Red Rick said:
For what it's worth, Red Rick, I did get what you were driving at in your first post and that you were not simply bandying around the 'Nibali is scared' stuff but discussing how the higher stakes for Nibali vs. Contador in 2015 and the risks of trying to do too much, and losing out in both GTs may have factored into his calculations. I also agree, we are not contradicting one another. Nibali has had to be calculated in his decision about 2015. He does not have the luxury of going for a high risk 'death or glory' kind of approach.
Contador is at a different stage in his career, he has do little to prove; these 'impossible' challenges only enhance the image; he's "the only one willing to take a chance" - indeed, he's the man on the attack again; leading the field by taking on things others can't or won't. He also has a sponsor in Oleg who enjoys and feeds on a much more unconventional, maverick image, so cocking a snoop to the 'normal' 'workaday' focus on the TdF probably suits Tinkoff very much.
And yes, I'm sure Nibali is frustrated that his perfectly legitimate win is subject to all these what-ifs. It'd hack me off too, even though it is kind of inevitable. Whatever I think 'might have happened', what stands out for me from Nibali from the TdF (apart from the cobbles), was that he did not just wheel around and defend his lead like an automaton. He attacked the parcours, even though there were no high level contenders to beat. I admire him for stamping his authority on the race; other riders and other teams may have been much more defensive and measured, and it would have made for a mind-numbingly dull race.
cineteq: I have to say, this did make me laugh.
I think we have established that AC and Froome (though Froome has his moments, lol!) are perfectly capable of finishing a race that Nibali is in. That they didn't this tDf does not really put that in doubt.
However, as LaFlo. said, I do think that Nibali's TdF win - through no fault of his own, mind you - leaves a question-mark as to whether or not Nibali could beat Froome and/or Contador on form. If people on the forum ask it, I think it is a given that he'd ask it of himself.
I happen to think he's not quite at their level. But I don't for a moment doubt that he'd wanted to pit himself against them and demonstrate he is. Indeed, I look forward to the day he proves me wrong (about Froome at least. No matter how much I like Nibali, I'm just too much of an AC fangirl to ever want Contador to lose
)(And thanks, peloton, LaFlo.)
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