Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Rollthedice]

Really?

My opinion. Contador was towed up the mountain in TdF 2013 by Kreuziger, he finished 6:27 down to Froome, without the echelon masterstroke in stage 13 you can add another minute. If you substract the 10 minute loss of Valverde in the same stage, Piti would have been right there with Contador in GC. So yes, I think that 2013 Contador couldn't have matched the watts Horner produced in Vuelta 2013. It's also worth noting that Purito finished the Tour 1:24 above Contador and 3:22 down Horner in Vuelta though, of course, he had the Tour in his legs.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I meant, Contador 2013, really, he sucked in 2013 why use it as an argument

 

[BlurryVII]

My opinion. Contador was towed up the mountain in TdF 2013 by Kreuziger, he finished 6:27 down to Froome, without the echelon masterstroke in stage 13 you can add another minute. If you substract the 10 minute loss of Valverde in the same stage, Piti would have been right there with Contador in GC. So yes, I think that 2013 Contador couldn't have matched the watts Horner produced in Vuelta 2013. It's also worth noting that Purito finished the Tour 1:24 above Contador and 3:22 down Horner in Vuelta though, of course, he had the Tour in his legs.

Horner 13' sure was a beast in the mountains, and his performance is underrated by many around here.
But I don't see the point of comparing him with AC 13'? There's like 2 worlds of difference between AC 13' and AC from any other year including 2014.

Comparing Horner 13' with AC 08' would already make a bit more sense, of course it's not that much relevant , but you'd notice that they pretty much have the same time up the Angliru. (AC being faster than Horner in the second crucial part)
So going by your logic, a on-form AC smashes Nibali.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Horner 13' sure was a beast in the mountains, and his performance is underrated by many around here.
But I don't see the point of comparing him with AC 13'? There's like 2 worlds of difference between AC 13' and AC from any other year including 2014.

Comparing Horner 13' with AC 08' would already make a bit more sense, of course it's not that much relevant , but you'd notice that they pretty much have the same time up the Angliru. (AC being faster than Horner in the second crucial part)
So going by your logic, a on-form AC smashes Nibali.

AN on form AC smashes a Nibali prepearing for the WC at home turf indeed. Doubt you would find many people arguing wih you there.

 

[maxmartin]

If Nibali does not succeed in reaching an arrangement to ride in San Luis, he is likely to begin the new campaign at the Dubai Tour in February. He will also ride Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, and then have a spell at altitude before tackling the Ardennes Classics. His presence at the Giro d’Italia is still under consideration. “I’d like to be there, you know that, but nothing has been decided yet,” he told Gazzetta. “But I’ll certainly be at the Tour.”

Nibali was speaking at a sponsor’s event near Milan on Tuesday after an audience with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi in Rome earlier in the day. He said that he was already thinking further ahead, to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “The Olympic project is very attractive to me, I spoke about it with Renzi too. We all know the universal value of the Games. Cassani told me that the course is hard, very difficult and suited to me. And that only motivates me more.

 

[Jspear]

If Nibali does not succeed in reaching an arrangement to ride in San Luis, he is likely to begin the new campaign at the Dubai Tour in February. He will also ride Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo, and then have a spell at altitude before tackling the Ardennes Classics. His presence at the Giro d’Italia is still under consideration. “I’d like to be there, you know that, but nothing has been decided yet,” he told Gazzetta. “But I’ll certainly be at the Tour.”

Nibali was speaking at a sponsor’s event near Milan on Tuesday after an audience with Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi in Rome earlier in the day. He said that he was already thinking further ahead, to the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “The Olympic project is very attractive to me, I spoke about it with Renzi too. We all know the universal value of the Games. Cassani told me that the course is hard, very difficult and suited to me. And that only motivates me more.

Good! I hope he does well there.

 

[trevim]

What the hell is Nibali doing with Dubai?! Christ, those crap races can't go away soon enough just like Beijing...

 

[El Pistolero]

What the hell is Nibali doing with Dubai?! Christ, those crap races can't go away soon enough just like Beijing...

Beijing could be entertaining at times though... Tony Martin's stage win in 2012 was a joy to watch for me. It's really not any different to stage races like Poland or Tour Down Under... Heck, even the Eneco Tour (although it has improved last few years).

Dubai is just a sprinters fest.

 

[trevim]

Beijing could be entertaining at times though... Tony Martin's stage win in 2012 was a joy to watch for me. It's really not any different to stage races like Poland or Tour Down Under... Heck, even the Eneco Tour (although it has improved last few years).

Dubai is just a sprinters fest.

At least in Australia, Belgium/Netherlands and Poland there are actually cycling fans who care for the race. Dubai, Beijing and stuff like that is just pointless. Besides Martin can do his solos in the Tour, he doesn't have to go all the way to China

 

[El Pistolero]

At least in Australia, Belgium/Netherlands and Poland there are actually cycling fans who care for the race. Dubai, Beijing and stuff like that is just pointless. Besides Martin can do his solos in the Tour, he doesn't have to go all the way to China

I don't really care for audience outside the classics and mountain stages in GTs. As long as the racing and field is good. I liked the Chinese scenery anyway.

 

[Afrank]

What the hell is Nibali doing with Dubai?! Christ, those crap races can't go away soon enough just like Beijing...

 

[maxmartin]

At least in Australia, Belgium/Netherlands and Poland there are actually cycling fans who care for the race. Dubai, Beijing and stuff like that is just pointless. Besides Martin can do his solos in the Tour, he doesn't have to go all the way to China

Those countries are the future of the sports. Cycling as a business needs to go to those markets especially under current ****ty European economic situation. Races are getting canceled one after another in some of the traditional cycling countries.

 

[hrotha]

Those countries are the future of the sports. Cycling as a business needs to go to those markets especially under current ****ty European economic situation. Races are getting canceled one after another in some of the traditional cycling countries.

But if there's no real interest in those countries, it's a bit of a bubble that's bound to burst, innit.

 

[maxmartin]

But if there's no real interest in those countries, it's a bit of a bubble that's bound to burst, innit.

First, what is so called "interest"? If someone is paying big bucks to organize the race, for me, obviously there is an interest there unless those people just like to throw the money into the water for fun. And it is not like UCI or riders are losing anything by having race there, they are paid handsomely by the organizer while lots of small bike races are canceled in the Europe. It really sounds like a win win situation.

Second, the "interest" needs to be cultured. You can't expect the Rome to be built in one day. Just like any other business, sure it could be a bubble, but you never know until you tired. Starbucks is growing tremendously in China which traditionally is a tea country, but the same Starbucks is not making much progress in India which is also a tea country.

 

[Miburo]

Those countries are the future of the sports. Cycling as a business needs to go to those markets especially under current ****ty European economic situation. Races are getting canceled one after another in some of the traditional cycling countries.

So flat sprints in qatar are the future? Good to know.

 

[Netserk]

So flat sprints in qatar are the future? Good to know.

What's wrong with Qatar? Perfect race at that time of the year. Often good racing too.

 

[trevim]

Those countries are the future of the sports. Cycling as a business needs to go to those markets especially under current ****ty European economic situation. Races are getting canceled one after another in some of the traditional cycling countries.

I have to disagree here. Australia, US or UK may be interesting markets although they lack the historical character. Maybe even Japan with their keirin tradition. But Dubai I don't think so.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Well, of course they can try. Qatar and Oman ended up being good races, while Beijing was terrible.

But yeah, it would make more sense to go more to USA, Canada, Australia, England where there seems to be more interest. Furthermore South America is a pretty obvious area that is very much interested in cycling.

Also, I'd really like to see more cycling in Japan. Judging from some of the pictures I saw, a race like the Tour of Japan actually gets crowds sometimes, so I think there is at least some interest and there is a wealth of excellent roads and mountains in Japan to be used for cycling; Japan can certainly rival countries like Spain, France and Italy in that regard.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The Beijing event came 20-30 years too late.

It will take 20-30 years to clean up the place and remove all the asphalt again. There are much better places to organize a bike race in China at this time.

When the governments remove the cash from the Qatar and Dubai races, there will only be vacuum left. No cyclists on the roads, no bike infrastructure and no local fan base. The plan wouldn't have passed my desk.

Agree about Japan, good place for most sport events also cycling. Taiwan could also work well.

 

[cineteq]

Japan and Colombia should be considered.

Now back to Cyclist of the Year's thread, ok?

 

[Walkman]

Am I the only one who thinks there is no way Nibali will do the Giro seriously?! I think he is just beating around the bush and secretly celebration that some contenders will go to the Giro first and come to the Tour worn out.

As I see it, there is no way Nibali choses to do the Giro competitively.

 

[Arnout]

The Beijing event came 20-30 years too late.

It will take 20-30 years to clean up the place and remove all the asphalt again. There are much better places to organize a bike race in China at this time.

When the governments remove the cash from the Qatar and Dubai races, there will only be vacuum left. No cyclists on the roads, no bike infrastructure and no local fan base. The plan wouldn't have passed my desk.

Agree about Japan, good place for most sport events also cycling. Taiwan could also work well.

Why would you want to remove the asphalt?

One of the greatest, perhaps the greatest, feats of the 20th century is personal mobility for mankind. It's a driver for freedom, transparancy and social mobility. Any government not providing the space that allows personal mobility is repressing freedom.

End of rant.

I do understand concerns regarding environmental issues, in fact (if you do) I share them wholehartedly. The solution for that is not restricting mobility, but technical progress. In fact, China is already starting to cut down on the most polluting elements (coal) of their economy.

 

[cineteq]

As I see it, there is no way Nibali choses to do the Giro competitively.

His wording and actions, at this moment, confirm he won't be doing the Giro at all.

 

[Miburo]

Japan and Colombia should be considered.

Now back to Cyclist of the Year's thread, ok?

This isn't Contador's thread.

 

[LaFlorecita]

This isn't Contador's thread.

Lol, nice one