Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[maxmartin]

Am i the only one in here who thinks Nibali looks quite explosive when he attacks? People allways say he doesn't like pace changes but i think he attacks quite hard

In the beginning of the year, he said he specifically trained a lot about explosiveness. Now the explosiveness is there, he can get the gap, but can't maintain the gap.

 

[maxmartin]

Maybe he decided that with Sagan in the team he wouldn't be able to get the support he wanted in his chosen races plus they would likely be bumping heads in MSR, Ardennes Week and in GdL.

that is one problem plus money. What Liqui offered is only a little more than half money Astana offered.

 

[maxmartin]

Will Basso be a factor to help Nibali in Pyrénées?

Good job Basso, indeed he is saving for the Pyrenees

 

[Carols]

In the beginning of the year, he said he specifically trained a lot about explosiveness. Now the explosiveness is there, he can get the gap, but can't maintain the gap.

This, he really has shown the ability to attack but than cannot keep a high tempo afterwards...Stiil Good Show Shark!!! I was hoping for a 3rd and it appears that is what it will be. But he certainly has livened up the GC race; without him I'd go to sleep as Wiggo gets hauled up the mountains. At least Basso did some damage....

With a Decent Team supporting him I think Vincenzo could take 2nd even with the ITT kms.....but we'll never know. The paltry assistance he has received from Ligui against the Sky train is embaressing and I'm glad he is leaving. Hopefully Astana will probide a better set of support riders!

When is Szymd getting tossed, what a waste he is

Let's see what they have in store for tomorrow

 

[maxmartin]

When is Szymd getting tossed, what a waste he is

That is why Szymd is moving to BMC a good place to collect big bucks while doing nothing(just joking BMC fans don't get upset)

 

[Climbing]

In the beginning of the year, he said he specifically trained a lot about explosiveness. Now the explosiveness is there, he can get the gap, but can't maintain the gap.

Exactly this. Anyway he's getting better and better every year... dunno if he reached his limits of improvement, but this year he's looking very strong, especially in climbing (okay he got a better position in TT too to be fair).

 

[Fergoose]

At least he won't die wondering "what if I'd attacked?". Very impressed with how he has handled himself. Getting the most out of his body and 3rd in a ITT heavy edition of the TdF is going to be a great achievement.

That's two attacks running though that he's poured a bottle of water over himself just before launching. He might as well put up a sign saying "attacking soon".

 

[Marco Pantani]

I hope he doesn't throw in the towel just yet and keeps attacking Wiggins.
Third place should be safe now, so I really hope, he attacks tomorrow again. Anything can happen, it's still the Tour. Wiggins had his best day in the mountains so far, but that could change tomorrow. Attack at the Balés and then full gas in the downhill. Maybe the weather will do him a favour.


Anyway, I liked his performance a lot, great rider.

 

[patrick767]

I hope he doesn't throw in the towel just yet and keeps attacking Wiggins.
Third place should be safe now, so I really hope, he attacks tomorrow again. Anything can happen, it's still the Tour. Wiggins had his best day in the mountains so far, but that could change tomorrow. Attack at the Balés and then full gas in the downhill. Maybe the weather will do him a favour.


Anyway, I liked his performance a lot, great rider.

Like you and probably all of us, I certainly hope he hasn't given up. Nibali is having a great race and is making it exciting. Good luck to him tomorrow. Make Wiggins and Froome work for it!

 

[ericthesportsman6]

No matter the final result, Nibali has been one of the few bright spots of this Tour. Really impressive stuff. Excited to see what he'll do at Astana.

 

[cineteq]

Exactly. That was also his problem in early years when he wasn't as strong. He'd go with every attack and then blow up. And now he is strong enough to attack himself but can't keep the pace. What happened to him as well in LBL.

Watching him in this Tour you can notice he's learned from crazy and fruitless attacks. He's gauging his chances much better and cutting his losses when he sees he won't be able to make it as he did on stage 8 after he connected with Sagan. He definitely needs to up his endurance another notch so performances like this year's LBL won't happen again.

 

[movingtarget]

Frrom never looked comfortable on the bike, don't be fooled by that, he is an alien

Very unusual riding style especially when he is riding on the top of the bars. His arms are almost vertical, but very effective. It will be very interesting to see him clash with Contador and Schleck in the mountains next year.

 

[ilmaffe]

(but be careful, he often struggled in the last mountain stage: Tour 2009, Giro 2010-2011). .

he should work to fix this problem, if it's possible

 

[maxmartin]

Schelecks to ASTANA?

Nibali Giro Vuelta??

Schelecks Tour??

LBL co leaders???

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schlecks-rumoured-to-have-signed-with-astana-for-coming-year

 

[El Pistolero]

Very unusual riding style especially when he is riding on the top of the bars. His arms are almost vertical, but very effective. It will be very interesting to see him clash with Contador and Schleck in the mountains next year.

Froome took a full 40 seconds on Nibali this Tour. He could've taken more, but not 6 minutes more. Which Contador did take on Nibali the last time they faced off.

 

[maxmartin]

Froome took a full 40 seconds on Nibali this Tour. He could've taken more, but not 6 minutes more. Which Contador did take on Nibali the last time they faced off.

there is no point to compare plain numbers, two total different race

 

[Carols]

Schelecks to ASTANA?

Nibali Giro Vuelta??

Schelecks Tour??

LBL co leaders???

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/schlecks-rumoured-to-have-signed-with-astana-for-coming-year

Oh please No!!!! Nibali doesn't need those 2 yahoos around

Not a good day for our man, but a podium looks good and I'll be smiling when he gets up there.

LOL Wiggins sure is lucky Froome is his teammate and has to keep waiting for him....what an excuse for a winner

 

[maxmartin]

Oh please No!!!! Nibali doesn't need those 2 yahoos around

Not a good day for our man, but a podium looks good and I'll be smiling when he gets up there.

LOL Wiggins sure is lucky Froome is his teammate and has to keep waiting for him....what an excuse for a winner

Possibly only one bother will be around for next two years

 

[Carols]

Possibly only one bother will be around for next two years

Yeah the Bigger Idiot of the 2 of them Please NO!!!

 

[Apollonius]

Nibali has to be the most overrated tour favourite le tour has seen in the last decade.
He's nicknamed the shark but he has resembled more of a flounder this race. What a let down he's been. At least we know why he's tended to avoid le tour in the past!

 

[slim charles]

Yeah, terrible Tour for him, he will finish 3rd. He should be ashamed.

 

[Apollonius]

Yeah, terrible Tour for him, he will finish 3rd. He should be ashamed.

Well according to some Wiggins should be ashamed for actually finishing third so surely third is a disaster for the Shark of the straits?

I'm just bitter as I expected a lot more from him after all his talk, I thought he'd at least challenge Wiggins if not beat him.

 

[slim charles]

Wiggins was absolutely favorite for the win, a vast majority of people here and elsewhere thought he would win the Tour, so if he didn't it would be kind of a fail. Nibali wasn't expected to be better than Evans or even Menchov, and certainly not Wiggins. I say he had a good Tour. It would be great if he could have create more problems to Sky, but he obviously wasn't THAT strong.

 

[whittashau]

Nibali has to be the most overrated tour favourite le tour has seen in the last decade.
He's nicknamed the shark but he has resembled more of a flounder this race. What a let down he's been. At least we know why he's tended to avoid le tour in the past!

A lot of people before the tour thought he's struggle to beat VDB and Gesink. Some even thought he'd struggle to make top 10. I think he's proven a lot of people wrong, plus he's still younger than most of the GT contenders so logically he should only get better.

 

[Peccio89]

Well according to some Wiggins should be ashamed for actually finishing third so surely third is a disaster for the Shark of the straits?

I'm just bitter as I expected a lot more from him after all his talk, I thought he'd at least challenge Wiggins if not beat him.

Nibali tried everything he could: he attacked on the descente of the gran Colombier, climbing laToussiere and climbing the Peyresourde. He was simply inferior to the Sky duo. But his racing attitude was awesome.