Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[pigoonse]

True, you said that multiple times.
Next time they hit the cobbles, relax and enjoy the show

I know you won't, but I can try. Look if next year Contador crashes out I will be gutted too, but if the stage ends up epic again... Well then it's epic.

I was also gutted when Froome crashed out that stage. Which was before the cobbles btw.

i wasn't happy when Froome was injured from stage 4 going into stage 5, thus unsurprising that he was unsteady and falling off his bike. would rather have had him be in good shape - but i doubt he would have made it through that day with a good time even if fully fit. i had little hope of Nibali doing well on the cobbles and thought Contador would be the strongest of the GC riders. imo, Contador played it safe and the way Nibali rode was nail-biting scary. i fully expected Nibs to crash actually. But the whole peloton was putting on a show. Talansky even impressed me. i have so much respect for the strength of the tough classics riders. wasn't Bak saved by landing in grass when he somersaulted?! Credit to Fuglsang and Westra. Also was a stellar effort for Geraint Thomas shepherding Porte through the day. at the end of the day, Nibs being 2 plus minutes up on Contador made it even more promising that we'd have exciting racing in the remainder of TdF watching him close the gap to Nibali. Defintely a win/win for a Contador/Nibali fan. Sadly, stage 10 ended that.

you know i am anti-Froome...not proud of the fact and my dislike of him is very baseless, considering there is nothing i can put my finger on. Even if i say i don't like watching him ride a bike, which is true, but it isn't really right, since i very much enjoy watching Dan Martin and Bauke Mollema

i'll try harder to be open-minded, Kwibus

 

[cineteq]

You sound like I only watch the TdF fan. Wether the race is big or not, it's about what day of racing was the best this year and stage 8 of the dauphine was an awesome day of racing where the big favourites were played by early attacks from their challengers.

Precisely because I'm not just a TdF fan, I aware of what kind of race Dauphiné is and what it's used for. It's just training race, unlike T-A for example. So please don't banalize my opinion just because you feel like it.

 

[LaFlorecita]

True, you said that multiple times.
Next time they hit the cobbles, relax and enjoy the show

easier said than done. I could enjoy it, if no GC contender crashes or loses loads of time & Alberto does well.. iow that will never happen

Relax, well I am never relaxed when watching a bike race

 

[greenedge]

Looks like some people don't know what IMO means. In MY opinion. I didn't like a single thing, a single second, of that stage. Get over it. It wasn't a legendary stage, it was just a good stage. If Valverde or Froome had done what Nibali did, it would be much less popular.

Probably right with the Froome bit, as it would have ensured the TDF would have been won. However it would have shown a new dimension of him that doesn't just ride like a robot in the mountains.
With Valverde it would have been good for two reasons. Firstly he was one of the few GC riders to prepare in the spring for it by riding the cobbled races, so hats off to him for that. Secondly if he'd had that type of advantage it could have made the GC battle more interesting (without taking into account how much he eventually lost by).

All in all, I thought it was a great stage and Nibali rode very well to gain that amount of time, so i disagree by saying it was just a good stage as it was memorable. Many other GT stages were not memorable.

 

[greenedge]

Yeah, those were all very positive things,

For me it's obvious. Stage 8 of the Dauphiné was by far the best day of racing, and stage 5 of the Tirreno was by far the biggest display of strength by a GC rider this season. Stage 9 of the TDF was the biggest display of strength by any rider. Ironically, I've seen a lot of polls, and these 3 stages rarely come up. It's sad that people think of Contador's Vuelta win rather than Contador's Tirreno win. One was 6km of wheelsucking followed by a pathetic 700m attack, the other was a balls out 35km solo with a finish on one of the steepest roads in the world. Same goes for stage 8 of the Dauphiné and stage 9 of the TDF. How are these stages not miles and miles better than any of the options in these polls, bar possibly stage 5 of the TDF?

Knowing he had the form, lack of organised competition who barely chased him after Quintana dropped away, a foil in Kreuziger and the knowledge that it wasn't his main goal of the season. Not trying to discredit his amazing ride though

 

[Red Rick]

Knowing he had the form, lack of organised competition who barely chased him after Quintana dropped away, a foil in Kreuziger and the knowledge that it wasn't his main goal of the season. Not trying to discredit his amazing ride though

Pretty sure his inner thoughts were more like

"Eh Berto, hombre, it'd be pretty cool right now if you just attack and solo to the win right now, just for lollz"
"Si Velasco, attacking on the last climb is no good, venga venga"

 

[Electress]

you know i am anti-Froome...not proud of the fact and my dislike of him is very baseless, considering there is nothing i can put my finger on. Even if i say i don't like watching him ride a bike, which is true, but it isn't really right, since i very much enjoy watching Dan Martin and Bauke Mollema

i'll try harder to be open-minded, Kwibus

So glad I am not alone!

LaFlo. I don't disagree that Dauphine and TA were much, much better stages, but I don't think i'd call the Vuelta win either 'wheel-sucking' or pathetic. It wasn't spectacular, but it was tactically shrewd in the circumstances…he did what he had to do to defend the jersey knowing he wasn't firing on all cylinders. Wasn't fantastic, but it served its purpose. Not every day calls for an all out attack.

On a totally different topic I'd love to see these guys try and cycle up the road to Harlech castle….1 in 2.5 - which is a 40% 'wall'

 

[damian13ster]

Probably right with the Froome bit, as it would have ensured the TDF would have been won. However it would have shown a new dimension of him that doesn't just ride like a robot in the mountains.
With Valverde it would have been good for two reasons. Firstly he was one of the few GC riders to prepare in the spring for it by riding the cobbled races, so hats off to him for that. Secondly if he'd had that type of advantage it could have made the GC battle more interesting (without taking into account how much he eventually lost by).

All in all, I thought it was a great stage and Nibali rode very well to gain that amount of time, so i disagree by saying it was just a good stage as it was memorable. Many other GT stages were not memorable.

Exactly, it was something new, fresh, memorable, unexpected. Nobody knew what is going to happen at that stage, and it delivered amazing action pretty much right from the start with Froome drama at the very beginning and then full-on racing from a very first cobble sector. Stage of the year and nothing came close to it. Astana rode it beautifully, entire team showed some serious balls that other GC contenders didn't have. Nice solo victory for Boom, rider thats bit underappreciated, a puncture to Vanmarcke (if I remember correctly) and seeing his emotions, fail by Cancellara, and all of that in horrific weather that only added to the spectacle. The only thing that could make it even better for me was if Kwiatkowski didn't puncture and ended up battling with Boom for the win.

 

[Red Rick]

So glad I am not alone!

LaFlo. I don't disagree that Dauphine and TA were much, much better stages, but I don't think i'd call the Vuelta win either 'wheel-sucking' or pathetic. It wasn't spectacular, but it was tactically shrewd in the circumstances…he did what he had to do to defend the jersey knowing he wasn't firing on all cylinders. Wasn't fantastic, but it served its purpose. Not every day calls for an all out attack.

On a totally different topic I'd love to see these guys try and cycle up the road to Harlech castle….1 in 2.5 - which is a 40% 'wall'

It was epic in another way. Contador, the one who had come back from suspension in 2012 and winning the Vuelta straight away in epic fashion, disappointed so hard in 2013, and many thought his days as GT winner were done. Froome destroyed Contador time in time again in 2013. Then in september of 2014, when Froome goes all out against Contador, he is completely up for the challenge. Froome can't get rid of the guy he humiliated a year earlier and ridiculed extensively in his book this year. And then, when Froome gives up on making up time and makes a desperate attempt for the stage win, Contador destroyes him. It's poetic really

 

[cineteq]

Exactly, it was something new, fresh, memorable, unexpected. Nobody knew what is going to happen at that stage, and it delivered amazing action pretty much right from the start with Froome drama at the very beginning and then full-on racing from a very first cobble sector. Stage of the year and nothing came close to it. Astana rode it beautifully, entire team showed some serious balls that other GC contenders didn't have. Nice solo victory for Boom, rider thats bit underappreciated, a puncture to Vanmarcke (if I remember correctly) and seeing his emotions, fail by Cancellara, and all of that in horrific weather that only added to the spectacle. The only thing that could make it even better for me was if Kwiatkowski didn't puncture and ended up battling with Boom for the win.

Pure adrenaline rush. Epic day!

It was epic in another way. Contador, the one who had come back from suspension in 2012 and winning the Vuelta straight away in epic fashion, disappointed so hard in 2013, and many thought his days as GT winner were done. Froome destroyed Contador time in time again in 2013. Then in september of 2014, when Froome goes all out against Contador, he is completely up for the challenge. Froome can't get rid of the guy he humiliated a year earlier and ridiculed extensively in his book this year. And then, when Froome gives up on making up time and makes a desperate attempt for the stage win, Contador destroyes him. It's poetic really

This belongs in the Contador thread. May I yawn?

 

[Carols]

Exactly, it was something new, fresh, memorable, unexpected. Nobody knew what is going to happen at that stage, and it delivered amazing action pretty much right from the start

Indeed, without a doubt the standout moment of the year, a race to remember, totally epic. The weather, the triumphs, the agony, it was a microcosm of memorable cycling. And then Lars went BOOM! Awesomely excellent day of racing.

The fact that Nibali stamped himself as competitive on the cobbles just added to the overall charisma of the entire day. He and Astana made many specialists look very unspecial! Who would have thought prior to the stage?

All in all one of the best TdF stages I have ever witnessed and I've seen quite a few .

My opinion has nothing to do with Contador vs. Nibali, it is about Enjoying Excellent Cycling

 

[Red Rick]

Pure adrenaline rush. Epic day!

This belongs in the Contador thread. May I yawn?

I was just talking about one of the nominated moments for moment of the year, which you're boasting about, so....

 

[The Hitch]

Personally for me the ta stage was the best of the year. Don't know which dauphine stage is mentioned. The last one? It lacked for me a blockbuster battle with the guys out front getting lucky from what happened behind.

 

[cineteq]

All in all one of the best TdF stages I have ever witnessed and I've seen quite a few .

My opinion has nothing to do with Contador vs. Nibali, it is about Enjoying Excellent Cycling

Wow that's something! Makes me wanna watch it again.

 

[Carols]

Wow that's something! Makes me wanna watch it again.

LOL I kept in on my dvr, along with Fuente De and a few other epic races for easy watching

 

[Kwibus]

Precisely because I'm not just a TdF fan, I aware of what kind of race Dauphiné is and what it's used for. It's just training race, unlike T-A for example. So please don't banalize my opinion just because you feel like it.

You watched the stage? That was some hardcore training...

Sure normally all the tdf riders aint at their top lvl, but besides that it was all out racing and it was damn good. I think it's irrelevant wether it's a tdf stage or a tour of oman stage for example, if the racing is bloody brilliant then it's good racing and imo worth of a stage of the year nomination.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Personally for me the ta stage was the best of the year. Don't know which dauphine stage is mentioned. The last one? It lacked for me a blockbuster battle with the guys out front getting lucky from what happened behind.

Agree Hitchy.

Yes Dauphiné wasn't as impressive but the racing was good, Talansky in the early break and Alberto dropping Froome, chasing Talansky, catching Nibali and dropping him like a brick in the process, in the end he came short for the overall win but it was sooo exciting, first it seemed like a done deal, but then he began pulling back that time, and Mick Rogers tuned in and started tweeting, damn I still remember it so well for good and bad reasons not as good as Tirreno, but a better battle (there was no battle in the Tirreno stage)

 

[Rollthedice]

Agree Hitchy.

Yes Dauphiné wasn't as impressive but the racing was good, Talansky in the early break and Alberto dropping Froome, chasing Talansky, catching Nibali and dropping him like a brick in the process, in the end he came short for the overall win but it was sooo exciting, first it seemed like a done deal, but then he began pulling back that time, and Mick Rogers tuned in and started tweeting, damn I still remember it so well for good and bad reasons not as good as Tirreno, but a better battle (there was no battle in the Tirreno stage)

If your man would have gone with Nibali when he attacked he could've won the race.

 

[LaFlorecita]

If your man would have gone with Nibali when he attacked he could've won the race.

He would have won the race. So be it You make decisions, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

 

[cineteq]

You watched the stage? That was some hardcore training...

Training is right my friend...

Yes Dauphiné wasn't as impressive but the racing was good, Talansky in the early break and Alberto dropping Froome, chasing Talansky, catching Nibali and dropping him like a brick in the process, in the end he came short for the overall win but it was sooo exciting

You don't waste time to say silly things just because. Glad Talansky gave everybody a lesson in the end. He did race for the win.

I kept in on my dvr, along with Fuente De and a few other epic races for easy watching

I can watch those any day, any time, any place, any planet

 

[Kwibus]

Training is right my friend...

They were going all out. Stop being ridiculous. That's not 'training'.

They weren't at their best level yet, that's true, but something completely different.

 

[damian13ster]

Whats the difference? Yes, those stages were enjoyable, I had fun watching them, and they do deserve a place in the poll. However, they were nowhere close to stage 5 from the Tour de France. That was a stage of the year and there are no doubts about it.

 

[ILovecycling]

Whats the difference? Yes, those stages were enjoyable, I had fun watching them, and they do deserve a place in the poll. However, they were nowhere close to stage 5 from the Tour de France. That was a stage of the year and there are no doubts about it.

Agree with you ,that was some epic racing

 

[LaFlorecita]

Whats the difference? Yes, those stages were enjoyable, I had fun watching them, and they do deserve a place in the poll. However, they were nowhere close to stage 5 from the Tour de France. That was a stage of the year and there are no doubts about it.

There are at least 2 people in this thread who disagree.

 

[Rollthedice]

They were going all out. Stop being ridiculous. That's not 'training'.

They weren't at their best level yet, that's true, but something completely different.

True. And since we are in the Nibs thread in that particular last Dauphine stage, Nibali attacked Contador and Froome group on a false flat portion if I remember while being 1'16'' down to Contador in GC. At some point he had over a minute on the road but didn't have the legs to finish what he started, hence being dropped by Contador who did a tremendous job riding alone and dropping everybody in the process. So, Nibali certainly played his cards to win but he was in no shape to do so.