Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[SafeBet]

Agree completely.
I'm done supporting Nibali if he goes the narrow ultra peak model again.

Strade Bianche should tell us more.

 

[phanatic]

I'm really hoping he will be competitive this spring, especially in one day races.
Another Armstrong-like season would be a letdown and Oman wasn't reassuring.

Nibali winning the TDF against Froome and Contador might be worth it.

 

[Dr. Juice]

I hope Nibali and Contador will create chaos together. While both Contador and Froome should be a bit stronger uphill, stage 18 and 19 are perfect for chaos. Stage 18 from Glandon and stage 19 from Croix de Fer with Mollard and La Toussuire still to ride.
The important thing is that the Sky train is caught on the wrong foot. I want to see great action ...2012 was horrible. Sky will be very strong this year ( but this time other teams too).
If Contador can't contain himself in the Giro and arrives a bit tired and Froome is either not in top shape ( not too likely) or unconventional things/stages happen (more likely) ...then Nibali could have a decent chance.

Quintana is a slightly overrated. I'd have liked Nibali to have been at the Tour in 2013. I am sure that he would have arrived between Froome and Porte on Ax3- Domaines, at least with Quintana on Mont Ventoux and first of the favorites on Alpe d' Huez+ Semnoz.
Overall ( because of Froome's inconsistency) he would have lost the Tour only due the TT ( couple of min).

 

[sir fly]

I hope Nibali and Contador will create chaos together. While both Contador and Froome should be a bit stronger uphill, stage 18 and 19 are perfect for chaos. Stage 18 from Glandon and stage 19 from Croix de Fer with Mollard and La Toussuire still to ride.
The important thing is that the Sky train is caught on the wrong foot. I want to see great action ...2012 was horrible. Sky will be very strong this year ( but this time other teams too).
If Contador can't contain himself in the Giro and arrives a bit tired and Froome is either not in top shape ( not too likely) or unconventional things/stages happen (more likely) ...then Nibali could have a decent chance.

Quintana is a slightly overrated. I'd have liked Nibali to have been at the Tour in 2013. I am sure that he would have arrived between Froome and Porte on Ax3- Domaines, at least with Quintana on Mont Ventoux and first of the favorites on Alpe d' Huez+ Semnoz.
Overall ( because of Froome's inconsistency) he would have lost the Tour only due the TT ( couple of min).

I doubt Contador will gamble with long range attacks with the Giro in his legs and after 20 days of exhausting racing

 

[Netserk]

I doubt Contador will gamble with long range attacks with the Giro in his legs and after 20 days of exhausting racing

Why? It's what happened four years ago.

If he is in a situation where he doesn't think he can win otherwise, do you really think that riding the Giro beforehand will make him not take whatever chances he think he will need to win?

 

[Angliru]

I doubt Contador will gamble with long range attacks with the Giro in his legs and after 20 days of exhausting racing

Ultimately that may be what it takes to win. His attack on the Alpe d'Huez stage in 2011 he said he did "for fun". If he has a deficit that seems only surmountable by such a move we may see it.

 

[Red Rick]

Ultimately that may be what it takes to win. His attack on the Alpe d'Huez stage in 2011 he said he did "for fun". If he has a deficit that seems only surmountable by such a move we will see it.

Fixed it for you, the day he doesn't do it whilst he has the legs to, is the day he quits the sport

 

[May0maniac]

I hope Nibali and Contador will create chaos together. While both Contador and Froome should be a bit stronger uphill, stage 18 and 19 are perfect for chaos. Stage 18 from Glandon and stage 19 from Croix de Fer with Mollard and La Toussuire still to ride.
The important thing is that the Sky train is caught on the wrong foot. I want to see great action ...2012 was horrible. Sky will be very strong this year ( but this time other teams too).
If Contador can't contain himself in the Giro and arrives a bit tired and Froome is either not in top shape ( not too likely) or unconventional things/stages happen (more likely) ...then Nibali could have a decent chance.

Quintana is a slightly overrated. I'd have liked Nibali to have been at the Tour in 2013. I am sure that he would have arrived between Froome and Porte on Ax3- Domaines, at least with Quintana on Mont Ventoux and first of the favorites on Alpe d' Huez+ Semnoz.
Overall ( because of Froome's inconsistency) he would have lost the Tour only due the TT ( couple of min).

It would have been alot closer than many think, I think he propably would have been with Birdsong durning the crosswinds stage when they gained a minute on Froome.
Froome was also fading in the third week, it would have been a close call if Nibali arrived in his 2013 Giro shape. The hilly ITT would have been very close, if the worst Contador that we've ever seen was able to loose only 9sec, then i think a Nibali in top shape would have been able to fight for the win with Froome, it was a hilly ITT that would have suited him very well.
Yes i know, it's nothing but pure speculation but i like to belive that it would have been close.
And Contador will try a long range attack if he's not at his best, that's pretty sure.

 

[sir fly]

Why? It's what happened four years ago.

If he is in a situation where he doesn't think he can win otherwise, do you really think that riding the Giro beforehand will make him not take whatever chances he think he will need to win?

Four year ago was a matter of honor. The race has already been lost.
Nevertheless, he might try something similar if he finds himself several minutes and spots behind the leader, but I doubt he'll have the legs for sustainable effort in the second half of July.
He'll try to ride two most thrifty GTs in his career this season

 

[Netserk]

Four year ago was a matter of honor. The race has already been lost.
Nevertheless, he might try something similar if he finds himself several minutes and spots behind the leader, but I doubt he'll have the legs for sustainable effort in the second half of July.
He'll try to ride two most thrifty GTs in his career this season

Okay. Would you mind answering my second question?

 

[sir fly]

Okay. Would you mind answering my second question?

Everything's answered.
Riding Giro by itself won't stop him trying, but it will stop his legs.
Enough about Contador. This is Nibali thread.

 

[whittashau]

So much for this season not being a repeat of the last one. Either that or that all the Astana issues have taken its toll.

 

[Jspear]

So much for this season not being a repeat of the last one. Either that or that all the Astana issues have taken its toll.

Ya I was hoping he would be ready to compete with the other big three in Tirreno.

 

[SafeBet]

He looked ok to me. Surely better than how he looked last year at this point.

 

[nuvolablu]

Still 40 days to LBL...

 

[SeriousSam]

Why is everyone surprised? Nibali is following in the footsteps of Lance and Andy and super peaking for the Tour.

 

[Jelantik]

Ya I was hoping he would be ready to compete with the other big three in Tirreno.

he look just okay. out of the 3 (contador, froome, nibali), he is the only one who got more racing legs. So far he doesn't look that stellar. So theoretically, not sure if he has the leg to compete with Contador and Froome, if we're looking at how those two performs at their first race. I'm sure both Froome and Contador come out with guns blazing and there is no way their form is less that few weeks ago. If anything, they probably ahead of Nibali by a mile.

 

[Jelantik]

Strade Bianche should tell us more.

what do you think? today he was dropped when the race hits the most crucial moment some 30+ to go. He targets the classic, doesn't he? so he should be at least looks good if he wants to win one?

 

[sir fly]

Despite not being at the head of the race in the end, I think he'll be satisfied with his ride.

 

[Netserk]

Let's wait for Tirreno before we judge.

 

[SafeBet]

what do you think? today he was dropped when the race hits the most crucial moment some 30+ to go. He targets the classic, doesn't he? so he should be at least looks good if he wants to win one?

I wasn't expecting him to compete with the very best here. Again, I think he looked ok (for what I've seen). Last year he looked much worse in Camaiore/Paris-Nice.

Which is not to say he'll dominate sprig classics. But I'm not as pessimistic as some others.

 

[Jelantik]

Let's wait for Tirreno before we judge.

yes. we shall. it's going to be an exciting race. Hope everyone stays upright. Wednesday can't come soon enough!!!

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Flying under the radar like a pro. LBL will be fun

 

[jens_attacks]

he looks very good, i agree .i think he will win liege this year

 

[LaFlorecita]

he looks very good, i agree .i think he will win liege this year

he got dropped from the peloton