to get on the podium. But with you, I am hoping he can put up a decent fight against the current big 2. Especially in the first week, where his classics pedigree will help him.

Aru would ofc make Froome and AC look like amateurs, but he is not here.

 

[Rollthedice]

He is still doing training, going at his own pace. Which seems better than what he looked like all year. Whether he'll be able to match the two in TdF remains to be seen. When it was decided he'll do the Tour it was obvious that Froome is better. The only things that changed are that Contador miraculously became the rider before the suspension and Vincenzo is worse than last year. So now it looks like he's in it with the third chance. Those two guys are stronger than him in normal circumstances and he can't do anything about that. But normal circumstances might change in Le Tour. That's his chance.

 

[Jelantik]

This exactly....to me it looked like he was just riding his own tempo. Besides I don't think he has ever been one of the "explosive" climbers.

he has turned himself to 'a wiggins style' Tomorrow is a downhill after the final climb. Maybe he'll go bezerk there or maybe on the Gap stage.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nibali-official/id861874910?l=it&ls=1&mt=8

btw, Nibali got his own app, which is awesome

 

[trevim]

he has turned himself to 'a wiggins style' Tomorrow is a downhill after the final climb. Maybe he'll go bezerk there or maybe on the Gap stage.

That one may be a lot of fun, we'll see if Contador remembers 2011.

 

[cineteq]

Lo Squalo on track to take his 1st Tour.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Lo Squalo on track to take his 1st Tour.

but with how much? That is the question most of us want to know the answer of.

 

[SafeBet]

So what do we make of todays stage? Improving? Not improving? I guess he can beat VDB2 at the Tour!

 

[SeriousSam]

think we can safely discard whatever delusions we harbored that nibs can truly challenge for the victory

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Still relative soft pace, less than 6,0 W/Kg imo, but we need Vayer and Kelderman's data.

More improvement needed, but he has time still I think.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I have said it beofre and I say it again. the dauphine is to Nibali what Trentino was to Aru. He will go from barely beating Bardet to crushing Froome in no time

 

[maxmartin]

think we can safely discard whatever delusions we harbored that nibs can truly challenge for the victory

lol are we watching the same race? he looks really good on the bike, hardly any upbody movement, showing he is doing controlled temp riding not 100% at all. And when he crossed the line, I would use ease to describe the facial expression. So he is on the track to fight for the Tour.

 

[maxmartin]

I have said it beofre and I say it again. the dauphine is to Nibali what Trentino was to Aru. He will go from barely beating Bardet to crushing Froome in no time

Amen to this.

 

[SafeBet]

I have said it beofre and I say it again. the dauphine is to Nibali what Trentino was to Aru. He will go from barely beating Bardet to crushing Froome in no time

I want your rational opinion now

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

I want your rational opinion now

At the end of days, when Saint Peter asks you outside of the pearly gates if you had faith in the prophet Nibali to win the tour in 2014 I will answer yes, and get to enter heaven. Now it is your choice if you want to follow us, or not.

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

His preparation looks good for the Tour. He'll be flying in the 3rd week. How shall we call this one? Peaking like a shark?