Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Rollthedice]

All depends on the Giro outcome. Slongo said at some point TdF is not excluded. But let's enjoy his excellent performance today. Dumourain was in another league but all the other goals were reached today. Slongo was pacing him from the car, apparently his power meter didn't work, it only showed the speed!

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Re:

Perfect scenario for Nibali would be something like where he goes along with Quintana and Movistar when they kill off Doumolin, but remains close enough to Quintana to win the Giro in the last time trial

That would be a possible scenario but there is a little time gap to worry about and another TT. It's all about Dumoulin's climbing legs now and whether he can team up with other riders to control Movistar, enough to make a difference anyway. To me Movistar are not as good as the Astana team from a few years ago. Of course it's also possible for Dumoulin to work with Nibali depending on how good Quintana is climbing. The last thing Dumoulin wants is to be isolated or have a mechanical at the wrong time.

There's no way Nibali or any other GC guy works with Dumoulin as long he's in the leader's jersey. Dumoulin and his team must control everything, and imo they can not do that. There will be chaos on the road, and that's where Nibali steps in. We're going to witness some very interesting racing from now on...

 

[Red Rick]

What's there to do for Nibali at the Tour? Especially after a Giro? That's like leaving your girlfriend to go to your ex-wife begging her to take you back when she's remarried and moved on with her life.

 

[bambino]

Great ride from Nibs today, did not expect him to be so high in the overall list.

He must be pleased about the GC situation, Dumoulins eyes will have to be all over Quintana and that is where Nibs tries to attack.

But as someone said already, wheelsucking Nairo up to last ITT maintaining this time difference would probably not be that bad place to be.

 

[Ivan_Basso_77]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Good Ride Vince!!! I think he did very well. Sure Major Tom is looking awesome, but Nibs is taking time on Nairo and I don't think Tom will last through week 3 .

EDIT: He took time on Quintana, Pinot and Mollema on a ITT. The omens are good IMO .

More or less, my prediction for today was right. Vincenzo paced himself really well. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for him to put time into everyone.

 

[Carols]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Good Ride Vince!!! I think he did very well. Sure Major Tom is looking awesome, but Nibs is taking time on Nairo and I don't think Tom will last through week 3 .

EDIT: He took time on Quintana, Pinot and Mollema on a ITT. The omens are good IMO .

More or less, my prediction for today was right. Vincenzo paced himself really well. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for him to put time into everyone.

We can hope the team is hatching a workable plan right now . It's a shame his team had a rider tossed .

 

[Red Rick]

I think this TT was ok, not great.

 

[sir fly]

Really solid performance considering he was riding on feeling.

 

[Ivan_Basso_77]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Good Ride Vince!!! I think he did very well. Sure Major Tom is looking awesome, but Nibs is taking time on Nairo and I don't think Tom will last through week 3 .

EDIT: He took time on Quintana, Pinot and Mollema on a ITT. The omens are good IMO .

More or less, my prediction for today was right. Vincenzo paced himself really well. Tomorrow is a good opportunity for him to put time into everyone.

We can hope the team is hatching a workable plan right now . It's a shame his team had a rider tossed .

Moreno's DSQ is definitely a big loss.. A good team strategy and placement can be really helpful tomorrow.

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

I think this TT was ok, not great.

Given that he didn't put in an "ok" TT since Tour 2014, I think we can consider this "great'.

 

[Tonton]

Re: Re:

I think this TT was ok, not great.

Given that he didn't put in an "ok" TT since Tour 2014, I think we can consider this "great'.

"OK" because TD did what he did. Had Dumoulin won by 5 secs over GT, the gaps wouldn't be as bad. Dumourain's time, performance, makes others' look bad. Like Luxembourg '92 in a way.

Nibali is not done. He's on the decline, no doubt, but he's a heck of a rider and a competitor.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Perfect scenario for Nibali would be something like where he goes along with Quintana and Movistar when they kill off Doumolin, but remains close enough to Quintana to win the Giro in the last time trial

That would be a possible scenario but there is a little time gap to worry about and another TT. It's all about Dumoulin's climbing legs now and whether he can team up with other riders to control Movistar, enough to make a difference anyway. To me Movistar are not as good as the Astana team from a few years ago. Of course it's also possible for Dumoulin to work with Nibali depending on how good Quintana is climbing. The last thing Dumoulin wants is to be isolated or have a mechanical at the wrong time.

There's no way Nibali or any other GC guy works with Dumoulin as long he's in the leader's jersey. Dumoulin and his team must control everything, and imo they can not do that. There will be chaos on the road, and that's where Nibali steps in. We're going to witness some very interesting racing from now on...

If Quintana is up the road of course Nibali and Dumoulin would help each other. What is their option ? Wait for the rest ? If Nibali saw a podium slipping away and Dumoulin the Pink they would work together if they had to. The second TT will already be at the back of Quintana's mind. Nibali is in a good position if he climbs well but it also is an advantage for Dumoulin because at some point his team will have to be helped if other riders want to make the podium. They might wear down Dumoulin's team but it's Dumoulin himself they have to worry about. Contador is the sort of rider that could exploit this situation and it remains to be seen how Movistar do it and will they be successful ? A war of attrition on Dumoulin will help Nibali and Quintana but maybe not enough to blunt his performance in the second TT. Interesting says ahead.

 

[Red Rick]

Im not that sure Nibali is on active decline. Sure, he hasn't repeated the form of 2013 and 2014, but I'm ot sure that's due to age. He stopped trying in *** small races (cav approves) and continued winning big ones so far.

 

[SeriousSam]

Re: Re:

Perfect scenario for Nibali would be something like where he goes along with Quintana and Movistar when they kill off Doumolin, but remains close enough to Quintana to win the Giro in the last time trial

That would be a possible scenario but there is a little time gap to worry about and another TT. It's all about Dumoulin's climbing legs now and whether he can team up with other riders to control Movistar, enough to make a difference anyway. To me Movistar are not as good as the Astana team from a few years ago. Of course it's also possible for Dumoulin to work with Nibali depending on how good Quintana is climbing. The last thing Dumoulin wants is to be isolated or have a mechanical at the wrong time.

There's no way Nibali or any other GC guy works with Dumoulin as long he's in the leader's jersey. Dumoulin and his team must control everything, and imo they can not do that. There will be chaos on the road, and that's where Nibali steps in. We're going to witness some very interesting racing from now on...

Part of the reason the team having the leader's jersey has to control the race is that it's a norm, but behind that norm is a strategic reason: When you have the leader's jersey, you usually have most to lose from someone getting away and capturing it and possibly gaining a huge amount of time. So because you have so much to lose, you're more willing to pay the price entailed by having to control the race

But other GC contenders could be damaged by an uncontrolled race as well, especially those who think they have a good chance to win, such as Quintana.

Dumoulin should stay glued to the wheel of Quintana and rely on the fact that Movistar will want to preserve Quintana's chance to win the Giro.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Im not that sure Nibali is on active decline. Sure, he hasn't repeated the form of 2013 and 2014, but I'm ot sure that's due to age. He stopped trying in **** small races (cav approves) and continued winning big ones so far.

These are surely the best first 10 days of a GT he's had in a long time.
Hard to tell wether he'll be able to further improve his level, as he's done last year or in the 2015 Tour. He could be peaking earlier than usual.

 

[Oliver]

Great TT! I Hope he'll getting better to end of the Giro! And after this I hope for Vuelta!

 

[Rollthedice]

Re:

Im not that sure Nibali is on active decline. Sure, he hasn't repeated the form of 2013 and 2014, but I'm ot sure that's due to age. He stopped trying in **** small races (cav approves) and continued winning big ones so far.

He said that he didn't had a proper winter holiday until 2012, then he married Rachele. He wants time with his family, it is very important and of great value to him so gradually, also with age, he became focused only on big races. I don't think he's a workaholic and is notorious for waking up late. Pro cycling asks for huge sacrifices that I think he no longer wants to take at the same level as in the past. Slongo is the man who knows how to manage this and put him to real work when it's needed, Nibs said that between the two there's a love-hate relationship.

 

[yaco]

My take is he's a bit off top form like Quintana in the 2016 TDF - he may still be crafty enough to eke out a podium.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

He still looks on the improve. The thing is, even if he manages to crack Dumoulin I can't see how he then also goes past Quintana. Because then he needs to be within 1 minute of Quintana on the final ITT. It seems very unlikely.

It's more likely Nibali helps win Quintana or Dumoulin the Giro by his actions (either helping Nairo in an attack or helping Dumoulin in a chase) then actually winning it himself.

 

[Forever The Best]

Didn't look very strong today but TD and Mollema didn't look good either. Seems weaker than Quintana and Pinot. So he should try to gain time on Quintana whenever he can even though Nibali will probably get better but Quintana shouls till outclimb him. Let's see how he does against Quintana and TD on Oropa.

 

[Netserk]

If he needs to, he will attack over Grappa, distance Nairo just enough on the descent (will be difficult with Amador) and connect up to teammates from the break. Yeah, seems way too farfetched with the strength of Movistar...

 

[Forever The Best]

Re:

If he needs to, he will attack over Grappa, distance Nairo just enough on the descent (will be difficult with Amador) and connect up to teammates from the break. Yeah, seems way too farfetched with the strength of Movistar...

Quintana in maglia rosa with a huge advantage on TD would be the perfect scenario for Nibali to go ballistic on Bormio or Asiago since Movistar riders would probably be in the peloton all day when Nibali goes and Quintana may be alone at the back while Nibbles has one of Pellizotti-Siutsou and some Italian riders to help him _O_

 

[Brullnux]

Re:

My take is he's a bit off top form like Quintana in the 2016 TDF - he may still be crafty enough to eke out a podium.

He's lot better than he was last year.

 

[Rollthedice]

The good thing is he's still confident in his descending skills after Rio, he attacked a bit downhill today but there will be plenty opportunities in the last week. I think Dumoulin will be dispatched by Movistar, the sooner the better. Then we'll see.

 

[Carols]

Vince out of the saddle, in the drops stretches them out......
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-nibali-expected-a-quintana-attack-that-never-came-on-stage-11/

I think he is rounding into form . Major Tom has no team and will weaken, Quintana is the problem.