Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

It is hard to believe that a guy who just git beaten by Huub Duyn, Floris de Tier and Ben effin Swift on a hard hilly course in cold conditions can win the Giro against a guy like Landa just a few weeks later. So either Nibali had the perfect plan or he has gotten it completely wrong.

Paolo Slongo has, of course, planned everything for Nibali to be in top form for the third week of the Giro. I'm convinced the plan was to not peak too soon in the Giro, to have the possibility of returning to his best during the Tour.

Given that the road to Olympic gold necessarily passes through France in July, it seems logical that Nibali will be riding the double. I also don't think Aru is going to be too big of a factor in the Tour, he will loose great amounts of time in the TTs. Thus Astana is right to give Nibali a chance as Tour contender too.

In any case Nibali's biggest problem at the Giro will be his former teammate, Landa.

I don't think Landa will be his biggest problem, it's his uncertain form and Valverde. There is 50k of TT suitable for Nibs, only two MTF one of which is not so hard, it looks like he has a better team and he is apt at deploying guerilla warfare. As for Valverde, if the weather is gentle on him, he can match Nibs most of the times while being able to grab some boni seconds.

Only two MTF's? My got! At any rate, Sky should straighten out Landa's erratic form. We'll see. The course also suits Valverde, though he could fair worse in the TTs.

 

[rhubroma]

Re: Re:

Giro 2014, Stage 18 on Monte Grappa. Almost beat Quintana at his own game

Touche!

 

[SafeBet]

I'm quite disappointed as well but let's not get carried away. The worst Nibali we've seen in a GT in the past 4 years was 4th in last year Tour. And that was absolutely not a mediocre performance, it was actually a good performance (very good if you take out the horrible day on PSM), considering the amazing field. They probably mistimed his peak a little, which I doubt could happen again cosidering how professional his trainers are.

Nibali is one of the most consistent GT riders of his generation. If he really can't challenge this Giro, it means he's clearly on the decline.

 

[silvergrenade]

Re:

I'm quite disappointed as well but let's not get carried away. The worst Nibali we've seen in a GT in the past 4 years was 4th in last year Tour. And that was absolutely not a mediocre performance, it was actually a good performance (very good if you take out the horrible day on PSM), considering the amazing field. They probably mistimed his peak a little, which I doubt could happen again cosidering how professional his trainers are.

Nibali is one of the most consistent GT riders of his generation. If he really can't challenge this Giro, it means he's clearly on the decline.

Spoken like a true Italian.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

I'm quite disappointed as well but let's not get carried away. The worst Nibali we've seen in a GT in the past 4 years was 4th in last year Tour. And that was absolutely not a mediocre performance, it was actually a good performance (very good if you take out the horrible day on PSM), considering the amazing field. They probably mistimed his peak a little, which I doubt could happen again cosidering how professional his trainers are.

Nibali is one of the most consistent GT riders of his generation. If he really can't challenge this Giro, it means he's clearly on the decline.

The thing is that Nibali is probably the only top gc rider who completely messed up his preparation for a gt in the last few years. I doubt that fact makes it less likely that he will have a bad prep again because he wont do the same mistake twice. I rather think that because it happened once to him it could also happen a 2nd time. I also think that because he showed earlier this year that he still can ride well, the only possible reason for his Trentino performance can be a bad shape and not a decline.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Re: Re:

I'm quite disappointed as well but let's not get carried away. The worst Nibali we've seen in a GT in the past 4 years was 4th in last year Tour. And that was absolutely not a mediocre performance, it was actually a good performance (very good if you take out the horrible day on PSM), considering the amazing field. They probably mistimed his peak a little, which I doubt could happen again cosidering how professional his trainers are.

Nibali is one of the most consistent GT riders of his generation. If he really can't challenge this Giro, it means he's clearly on the decline.

The thing is that Nibali is probably the only top gc rider who completely messed up his preparation for a gt in the last few years. I doubt that fact makes it less likely that he will have a bad prep again because he wont do the same mistake twice. I rather think that because it happened once to him it could also happen a 2nd time. I also think that because he showed earlier this year that he still can ride well, the only possible reason for his Trentino performance can be a bad shape and not a decline.

Contador 2013 & 2015 bad prep

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Re:

I'm quite disappointed as well but let's not get carried away. The worst Nibali we've seen in a GT in the past 4 years was 4th in last year Tour. And that was absolutely not a mediocre performance, it was actually a good performance (very good if you take out the horrible day on PSM), considering the amazing field. They probably mistimed his peak a little, which I doubt could happen again cosidering how professional his trainers are.

Nibali is one of the most consistent GT riders of his generation. If he really can't challenge this Giro, it means he's clearly on the decline.

The thing is that Nibali is probably the only top gc rider who completely messed up his preparation for a gt in the last few years. I doubt that fact makes it less likely that he will have a bad prep again because he wont do the same mistake twice. I rather think that because it happened once to him it could also happen a 2nd time. I also think that because he showed earlier this year that he still can ride well, the only possible reason for his Trentino performance can be a bad shape and not a decline.

Contador 2013 & 2015 bad prep

Contador was bad in the whole season 2013, so you can't say it was bad preparation. And in 2015 he rode the giro before so that doesnt really count. Otherwise I could also mention Quintana in the Vuelta last year.

 

[Mozart92]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

2015 bad prep for Contador? He won the Giro! And he had only one month to recover for the Tour. Winning both it's not an easy feat, instead it would be an epic one.
Doesn't surprise me he wasn't able to fight vs Froome and the others, it's only natural that his legs had not recovered yet.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Vino: http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vinokourov-im-sure-nibali-can-win-the-giro-ditalia-again/

... Rio Olympics. That's another good goal for him because the course suits his aggressive style in hilly races. It'd be great for us if Vincenzo won gold and Alexey Lutsenko took the silver for Kazakhstan. That'd be perfect, I'd be super happy. The important thing is that the gold medal stays with the team after my success in London 2012.

No pressure then for Rio.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Good interview, very sensible answers from Vino.

 

[cineteq]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Vincenzo smiles

According to Bettini the descents are pretty technical and could create significant gaps.

 

[May0maniac]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Vincenzo smiles

According to Bettini the descents are pretty technical and could create significant gaps.

I was referring to stage 13.

 

[Scarponi]

This guy is meant to be the attacking God of the modern era yet has shown nothing this year. I find it hard to like him but it's hard not to like him when he is off alone on a mountain stage

 

[ice&fire]

Re:

This guy is meant to be the attacking God of the modern era yet has shown nothing this year. I find it hard to like him but it's hard not to like him when he is off alone on a mountain stage

Remember 2014? All he needs is Vino's letter

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

This guy is meant to be the attacking God of the modern era yet has shown nothing this year. I find it hard to like him but it's hard not to like him when he is off alone on a mountain stage

You probably tuned in last month. He won Oman and was ready to take TA until they canceled the MTF, finishing sixth. Then altitude training, then the lately usual crappy shape before the big target. He'll be fine I guess.

 

[Brullnux]

What was up with his attack today? I'm all for attacks but it was so, so stupid. Even if he were in good shape he wouldn't be able to put time into a 35-40 man peloton on a false flat, and then it took so much out of him (against a head wind too) and destroyed his chances at the finish. Without that attack he would've finished with or ahead of Valverde. I'm not sure what he was expecting to gain out of attacking on false flat against Dumoulin.

 

[dacooley]

Re:

What was up with his attack today? I'm all for attacks but it was so, so stupid. Even if he were in good shape he wouldn't be able to put time into a 35-40 man peloton on a false flat, and then it took so much out of him (against a head wind too) and destroyed his chances at the finish. Without that attack he would've finished with or ahead of Valverde. I'm not sure what he was expecting to gain out of attacking on false flat against Dumoulin.

it's just the reserse side of having a heart of real racer. yes, sometimes you miscalculate your effort take if for granted and give Nibs some slack.

 

[therealthing]

Well he is blaming the team car for today's performance: Take a look at @Cyclingnewsfeed's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Cyclingnewsfeed/status/730827598738128896?s=09

 

[Marco Pantani]

Martinelli goes Alzheimers........................again hahaha. Loved that comment from last years race.

 

[Rollthedice]

Here he explains what happened, for those who understand Italian, he looks a bit angry:

https://youtu.be/tGnx2CVqnUc

Martinelli also says it was his mistake, he said to Nibs to attack if he's good. Bad chosen moment, bad tactics. Still think he'll improve when the time will come, looking back now it was not dramatic but more like embarrassing.

 

[yaco]

Nibali making excuses is usually a sign that he is in bad form.

 

[SafeBet]

Even if Martinelli told him to attack that was the worst possible time. His mistake.

 

[lenric]

Let's just wait and see, today was just a warming up.

 

[JackRabbitSlims]

I watched a replay of the last 12kms on Steephill TV this morning over a coffee.

When I saw Nibali get up and attack I was like....."sweet, here we go" thinking he was going to lay a marker down.....or at least take a look and see who has the goods to follow and maybe pull away and gain some time on some of the contenders.

Poor showing imho.....showing this level of weakness this early in the Tour must have the others thinking wtf Nibbles / Astana??
Blaming the DS / Team Car is Bollix.....Nibs is well experienced as is the DS / Team car!!

Hard to think he is just saving his legs for later in the Tour.....especially with the Maglia Rosa riding away from him today.

I'm a big fan and have Nibs down as my guy to win the Giro....hoping today isn't a sign of things to come.

 

[hfer07]

Re:

I watched a replay of the last 12kms on Steephill TV this morning over a coffee.

When I saw Nibali get up and attack I was like....."sweet, here we go" thinking he was going to lay a marker down.....or at least take a look and see who has the goods to follow and maybe pull away and gain some time on some of the contenders.

Poor showing imho.....showing this level of weakness this early in the Tour must have the others thinking wtf Nibbles / Astana??
Blaming the DS / Team Car is Bollix.....Nibs is well experienced as is the DS / Team car!!

Hard to think he is just saving his legs for later in the Tour.....especially with the Maglia Rosa riding away from him today.

I'm a big fan and have Nibs down as my guy to win the Giro....hoping today isn't a sign of things to come.

Indeed- Nibs can't just come up with such excuse - it was his very own mistake by misjudging the attack timing & gradient. The good news is he didn't lose time against Valverde & Landa, which seem to be "saving" themselves for what is ahead -BUT Dumoilin is proving to be a serious contender while dark horses like Chaves & Maika are silently positioning in the top 10, which indicate they're going to cause a lot of trouble in the mountains too.

we'll see....