Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[maxmartin]

"After the final training camp in the Dolomites I feel good. I'd say I'm about the same as last year, when I won the Giro d'Italia," he suggested.

"I hope to be up there and fight with them. Froome pushes a crazy gear when he attacks and Contador seems able to go with him. But I think I've got a good chance of doing well. The level is very high but I hope to be up there and fight for it. The Tour is tough, you can know the route in detail but anything can happen. It'll be a hard race every day."

 

[Rollthedice]

"After the final training camp in the Dolomites I feel good. I'd say I'm about the same as last year, when I won the Giro d'Italia," he suggested.

"I hope to be up there and fight with them. Froome pushes a crazy gear when he attacks and Contador seems able to go with him. But I think I've got a good chance of doing well. The level is very high but I hope to be up there and fight for it. The Tour is tough, you can know the route in detail but anything can happen. It'll be a hard race every day."

Almost nobody seems to give him any chance. It's logical if you take into consideration his season so far. I hope he'll start the fireworks on the second stage, in fact I'd be a bit disappointed if he doesn't attack at least on cote de Jenkin road.

 

[Forunculo]

I rate Astana squad higher than SKY.

Waiting for Nibali but when Contador was at his best he never was near. Add Froome to the mix it's a difficult scenario.

There's many stages for ambushes and guerrilla tactics. Froome seems abordable tactically but has a strong team.

 

[dduff442]

Well if Sky will ever be at a disadvantage this tour it'll be on stage 2. Tinkoff-Saxo, Katyusha and Cannondale have an incentive to go all in as well. It's an inspired choice of course.

 

[maxmartin]

Is that Nibali almost brought down by MC's crash?

haha it was him, excellent bike handling skill!!!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

"I've never raced on the pavé but I know how to ride my bike."




http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-hoping-to-match-froome-and-contador-at-the-tour-de-france

 

[MBotero]

"I've never raced on the pavé but I know how to ride my bike."




http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/nibali-hoping-to-match-froome-and-contador-at-the-tour-de-france

Well i like his optimism,i really hope he will match Froome and Contador.We need him,the more top contenders the better the show.Since he's crazy enough maybe he will try something on that stage

 

[rhubroma]

Well, Nibali shows here what he really thinks of his jersey.

Retweted by Vincenzo Nibali
The Green-Man ‏@grax10677 8 u
A puro scopo dimostrativo....una carrellata delle ultime maglie di campione italiano....a voi l'ardua sentenza......

In fact, but I've noticed that national jersies have been subordinated to team concerns. At least among the non superpowers.

 

[Cookster15]

Almost nobody seems to give him any chance. It's logical if you take into consideration his season so far. I hope he'll start the fireworks on the second stage, in fact I'd be a bit disappointed if he doesn't attack at least on cote de Jenkin road.

I agree. But a strong early season should not always the best indicator of strong Tour form - I think you can come into your peak form late? I have not followed this thread but what is the reason being put forward to explain Nibs reduced level so far this season compared with say his 2013 Giro winning form?

I certainly hope his extra training block in the Dolomites has given him what he needs to make life difficult for the other two.

 

[maxmartin]

“I believe in my chances, I’ve been going better and better each year in the stage races,” Nibali said. “I’ve shown to be able to race at the high level. If I haven’t won, then I’ve been in the top three. This Tour will be big for me, but it’s not the last one, either.”


“I’ve really only done two races ahead of this Tour de France,” Nibali said. “In the Dauphiné, I was just there to watch and to observe, I couldn’t do much more. We worked well leading up to this, we tested ourselves at the Italian championships.

“I’d say no to another third place, but given I’m at the Tour with the best in cycling, it’d be a great result to have again,” Nibali said. “But clearly, I don’t want to finish third again — I want more for myself and the team Astana.”

Read more at http://velonews.competitor.com/2014...014-tour-de-france_334439#lPQF7XcaSISukq3R.99

 

[maxmartin]

we should know something as early as tomorrow

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

today is the day i've been waiting for for since the tour stages was confirmed. Time for Nibali to go TA 13 beserk mode

 

[maxmartin]

told you guys!!!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Nibali shows whos boss

 

[maxmartin]

LOL a few weeks ago some people even think AT has more chance than Nibali.

 

[spalco]

I'm not a fan, but that was a super victory.

 

[Afrank]

Bravo Nibali! Just awesome. That was nail biting and I was cheering so hard for him to make it.

Super happy for him.

 

[Afrank]

 

[maxmartin]

interesting Nibali said in the interview he worried about Fulgsang a little bit, maybe afraid Fulgsang will take the glory.

 

[SeriousSam]

Hope he wins the Tour by 2 seconds.

 

[maxmartin]

awesome pic

 

[Eclipse]

VINCENZOOOOO

magnificent

 

[Afrank]

Now he get's to wear a good jersey.

 

[maxmartin]

a big advantage of coming into stage 5, in case any bike needs to be changed on the cobbles

 

[Parrulo]

All pretty and all but hilly stages don't win GT's

Still think he will get dropped once Contador and Froome go for real