Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Rollthedice]

He was one Mortiyolo descent attack from winning the damn Giro, and now he's getting better rain breaks?

He tends to crash on wet descents (Rio, Angliru stage, Giro 2013, Firenze) so I think Mortirolo was a wise decision. Looking back I think he lost the Giro on Lago Serru, a combination of finding himself in the wrong place with the wrong companion on a not-so-good day.

 

[christopherrowe]

Also from Gazzetta, Slongo says they'll work on increasing workloads, greater care of explosiveness and maximum strength that, physiologically, are lost a little bit. Work in the gym will also increase throughout the year.

Nibali didn't use disc brakes on his road bike not because he didn't like them, but because of weight issues. In this sense Trek found high performance solutions that convinced him.

"With the way I ride my bike maybe it becomes a bit more 'dangerous' - smiles Nibali - in the sense that the disc brake takes you even more to the limit. But, especially in the wet, it can help you a lot. "

I think that's a pretty bike.

 

[Red Rick]

He tends to crash on wet descents (Rio, Angliru stage, Giro 2013, Firenze) so I think Mortirolo was a wise decision. Looking back I think he lost the Giro on Lago Serru, a combination of finding himself in the wrong place with the wrong companion on a not-so-good day.

Both Lago Serru and Courmayeur were tactically bad. And before the Carapazbestgetoveritcrew gets onto this, yeah he was the best those 2 days, but throwing away 50s to Majka who got rofldropped every other mountain stage means it was incredibly tactical. Courmayeur was just adding insult to injury and I don't know what Nibali was doing there.

Nibali was clearly on his worst day on Lago Serru, but he severely overestimated Roglic, and tbh the first signs of that were already there on the stage where Dumoulin crashed and Nibali lost additional time due to Pucchio.

 

[Rollthedice]

Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Nibali's first altitude camp has begun on Teide together with Gianluca Brambilla, Giulio Ciccone, Bauke Mollema and bro Antonio. He will be there until the 10th. Then he will ride Algarve 19-23 Feb, Faun-Ardeche Classic (29 Feb) and Royal Bernard Drome Classic ( March 1st).

The usual approach to Giro will follow with Larciano, Tirreno-Adriatico, Sanremo then Tour of the Alps and LBL. For Tokyo he will ride Tour of Austria (June 27 - 3rd of July) and Tour of Poland (5-11 July). Nibali will leave for Japan on the 17th, 8 days before the road race (he will not do any recon before). As for the WCRR, he will most likely do the Vuelta.

 

[RedheadDane]

together with Gianluca Brambilla, Giulio Ciccone, Bauke Mollema and bro Antonio

I... hope Mollema knows how to speak Italian.

 

[Sestriere]

Interesting that he'll ride both, Austria and Poland. I guess it makes sense as he has struggled in the past to find top shape after long periods of just training. They'll sure be excited to have a rider of his caliber in Austria..

 

[Gigs_98]

Interesting that he'll ride both, Austria and Poland. I guess it makes sense as he has struggled in the past to find top shape after long periods of just training. They'll sure be excited to have a rider of his caliber in Austria..

Can confirm

 

[Gigs_98]

He was one Mortiyolo descent attack from winning the damn Giro, and now he's getting better rain breaks?

Why exactly did you have to remind me of this again?

 

[fauniera]

Looks like a good program. I had been hoping that he would ride the Österreich Rundfahrt. It's a 2.Pro race this year and the most logical preparation for Tokyo for riders not doing the Tour. Should be a very good field this year.

 

[RedheadDane]

Interesting that he'll ride both, Austria and Poland. I guess it makes sense as he has struggled in the past to find top shape after long periods of just training. They'll sure be excited to have a rider of his caliber in Austria..

Looks like a good program. I had been hoping that he would ride the Österreich Rundfahrt. It's a 2.Pro race this year and the most logical preparation for Tokyo for riders not doing the Tour. Should be a very good field this year.

Aren't those the same race?

 

[Red Rick]

Why exactly did you have to remind me of this again?

Because I am a glutton for punishment

 

[Rollthedice]

Slongo has an interesting lengthy interview in Tuttobiciweb. In short everything is good at Trek (Guercilena, the staff, the equipment, Vincenzo is enthusiastic for a new adventure, positive work on the TT bike).

Asked if he thinks Nibali will still be competitive at his age, Slongo says:

"Yes, I have no doubt. The level he showed at last year's Giro is achievable and with a little luck and an even stronger team... Over the years, I don't see the problem in his physique, but in his head. Maybe in a year and a half or two, Vincenzo will ask me to ride freer, like Valverde does. At some point in his career he'll have to go back to the way he was at the beginning, a "crazy horse". There will be a second or third Nibali who will always be competitive, but he won't have the worry of the last 10-11 years in which he never made it off the podium in Grand Tours. For the spirit that he has, he now shows definitely less than the 35 years that he is."

 

[Rollthedice]

I... hope Mollema knows how to speak Italian.

On twitter he says he's working on it, plus this picture.