Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Red Rick]

Have we heard anything about Nibbles' plans after the Tour?

 

[Carols]

I don't think it is planned, it just so happened. Apparently this happened

"Vincenzo Nibali initially headed to the Tour de France podium area after the finish of stage 9 to Mulhouse, perhaps thinking he had to climb on the podium."

I saw that. Made me believe they didn't let it go intentionally! Instead it just happened and they decided to let it happen.

Are there any quotes from Vino around? Haven't heard much out of him.

 

[maxmartin]

Have we heard anything about Nibbles' plans after the Tour?

too early too discuss? I guess it will depends the result of this Tour.

 

[Carols]

I sure hope so. I envy you. I guess no matter what happened tomorrow on those vicious slope, you will be smiling. ( of course unless Porte drops everyone)

It is tough wanting both of them to do well!!! I'd wish for a dead heat if it was possible .

 

[pigoonse]

As a huge Nibali fan , I actually doubt this pic. Did you read the article I posted yesterday. Apparently he only slept one hour before 2012 Tour ITT, because he was so nervous. That is only for the fight of podium position. Imagine this time he is leading the Tour and fighting for the WIN.

Do you mean this one? I loved it. And yes, my guess is that he will sleep. But neither one of us will be able to prove whether he slept or not.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/07/news/favorite-son-vincenzo-nibali-italys-latest-star_335782

 

[hfer07]

Tomorrow big test for my man Nibbs.... just wanted to say this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PveCyyXbJJk

 

[maxmartin]

I saw that. Made me believe they didn't let it go intentionally! Instead it just happened and they decided to let it happen.

Are there any quotes from Vino around? Haven't heard much out of him.

Busy conjuring the plan for tomorrow

Rollthedice posted yesterday, not sure you read it or not.

http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-8/news/dec/vinokourov-the-tour-could-be-over-after-planche-des-belles-filles.html

 

[Netserk]

Have we heard anything about Nibbles' plans after the Tour?

In 2012 he wanted to race the Vuelta à la Bettini after the Tour, maybe he will do the same this year and aim for Worlds and Lombardia.

 

[maxmartin]

Do you mean this one? I loved it. And yes, my guess is that he will sleep. But neither one of us will be able to prove whether he slept or not.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/07/news/favorite-son-vincenzo-nibali-italys-latest-star_335782

yes a beautifully written article, you should twitter Nibali or his wife haha

 

[Carols]

Busy conjuring the plan for tomorrow

Rollthedice posted yesterday, not sure you read it or not.

http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-8/news/dec/vinokourov-the-tour-could-be-over-after-planche-des-belles-filles.html

Yes I saw that one, thought it was pretty unrealistic . I was hoping there were some since then.

 

[Rollthedice]

Yes I saw that one, thought it was pretty unrealistic . I was hoping there were some since then.

Here's the latest from Vino. The yellow jersey was a present for France

https://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/stage-9/news/int/vinokourov-a-present-for-france.html

And here's a longer interview before today's stage, video in French:

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tdf-vinokourov-nibali-est-serein-c-est-tout-42434.html

 

[Carols]

Here's the latest from Vino. The yellow jersey was a present for France

https://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2014/us/stage-9/news/int/vinokourov-a-present-for-france.html

And here's a longer interview before today's stage, video in French:

http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-tdf-vinokourov-nibali-est-serein-c-est-tout-42434.html

Thanks


10char

 

[dduff442]

There was unintentional hilarity during an interview with Fuglsang today:

Interviewer: And with yourself and Vincenzo obviously high up the GC, that gives you options for tomorrow?

Fuglsang [Turning away]: Hah?

Interviewer: With both yourself and Vincenzo up there, that gives you options for tomorrow?

[Fuglsang climbs onto bus]

 

[Moviefan1203]

We'll see what Nibbles is made of tomorrow. Hopefully he can finish with Contador.

 

[movingtarget]

Birdsong talked to the Italian media this morning and said he was feeling better and that he would use todays stage to further recover from his bad stomach.

Nibali is tired as the whole team, but make no mistake: everybody must feel tired at this point. We're nine days into the race and we have yet to see a rest day. Tomorrow will be about recovery more than anything else. If you have a bad day there might be minutes at stake.

Nibali will be back in Yellow as Gallopin won't hold on especially after yesterday. Contador and maybe Porte could make up some time but Contador seems to think it's all about the third week and will probably only spend a lot of energy if he sees any weakness in Nibali. But then other riders might have their own ideas. If Nibali is good he should not be losing much time to Contador at this stage of the race otherwise he has real problems later.

 

[UpTheRoad]

There was unintentional hilarity during an interview with Fuglsang today:

Interviewer: And with yourself and Vincenzo obviously high up the GC, that gives you options for tomorrow?

Fuglsang [Turning away]: Hah?

Interviewer: With both yourself and Vincenzo up there, that gives you options for tomorrow?

[Fuglsang climbs onto bus]

What is his problem? Nibali is the leader of Astana. Sure, Fuglsang has ambitions and is going well, but this and the other interview could be viewed as an open display of disharmony within the team. Nibali is a serious contender, perhaps even the outright favorite right now, and Fuglsang is a a top domestique. He has ridden a great race and has supported Nibali very well, especially on stage 2 and stage 5, but he needs to support Nibali, plain and simple.

When this happened at Sky, Froome was clearly a better climber than Wiggins. When it happened at Astana part 1, Contador clearly the best, but Armstrong was a 7 time TdF champion (at the time).

None of those are present at Astana right now.

What am I missing? They have the TdF within reach and now is not the time to do this.

 

[Publicus]

Birdsong talked to the Italian media this morning and said he was feeling better and that he would use todays stage to further recover from his bad stomach.

Nibali is tired as the whole team, but make no mistake: everybody must feel tired at this point. We're nine days into the race and we have yet to see a rest day. Tomorrow will be about recovery more than anything else. If you have a bad day there might be minutes at stake.

That's not a great sign for his ability to withstand the barrage that will surely be coming his way

 

[Afrank]

What is his problem? Nibali is the leader of Astana. Sure, Fuglsang has ambitions and is going well, but this and the other interview could be viewed as an open display of disharmony within the team. Nibali is a serious contender, perhaps even the outright favorite right now, and Fuglsang is a a top domestique. He has ridden a great race and has supported Nibali very well, especially on stage 2 and stage 5, but he needs to support Nibali, plain and simple.

When this happened at Sky, Froome was clearly a better climber than Wiggins. When it happened at Astana part 1, Contador clearly the best, but Armstrong was a 7 time TdF champion (at the time).

None of those are present at Astana right now.

What am I missing? They have the TdF within reach and now is not the time to do this.

Agree, Fugslang is selfish IMO. If he wants to be on a team that is dedicated entirely to him then go to some Pro Conti team. But until then he needs to get it through his head that Nibali is the leader of Astana and he deserves the full backing and support of everyone on the team.

When you have a rider that has a chance to win the Tour de France and is going up against an Alberto Contador that has been storming race after race all season, then it is not the time to think about your own GC chances. It's the time to get behind the guy that has the best chance.

 

[Publicus]

What is his problem? Nibali is the leader of Astana. Sure, Fuglsang has ambitions and is going well, but this and the other interview could be viewed as an open display of disharmony within the team. Nibali is a serious contender, perhaps even the outright favorite right now, and Fuglsang is a a top domestique. He has ridden a great race and has supported Nibali very well, especially on stage 2 and stage 5, but he needs to support Nibali, plain and simple.

When this happened at Sky, Froome was clearly a better climber than Wiggins. When it happened at Astana part 1, Contador clearly the best, but Armstrong was a 7 time TdF champion (at the time).

None of those are present at Astana right now.

What am I missing? They have the TdF within reach and now is not the time to do this.

You're missing that Birdsong is an egomanic.

 

[Ripper]

There was unintentional hilarity during an interview with Fuglsang today:

Interviewer: And with yourself and Vincenzo obviously high up the GC, that gives you options for tomorrow?

Fuglsang [Turning away]: Hah?

Interviewer: With both yourself and Vincenzo up there, that gives you options for tomorrow?

[Fuglsang climbs onto bus]

LMAO ... JF is fucking with the interviewer. It's a dumb set up question and of course that could be an option, albeit an unlikely one.

 

[Rollthedice]

Some refreshing comments by none other than the guy with whom Nibali had a well publicized row in TdF 2012, Sir Wiggo. Nibali and we all need this before today's showdown.

"I think Nibali will win the Tour, he's my favourite. If he goes as well as he did when he won the Giro last year, if he's got the same condition, I think he's unbeatable."

 

[whittashau]

Yeah, I think most rationale thinkers have known all along that his form in last year's Giro was fantastic and almost on par with Froome's work at the tdf, and that if he had that form again that he had a decent chance given his ability to pick up time in other circumstances. Many around here refuse to accept he was that good in the Giro because they feel he had no competition.

I'm still skeptical about whether he is as good as he was in that Giro though

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

This will be a Great day for cycling. Lets prove the doubters wrong Nibbles!!!

 

[cineteq]

We'll see what Nibbles is made of tomorrow. Hopefully he can finish with Contador.

Can Contador finish with him?

 

[ILovecycling]

Good luck lo squalo