Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[bambino]

Decent 3rd day GT MTF.

Carpenters of trophy cabinet extesions seen on the move in Lugano.

 

[Carols]

Good day. He didn't have the strength to get rid of everyone. But he rode a Good race and the form is coming along nicely. He took a Big Step forward towards winning this Giro

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

if this is week 1 Squalo it's in the bag.

 

[Red Rick]

Kelderman got 10s or so in the end. Pretty much nothing. If he'd taken 30s + it would've been an oopsie moment, but Kelderman is also much more of a known quantity and serial bottler of GTs.

 

[Gigs_98]

Sure, he couldn't drop Fuglsang and Pozzovivo today, he didn't look incredibly great, but (and that's a big but) of the genuine contenders he is now first placed in the gc, none of those guys are likely to gain time on him in the TT so they actually have to drop him, and all of that after the stage that by many was seen as his biggest weakspot. I'm not gonna get ahead of myself, there is still a long way to go and as I said, it's not like he's back to 2014 level, but for the first time I actually think there is a very good chance he can win this.

 

[Rollthedice]

Kelderman got 10s or so in the end. Pretty much nothing. If he'd taken 30s + it would've been an oopsie moment, but Kelderman is also much more of a known quantity and serial bottler of GTs.

There will be many forcing on descents in the following weeks though I don't think Wilco is a real threat.

 

[Red Rick]

There will be many forcing on descents in the following weeks though I don't think Wilco is a real threat.

Yes. This is not a crazy outlier in terms of Kelderman's best climbing performances. His climbing is better in rain, wind rolling power climbs, especially unipuerto stages like today

 

[lenric]

Nibali has never been an explosive rider, so I'm not worried with what has been seen today. I'm optimistic.

 

[Rollthedice]

Sure, he couldn't drop Fuglsang and Pozzovivo today, he didn't look incredibly great, but (and that's a big but) of the genuine contenders he is now first placed in the gc, none of those guys are likely to gain time on him in the TT so they actually have to drop him, and all of that after the stage that by many was seen as his biggest weakspot. I'm not gonna get ahead of myself, there is still a long way to go and as I said, it's not like he's back to 2014 level, but for the first time I actually think there is a very good chance he can win this.

I'm not sure he thought about dropping anybody, probably also a heawind. The Slongo magik is programmed to kick in a bit later.

 

[skippo12]

Honestly...compared to his opponents that is the best 1st week NIbali I have seen since 2014.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

At least the Giro was open and exciting for three days. This is decided.

 

[Red Rick]

Sure, he couldn't drop Fuglsang and Pozzovivo today, he didn't look incredibly great, but (and that's a big but) of the genuine contenders he is now first placed in the gc, none of those guys are likely to gain time on him in the TT so they actually have to drop him, and all of that after the stage that by many was seen as his biggest weakspot. I'm not gonna get ahead of myself, there is still a long way to go and as I said, it's not like he's back to 2014 level, but for the first time I actually think there is a very good chance he can win this.

IMO he and Fuglsang were the 2 best of the bunch. Ofcourse it's Nibali weather, but I can not remember a time he was this sharp on the first GC stage of a GT. And the team looked good as well, whereas Fuglsang's teams in already shattered

 

[Climbing]

Would be more confident with Ciccone in proper form, you know to avoid outsiders getting free time in intermediate stages or strange situations.
But his team and especially Brambilla did pretty good.

 

[Forever The Best]

Yes, it was Nibali weather. So it may have flattered him a bit.
But the big worry is that, some outsiders can attack on intermediate stages, no team looks strong enough.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Hopefully Ciccone will reach his potential in the last week. COVID obviously put him at some disadvantage form wise and he dropped very early today.

 

[Climbing]

You could see he felt very good, moving back and forth in the group at some point looking at the faces of the other riders.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Trek Segafredo Team Radio today.

 

[bob.a.feet]

A couple of days ago people thought Nibali would lose the Giro in the TTs.

It looks like quite the opposite now.

 

[skippo12]

You could see he felt very good, moving back and forth in the group at some point looking at the faces of the other riders.

I nearly had a panic attack when he dropped to the back of the group with 8-9km to go.

 

[Ivan_Basso_77]

I don't want to get too excited just yet but it's hard. It was his type of weather, but also Fuglsang weather. If everything goes okay Vincenzo shouldn't lose time in the two TTs to any of the guys who finished together with him today. The attack at 3 kms to go was merely a test and yet the group was shattered.

I think Thomas would have been dropped even without his crash. He crashed much harder in 2017 before Blockhaus and shipped much less time than he did today.

Pleasant days seem very likely to come at the end of this Giro. Avanti for number 3, Vincenzo!

 

[SafeBet]

He needs to destroy Kruijswijk in one of the hilly stages, possibly with the help of Fuglsang. He's the main rival in the third week at this point.

For a moment today I thought he would try too hard and get dropped as it's often the case early in a GT. But he rode smartly.

 

[Red Rick]

He needs to destroy Kruijswijk in one of the hilly stages, possibly with the help of Fuglsang. He's the main rival in the third week at this point.

For a moment today I thought he would try too hard and get dropped as it's often the case early in a GT. But he rode smartly.

I honestly have Kruijswijk as worse at everything than Nibali, though he has put out some surprising ITTs a few times. But the main thing about Kruijswijk is he's such a liability going down there is no way Nibali can't destroy him in that alone.

 

[Rollthedice]

"From experience, I am surprised that a hard climb in the first week can do such damage. Riders need to get in the rhythm, if you are on the wrong day, you pay".

"Opponents aside, I look at my race and I am satisfied; I also say that you have to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. I repeat: we are only on the third day of the race. As I didn't get upset after the time trial, it is not the case to give in to easy enthusiasm now. It may be trivial to say, but the grand tours must be built day after day. Days like today's give me more serenity, but the concentration is very high: I care a lot about this Giro". (ANSA).

 

[Eclipse]

Days like today's give me more serenity

Zenibali will ascend to new heights

 

[Red Rick]

"From experience, I am surprised that a hard climb in the first week can do such damage. Riders need to get in the rhythm, if you are on the wrong day, you pay".

"Opponents aside, I look at my race and I am satisfied; I also say that you have to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. I repeat: we are only on the third day of the race. As I didn't get upset after the time trial, it is not the case to give in to easy enthusiasm now. It may be trivial to say, but the grand tours must be built day after day. Days like today's give me more serenity, but the concentration is very high: I care a lot about this Giro". (ANSA).

Veni

Vidi

Vinni