Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[MBotero]

I though Froome is crazy,but i was wrong.Nibali is the craziest guy ever,he was really flying over the cobbled sections,great ride and now he's got a chance to win this.Since Froome is out,i wouldn't mind if Nibali will win this TDF,courage should be rewarded.

 

[luckyboy]

I thought Nibali would be the best GC guy and gain time today but didn't expect that much! Great stuff

Wat a legend_O_

Now I want Ryo to find 30 colombians he claims are better than Nibali at riding on cobbles

Dude Acevedo totally would've won the stage if he didn't crash from the break!

 

[whittashau]

So does Astana give away yellow tomorrow? To someone like a Albasini, Mercato, or Velits imo

 

[webbie146]

Do you guys think Astana will try to lose the jersey after stage 6,7? 3 weeks is a long period to wear the yellow jersey..

 

[mr. tibbs]

It's Nibali's race to lose now.
He overshadowed the champions all back to the Hinault era by his ride today.

I kept thinking Hinault, too. Nibali showing that he's a true all-arounder. I don't think he'll be able to hold on through the mountains and tt, but who knows? Certainly turned the race on its head. What a ride!

 

[maxmartin]

So does Astana give away yellow tomorrow? To someone like a Albasini, Mercato, or Velits imo

nah they will not do that on purpose, they will ride like a SKY team lol

 

[Red Rick]

Cancellara just said he'll retire at the end of the year. He said he's got nothing to prove anymore and he can't win RVV and PR anymore cause some Italian dude will win them for the next 5 years

 

[webbie146]

nah they will not do that on purpose, they will ride like a SKY team lol

Won't that be a problem? I remember in last year vuelta Nibali said it was a problem wearing the red jersey from the beginning because everday it takes a hour more talking to the press and stuff. Other riders go to the bus and he has to do media duties.. Also the mental pressure defending three weeks and the team getting weaker in third week...

 

[maxmartin]

Won't that be a problem? I remember in last year vuelta Nibali said it was a problem wearing the red jersey from the beginning because everday it takes a hour more talking to the press and stuff. Other riders go to the bus and he has to do media duties.. Also the mental pressure defending three weeks and the team getting weaker in third week...

W and CF did it, so can Nibali. They won't lose it on purpose, but it the right scenario happens, they might go with the flow. But I highly doubt that is the plan.

 

[webbie146]

W and CF did it, so can Nibali. They won't lose it on purpose, but it the right scenario happens, they might go with the flow. But I highly doubt that is the plan.

W and CF both got it around stage 8/9 right? Nibali has been wearing it since stage 2. O well beter have a 2.30 gap on contador then start equal time I quess right

Really hoping Nibali can stay with Contador in the mountains, will be hard.

 

[cineteq]

Nibali will also take time in the long ITT against AC, so the question is how much time AC can take back in the high mountains?

The Spanish commentators were saying Contador will take time on Nibali in the ITT. It made me chuckle. Btw, I guess Startt's call on AC was right.

 

[maxmartin]

The Spanish commentators were saying Contador will take time on Nibali in the ITT. It made me chuckle. Btw, I guess Startt's call on AC was right.

Not Startt but Frank Andrea

 

[Rollthedice]

W and CF both got it around stage 8/9 right? Nibali has been wearing it since stage 2. O well beter have a 2.30 gap on contador then start equal time I quess right

Really hoping Nibali can stay with Contador in the mountains, will be hard.

Well, people didn't trust him all year long. He isn't even mentioned in the Eurosport promo for the Tour, it is all Froome vs. Contador. I bet Lemond has no clue that Nibali podiumed in six of the last seven GTs he started. And what does he do? He takes yellow on the second stage outsmarting all the classics guys, sprinters, GC riders and puts more than 2 and a half minutes in the only favorite remaining on a flat stage, cobbles included while in yellow on fifth stage. Now, who could of thought?

You remember Froome's tweet in Romandie: What Would Nibali Do?
After these five stages in Tour de France, he got a partial answer. Rest to come.

 

[cineteq]

Not Startt but Frank Andreu

Did I say Startt? Yeah Frankie boy.

 

[maxmartin]

Did I say Startt? Yeah Frankie boy.

Pros do have insight, and he is a straight shooting guy. Wondering what is he going to say about AC after today stage?

 

[cineteq]

Pros do have insight, and he is a straight shooting guy. Wondering what is he going to say about AC after today stage?

Yeah, maybe: 'I told you so'? The fact is had AC been in a similar shape as the Dauphine he wouldn't have finished that far behind

 

[webbie146]

Well, people didn't trust him all year long. He isn't even mentioned in the Eurosport promo for the Tour, it is all Froome vs. Contador. I bet Lemond has no clue that Nibali podiumed in six of the last seven GTs he started. And what does he do? He takes yellow on the second stage outsmarting all the classics guys, sprinters, GC riders and puts more than 2 and a half minutes in the only favorite remaining on a flat stage, cobbles included while in yellow on fifth stage. Now, who could of thought?

You remember Froome's tweet in Romandie: What Would Nibali Do?
After these five stages in Tour de France, he got a partial answer. Rest to come.

It's def very impressive how he has been riding so far. Him being a true all-rounder with a great team has given him a great edge today.

 

[maxmartin]

The chance Nibali will win the Tour is zero, the chance Talansky gets a top-5 i rate is on 50%, so no way.

still think so???

 

[Pippo_San]

8 W/Kg

BONANZA

 

[maxmartin]

Talansky has copied Nibali's approach towards the Tour, but he's backing that up with a good winter, and with a sensible racing and training schedule. Talansky has a better chance to win the Tour than Nibali; it's current form that counts, not palmares.

current form is not future Tour form, and palmares is a good indication what rider would do. Nibali's palmares is on an upward trend, I would not bet against that.

 

[webbie146]

still think so???

I've got to admit that I too was wondering about Nibali's form coming in this tdf. It should not be that much of a suprise if you look at his aproach to the Vuelta last year. He gained a lot of form in a very short amount of time. Nibali seems to be a guy that improves his form in a short amount of time, instead of a guy that is solid all year (like Contador this year). In the last month before his objective he gains a lot of %. If he is solid in the mountains he truly did a Armstrong year and approach

I'm very happy Nibali suprised me a lot

 

[maxmartin]

Nice try. I was thinking you use an AT pic if he top 5s and I'll use a Nibali pic if he wins. If neither happens, nobody changes.

wish I took the bet lol

 

[maxmartin]

I've got to admit that I too was wondering about Nibali's form coming in this tdf. It should not be that much of a suprise if you look at his aproach to the Vuelta last year. He gained a lot of form in a very short amount of time. Nibali seems to be a guy that improves his form in a short amount of time, instead of a guy that is solid all year (like Contador this year). In the last month before his objective he gains a lot of %. If he is solid in the mountains he truly did a Armstrong year and approach

I'm very happy Nibali suprised me a lot

my friend works for the specialized bike and he actually flew to Kazak to do some testing, according to him, VN had an excellent winter and training, and during the testing his ITT is on par with CF 2013 ITT data. But that is a few months ago before VN losing some weight. So I am confident in his ITT, I just don't know how well VN can climb.

 

[gooner]

You have to give it Nibali, he tries his luck in all types of courses, MTF, descents, we have seen him in LBL, how many other current top GC riders do we see go on the offensive in MSR?, and now today on the cobbles.

A great all round rider.

 

[webbie146]

my friend works for the specialized bike and he actually flew to Kazak to do some testing, according to him, VN had an excellent winter and testing, and during the testing his ITT is on par with CF 2013 ITT data. But that is a few months ago before VN losing some weight. So I am confident in his ITT, I just don't know how well VN can climb.

Very interesting info! Cool job, could your friend hook me up? I'm good at.. Cycling stuff

I think his coach said last week he is 1,5kg lighter then at the giro 2013, while pushing the same amount of watts. Nibali has a real change to take it here, especially considering the fact the whole astana team looks to be on fire.

Westra is a total beast