Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[the_cutter]

About 3 days late, but they finally got rid of the yellow without losing time to other contenders. Back to the reverse Hungarian flag sticker jersey for Nibbles! Ugh.

Can Gallopin keep the MJ tomorrow? Saxo will probably ride hard and force Nibbles back in yellow to make Astana work. I'm hoping Vino has something in store for stage 11 and/or 12, but it depends on what's the situation after tomorrow.

 

[Carols]

"Today could not have gone better. We wanted to set a hard pace to clean out the overall classification of people who could cause us problems in the future by getting into breaks," Contador explained after stage 8.

Great response from Astana today. LOL

It will all change tomorrow, the pretenders will be gone again. This gives Nibs an extra hour of rest tonight. He is going to Need it tomorrow. Shame he has to wear that ugly rendition of a national jersey though.

 

[maxmartin]

About 3 days late, but they finally got rid of the yellow without losing time to other contenders. Back to the reverse Hungarian flag sticker jersey for Nibbles! Ugh.

Can Gallopin keep the MJ tomorrow? Saxo will probably ride hard and force Nibbles back in yellow to make Astana work. I'm hoping Vino has something in store for stage 11 and/or 12, but it depends on what's the situation after tomorrow.

most definitely, but the purpose is not to force Nibali back in yellow but to gain time, AC is still behind. Last time they got three seconds for that whole lot effort. Let's see how much time Saxo can get tomorrow if any. LOL

Btw, any news about birdsong condition?

 

[whittashau]

My bet is that he'll regain it tomorrow and then give it away again the next day.

 

[Parrulo]

Well this was only a rest day for the team. Tomorrow they will have the Jersey again at the end of the stage, unless another break goes with some close riders on GC and neither them nor Lotto chase.

If i were them i would do it the problem is that there aren't many riders close enough to take the jersey.

This are probably the only riders that could still go on a break tomorrow and take the jersey for a few days.

3(20) MACHADO TiagoTeam NetApp – Endura2:40
8(23) ROLLAND PierreTeam Europcar4:07
14(25) GAUTIER CyrilTeam Europcar4:44
18(15) THOMAS GeraintTeam Sky5:28
20(17) TROFIMOV YuriTeam Katusha 6:12

And there will be even less riders close enough after tomorrow. Astana is pretty much screwed, because even if let's say Machado gained 5 minutes tomorrow, he would be out of the jersey on the next MTF so it would only be 2 or 3 days of rest for Astana.

 

[maxmartin]

It will all change tomorrow, the pretenders will be gone again. This gives Nibs an extra hour of rest tonight. He is going to Need it tomorrow. Shame he has to wear that ugly rendition of a national jersey though.

but as long as many people are ahead of AC, these riders will have incentives to ride to make things complicated. Nibali like tricky situation

 

[LaFlorecita]

most definitely, but the purpose is not to force Nibali back in yellow but to gain time, AC is still behind. Last time they got three seconds for that whole lot effort. Let's see how much time Saxo can get tomorrow if any. LOL

Btw, any news about birdsong condition?

Why do you write LOL every time you post about Contador or Saxo can't you respect Nibali's opponents?

 

[MBotero]

Tomorrow is the big day for Nibali,if can hold on Contador he's chances to win this TDF are improving.I think he's up to the task and he'll won't concede more than a few seconds,if any.

 

[cineteq]

"Today could not have gone better. We wanted to set a hard pace to clean out the overall classification of people who could cause us problems in the future by getting into breaks," Contador explained after stage 8.

Great response from Astana today. LOL

Bizarre comment. If it would've been Nibali it'd make sense.

 

[the_cutter]

most definitely, but the purpose is not to force Nibali back in yellow but to gain time, AC is still behind.

Goes without saying, but I see no reason why Astana or Lotto would ride hard tomorrow, so unless Saxo or somebody else (Sky? Movistar?) ups the tempo they could come relatively fresh under PDBF. Gallopin then could perhaps keep it by few seconds? Riis likely won't allow that, especially after yesterday when Astana showed plenty of evidence that working for the yellow is taking its toll.

Btw, any news about birdsong condition?

No idea, but surely he'll do some interview today, so lets wait. Looking at tomorrow's profile, if he's better they could perhaps try something up/down Col des Chevrères. Don't know if the descent is technical enough though.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Bizarre comment. If it would've been Nibali it'd make sense.

Clearly they still think they can win. How foolish

 

[cineteq]

I have the feeling Porte will be Nibali's best ally against Contador. You heard it here 1st.

 

[Red Rick]

I have the feeling Porte will be Nibali's best ally against Contador. You heard it here 1st.

Porte will either ride to win and try to gain time on Nibali, or he'll try to finish as high up as possible, which also means he'll try to gain time on Nibali. If he only tries to make Contador lose he's just a sad little ****er

 

[the_cutter]

Porte will either ride to win and try to gain time on Nibali, or he'll try to finish as high up as possible, which also means he'll try to gain time on Nibali. If he only tries to make Contador lose he's just a sad little ****er

Don't think cineteq meant it like that. Porte is still ahead of Contador, so he needs to drop them both. If he succeeds then Porte's wheel might be really handy for Nibbles to follow.

 

[cineteq]

Porte will either ride to win and try to gain time on Nibali, or he'll try to finish as high up as possible, which also means he'll try to gain time on Nibali. If he only tries to make Contador lose he's just a sad little ****er

Unless he's become radioactive again he won't be able to drop Nibali. However, if they're dropped by AC they can help each other to catch him.

 

[maxmartin]

Why do you write LOL every time you post about Contador or Saxo can't you respect Nibali's opponents?

at least I don't use F word every time like you did, and I have no respect for banned rider, just like i have no respect for LA LOL

 

[maxmartin]

Goes without saying, but I see no reason why Astana or Lotto would ride hard tomorrow, so unless Saxo or somebody else (Sky? Movistar?) ups the tempo they could come relatively fresh under PDBF. Gallopin then could perhaps keep it by few seconds? Riis likely won't allow that, especially after yesterday when Astana showed plenty of evidence that working for the yellow is taking its toll.


No idea, but surely he'll do some interview today, so lets wait. Looking at tomorrow's profile, if he's better they could perhaps try something up/down Col des Chevrères. Don't know if the descent is technical enough though.

No teams have real incentive to ride hard, except Saxo. What I mean respond to AC's attack? If AC attacks, some those people ahead of him will at least have some incentive to respond, so it could save Nibali's energy. So more people ahead him, the better. That's also why saxo riding hard trying to get rid of those people first.

 

[Carols]

at least I don't use F word every time like you, and I have no respect for doper, just like i have no respect for LA LOL

Totally uncalled for IMO.......

 

[maxmartin]

Totally uncalled for IMO.......

he trolled me first, I wish she or he just leaves me alone

 

[the_cutter]

Unless he's become radioactive again he won't be able to drop Nibali. However, if they're dropped by AC they can help each other to catch him.

"Unless"? C'mon man, when has he not been radioactive whilst dressed in a Sky uniform? I laughed out loud during Ax3D last year. Alright, enough with crypto-Clinic fun stuff.


LaFlo and Max, get a room, you two.

 

[maxmartin]

Nibali seemed content to have lost the responsibilities of Tour de France race leadership but also appeared a little nervous before Monday's stage 10, where there will be an expected showdown on the climb to La Planche des Belles Filles.

"The team worked hard all day after everyone seemed to want to go in the break," he said still wearing his helmet and glasses and looking tired.

"I spoke to Michele (Scarponi), and the other riders did a lot of work, so they're tired but we'll see what happens. I've lost the jersey but I'll have some extra time to rest up for tomorrow. We'll be ready."

 

[maxmartin]

Anyone know anything about birdsong condition? The rumor is before stage 8 Riis knew the birdsong condition, because the Danish media is crazy about birdsong and chasing around Astana bus all the time. As matter of fact, Astana media director does not allow danish media to interview Fulgsang anymore.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Nibali's mountain training leading up to the tour was practicing how to respond to an alien attack by Froome.
It's different from his usual squalo recover and shark hunt back to the lead.
I heard he trained following a motobike uphill and responded to brief periods of the bike's acceleration.

It seems to work if you think of how he held on so well to Contador yesterday.
I wonder if he'll have the same confidence tomorrow to stay on AC's wheel when AC attacks - and not bonk.
Would be great if he did stay.

 

[maxmartin]

Riis separated his comments with long pauses, sighs, agreements, denials and even an occasional laugh. The Danish team manager has years of experience of big days at the Tour de France but was feeling the tension as a big day of this year's race loomed.

“Nibali lost the jersey and doesn’t need to go on the podium but I don’t understand why he lost it," he said.

Is Riis really that stupid? Yesterday he forgot to tell AC some rider already crossed the line, and today he did not understand why Nibali want to lose the jersey. No wonder he never directed AS to tour victory except 2010.

 

[Jspear]

Anyone know anything about birdsong condition? The rumor is before stage 8 Riis knew the birdsong condition, because the Danish media is crazy about birdsong and chasing around Astana bus all the time. As matter of fact, Astana media director does not allow danish media to interview Fulgsang anymore.

Latest I've seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgwQVcX-kWk#t=81