Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Gigs_98]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

 

[Carols]

Re:

I believed from day one. First shark bite in this Giro was truly beautiful today, another unforgettable moment for us. He will take Dumoulin and Quintana for one hell of ride this week.

I did also, I put a Nibs in Pink avatar up right before the Giro . Now make it so Vince!

 

[Forever The Best]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

Bahrain Merida couldn't send anyone to the break so Nibali's plan of attacking and bridging to the break in the valley had no chance so he waited Quintana to go since Quintana had 3 teammates but Quintana didn't attack so Nibali had to wait for Umbrail. If Nibbles had 3 teammates at front he would have gone ballistic in Stelvio.
I think he and his team will be very aggressive in stage 18.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

I'll say it again. Nibali is the luckiest GT rider of the last 10 years.

He'll probably win it again. Quintana to I dunno, sneeze at a wrong moment and miss a corner. Dumoulin to have another ***. Nibali given the win

 

[SafeBet]

My only concern is his team. Bahrain looks incredibly weak, it will be difficult to have teammates in the break during the key stages.

 

[Red Rick]

5th consecutive year of winning at least one GT stage in a year. Impressive ride

 

[Netserk]

10th GT stage win.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

I'll say it again. Nibali is the luckiest GT rider of the last 10 years.

He'll probably win it again. Quintana to I dunno, sneeze at a wrong moment and miss a corner. Dumoulin to have another ****. Nibali given the win

Some would call it consistency..................

 

[DFA123]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

I'll say it again. Nibali is the luckiest GT rider of the last 10 years.

He'll probably win it again. Quintana to I dunno, sneeze at a wrong moment and miss a corner. Dumoulin to have another ****. Nibali given the win

It's a bit of a cliche, but I think you make your own luck over three weeks. He forced Kruijswijk into a mistake last year, he took time using his excellent descending again this year. It's not really luck, it's riding the race to his strengths. He doesn't get ill and very rarely cracks badly in his main GT target. He is always there or there abouts, and that consistency always keeps him in the game.

Just a great GT rider, despite arguably not being one of the exceptional all time talents.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

My only concern is his team. Bahrain looks incredibly weak, it will be difficult to have teammates in the break during the key stages.

For that matter i don't think Movistar knew what they were doing either. They had riders up and down the mountain and no one knew what their tactics were. I think the problem was that Quintana was not on a great day.

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

For that matter i don't think Movistar knew what they were doing either. They had riders up and down the mountain and no one knew what their tactics were. I think the problem was that Quintana was not on a great day.

Yeah, clueless. But at least they have different options to use.

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

10th GT stage win.

Depends on how you count. Didnt he get the Bola del Mundo and Nevegal retroactively, as well as that santambrogio stage?

 

[Netserk]

Some people consider him the winner on Nevegal and Jafferau. Afaik, Bola del Mundo is also officially still Mosquera's.

 

[yaco]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

 

[yaco]

Think stage 18 will decide if Nibali can win the race - He's looking strong.

 

[WheelofGear]

Stage 18 has a very short but nice stage.

He needs to attack on Panidersattel and then get an even bigger gap on the descent. He has 30 secs before the final climb, I think he is going to be hard to catch.

 

[Netserk]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

 

[yaco]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

I am certain Gig's can explain the contradiction in his two posts - Unfortunately some posters think real life cycling is Fantasy cycling.

 

[Red Rick]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

I am certain Gig's can explain the contradiction in his two posts - Unfortunately some posters think real life cycling is Fantasy cycling.

Unfortunately some posters think that logic and common sense don't apply to real life cycling

 

[Mr.White]

Great win for legendary Lo Squalo! He's back in the game and looking really good for the overall. Never was a fan, but always had a big respect for this great champion!

 

[DFA123]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

I am certain Gig's can explain the contradiction in his two posts - Unfortunately some posters think real life cycling is Fantasy cycling.

Exactly this. Movistar sent their riders up the road to give them an extra option. They then chose not to use it for one of many potential factors; maybe Quintana didn't have the legs, maybe the headwind in the valley put them off, maybe the peloton was still to big for their liking on the Stelvio. It doesn't have to be cowardice or shameful - it was just a tactical decision based on how the race was going. The riders up the road was an option, not an obligation to do something. As frustrating as that may be for fans watching.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

I am certain Gig's can explain the contradiction in his two posts - Unfortunately some posters think real life cycling is Fantasy cycling.

No need to do that. Netserk summed it up perfectly

 

[Mr.White]

Re: Nibali discussion thread

Yeah not only a strong but also a smart ride by him. I was a bit disappointed that he didn't attack on the stelvio descent but anything else simply would have been stupid. Instead he waited, didn't gain minutes but gained extremely important seconds and got his stage win. Can't wait for his attacks in the third week.

But yet you criticise Quintano for riding defensively and not attacking on the Stelvio - You can't have it both ways.

How many teammates did Nibali have up ahead?

I am certain Gig's can explain the contradiction in his two posts - Unfortunately some posters think real life cycling is Fantasy cycling.

Exactly this. Movistar sent their riders up the road to give them an extra option. They then chose not to use it for one of many potential factors; maybe Quintana didn't have the legs, maybe the headwind in the valley put them off, maybe the peloton was still to big for their liking on the Stelvio. It doesn't have to be cowardice or shameful - it was just a tactical decision based on how the race was going. The riders up the road was an option, not an obligation to do something. As frustrating as that may be for fans watching.

3 riders for extra option?! Good luck with that. They will murder their team like that.
To me it was clear the plan was to attack on Stelvio. Even Anacona dropped from the front group to wait Quintana's attack. But that one never came. Why Quintana changed his mind, I don't know. His legs were not that bad as we saw.

 

[May0maniac]

According to weather forecast there was headwind between the Stelvio descent and the start of the Umbrail, so maybe the team changed plans. It wouldn't surprise me at all, just like the Reschenpass/Passo di Resia the Val Münstair is know for the nasty headwind that is often blowing there, if you're on your own the headwind can turn the rather easy Reschenpass into on hell of a climb.

 

[Netserk]

A headwind goes both ways. No gc riders behind would commit and chase in a headwind, only doms would commit. In a dom vs. dom fight, the Movistar ones would win big.