Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Futuroscope]

Ok, I totally understand your reasoning which makes total sense, but aren't we basing this on past Nibali performances rather than what we're currently seeing?

I'm seeing what I expected from Nibali, he was stronger than the others but not on the level of a tip top shape Froome or Contador. Like I said before I think 40-45 seconds would have been possible.

 

[maxmartin]

Well, he's Nibbles and he's crazy enough to try. But I don't think a TDF+other double is possible anymore. Not with people targeting specific races and skipping the rest and/or without hitting Pantani-like haematocrit levels. I'm sure he and Vino will talk about it at the end of the season. And yes, he totally needs to do the Giro and he will, 'cause he isn't skipping it two years in a row.

However, Nibbles almost did a Giro/Vuelta double so that one is clearly humanly possible. Do the Giro and decide what next based on the fatigue level.

i actually hope he can still concentrate on Tour, so he can beat his enemy properly this time. But I guess also depends on the routes of the Tour.

 

[webbie146]

Can't imagine a defending champion won't participate, plus he said he will do Giro Tour double next year. Of course he said this way early this year.

Well in my opinion that would suck. What's the last time a rider did great at the tour after targeting gc at the giro.

Giro/vuelta sure, giro/tour both gc nope

 

[maxmartin]

from the get go, Nibali's coach said they are trying to peak the best for the third week, therefore fighting in Dauphine did not fit their training plan. So I am expecting more amazing performance in the third week.

 

[Afrank]

it might be too early to discuss this topic. But Nibali said he is going to do Giro Tour double next year. A huge fan as I am, I don't think he can win both. So go for the Giro win, then Tour stage hunting mountain jersey even after he wins this year? Thoughts?

Sounds like a pretty good plan. Although I would add; win Giro, Win stages and KOM in Tour, then win Vuelta.

Part of me really wants to see how he would do in Giro-Tour double attempt though.

 

[Sciocco]

Sounds like a pretty good plan. Although I would add; win Giro, Win stages and KOM in Tour, then win Vuelta.

Part of me really wants to see how he would do in Giro-Tour double attempt though.

How did it go for Contador in '11? I'll be fair though, the '11 Giro had some nasty ****ing stages that sapped a lot of energy.

I hope Nibali keeps attacking and gets a huge margin this TdF now. He was given a great chance to win the tour do to Froome and Contador leaving. I would like to see him honor the spectacle that is the TdF and continue to light up the race. He doesn't have to go everyday, but some more beautiful attacks would be great. Otoh, I sincerely hope he doesn't start considering the idea of saving some energy as this TdF goes on with the idea of targetting the Vuelta afterwards. I do not want to see Porte snatch the Tour in the ITT.

 

[maxmartin]

Michele Scarponi is such old school, he paced the peloton without powermeter every other rider has one, or did he get a spare bike after the crash?

 

[whittashau]

Nibali won't do the Giro-Tour double. He said he would "maybe do it", but that is just lip service more than anything until he actually decides.

 

[pigoonse]

For Nibali fans, if you have yet to read this link, you should read it! The article is well-written and the author does a good job of explaining what an artist on a bike he is So if the author is right, we can look forward to more exciting stages this Tour. Fingers crossed.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014...italys-latest-star_335782#bAaHQTe9kaemOJrZ.99

 

[maxmartin]

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) said post race that his 'legs were on fire' today, sad not to see how see how he stacked up against AC

 

[Sciocco]

Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) said post race that his 'legs were on fire' today, sad not to see how see how he stacked up against AC

I'm just happy he'll be out of that horrible jersey tomorrow. Astana really ****ed up the ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ****ING JERSEY. Yellow fixes that issue.

 

[maxmartin]

I'm just happy he'll be out of that horrible jersey tomorrow. Astana really ****ed up the ITALIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ****ING JERSEY. Yellow fixes that issue.

SKY has the same issues, big team don't want their logo to be covered by national ***. Last year SKY Italian time trial champion jersey was also horrible to look at.

 

[Sciocco]

SKY has the same issues, big team don't want their logo to be covered by national ***. Last year SKY Italian time trial champion jersey was also horrible to look at.

Yea getting off topic but the nat champs jersey are unique and really sucks when they are terrible. Nibali gets to roll in yellow for a while now at least.

 

[bambino]

I'm seeing what I expected from Nibali, he was stronger than the others but not on the level of a tip top shape Froome or Contador. Like I said before I think 40-45 seconds would have been possible.

I think everyone understands your opinion by now, and respects that as an opinion. Just would like you to think once through before suggesting these kind of scenarios, as your 40-45 seconds estimation would mean (to my little understanding) that Berto would have by far beaten all the TdF records of power production in climb - on a day which saw 6 climbs before the last and terrible weather. Just some fruit for thoughts.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Word play

VINcenzO

 

[cineteq]

Nibali won't do the Giro-Tour double. He said he would "maybe do it", but that is just lip service more than anything until he actually decides.

Glad to hear that. Either the Tour or Giro-Vuelta double.

 

[Climbing]

Tour + double is pretty much impossible at max peak.

Giro + Vuelta is possible, but we saw that even that is very hard, since second peak isn't strong as first, especially if both Giro and Vuelta have very hard courses.

Just saying, just my opinion.

 

[whittashau]

Winning a Giro - Vuelta double would mean that he gets lucky with no major opponents peaking properly for it, and if it did he would need a parcours that suited him with less walls, and more downhill finishes and mixed stages

Also, what's the Worlds course like for next year? Because if it's suitable then you can basically rule out him peaking properly for the Vuelta

 

[Matt92]

Winning a Giro - Vuelta double would mean that he gets lucky with no major opponents peaking properly for it, and if it did he would need a parcours that suited him with less walls, and more downhill finishes and mixed stages

Also, what's the Worlds course like for next year? Because if it's suitable then you can basically rule out him peaking properly for the Vuelta

Ridiculously easy

Here's the profile:
http://richmond2015.com/about/courses/road-circuit/

 

[maxmartin]

Nibali seemed genuinely sorry that Alberto Contador has crashed out of the Tour de France and revealed he saw Contador pass him but laid off two metres to stay safe. "This is the Tour de France and crashes are part of the game. I was behind Alberto on the descent. He'd overtaken me. I don’t know what happened, maybe he hit a hole or a stone but he went down hard and I tried to avoid him. I kept two metres between him and me and so avoided the worst."

Smart move by Nibali, otherwise this Tour will be really wide open for the top podium.

 

[maxmartin]

"Who am I?" he asked with a laugh.

"In France I once won a big race called the GP Plouay (his first win as a professional in 2006). I'm a good stage race rider and not only that. I know how to ride my bike, how to attack and I think I've improved gradually and gone on to win bigger and bigger races. Two yeas ago I went up against Wiggins and Froome despite their being a long TT. Now I'm here."

"Because of Pantani's life story, it'd be a huge honour to follow on from him. Before coming here I couldn't attend a presentation about him but his mum gave me one of his yellow jersey and I have it home. If all goes well, I'll go and see Marco (his grave) after the Tour."

 

[Futuroscope]

I think everyone understands your opinion by now, and respects that as an opinion. Just would like you to think once through before suggesting these kind of scenarios, as your 40-45 seconds estimation would mean (to my little understanding) that Berto would have by far beaten all the TdF records of power production in climb - on a day which saw 6 climbs before the last and terrible weather. Just some fruit for thoughts.

You can attack before the last climb and many of those calculations are very speculative.

 

[bambino]

You can attack before the last climb and many of those calculations are very speculative.

With all honesty - far less speculative than your 40-45 sec

 

[Futuroscope]

With all honesty - far less speculative than your 40-45 sec

How do you know? You say you don't even understand them? And they needed to get back 2 1/2 minutes, which means that you don't necessarily wait for the last climb.

 

[bambino]

How do you know? You say you don't even understand them? And they needed to get back 2 1/2 minutes, which means that you don't necessarily wait for the last climb.

OK - I'll give up. Would you mind to hint me the pills that allows me to live in the dream world?