Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Red Rick]

Not really sure if Nibali declined in TTs. When he is going for the GC in a GT Nibali is usually among the best. Just looking at the last 3 years Nibali was 3rd in the long TT in the Vuelta 2017. 6th and 13th in the Giro 2017. Only beaten by experts or guys like Froome, Thomas, Dumoulin, Kelderman. In the 2018 Tour he crashed out before the TT.
In the Giro 2019 he finished 3rd in the prologue. 4th in the long TT. 9th in the final TT. Overall gaining time on anybody not named Roglic.

Fuglsang had some really good results in smaller races but in GTs he has never shown his TT ability. I guess 2019 and 2020 Fuglsang isn´t comparable to his former self but I would still favor Nibali over him in a GT TT.

He's not among the specialist. But he's basically always among the best non specialists, and unlike most non specialists he doesn't seem to have shockers.

 

[Rollthedice]

He's not among the specialist. But he's basically always among the best non specialists, and unlike most non specialists he doesn't seem to have shockers.

Except...

 

[Red Rick]

Except...

Right inbetween the climbing shockers.

 

[skippo12]

He's not among the specialist. But he's basically always among the best non specialists, and unlike most non specialists he doesn't seem to have shockers.

Well...he actually was a specialist in his early years. I think 2009 is the first season where his climbing ability beats his TT skills.

 

[SafeBet]

Nibali isn't as good a TT'er as he once was. Here he'll obviously get the better moto in front of him, so that may make the difference.

Baiting in the shark pool will get you killed.

 

[Climbing]

Fuglsang has actually beaten him in multiple TT's the last couple of years (although Nibali hasn't really been good in any of those races). Nibali isn't as good a TT'er as he once was. Here he'll obviously get the better moto in front of him, so that may make the difference.

Pretty sure Nibali will gain on every GC contenders in TTs this Giro, prolly on par with Kelderman (Almeida is certainly better, but I doubt he will really contend for GC top spots).
Always been decent when on form in GCs, he was last year, he will be this year as well (already gained on everybody in the first one, not considering wind conditions).

 

[gregrowlerson]

This will not become an epic Giro until Nibali gives Fuglsang the bird.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

To clarify I also believe that there's a bigger chance for Nibali to finish inside the top 10 or even top 5 on the ITT, than Fuglsang reaching the top 10. Fuglsang could even finish outside the top 20. But If he manages to avoid accidents and/or cracking until then, I think he could possibly do one of the best ones of his career. With the level he's shown the last two seasons, I wouldn't be surprised, if he did.

But Nibali is surely the favourite amongst the two, because he always delivers in GTs, when he's going for the GC (if he avoids mechanicals uphill, that is).

(Am I safe from the shark pool now?)

 

[skippo12]

(Am I safe from the shark pool now?)

The blood is in the water. No way to back out now.

 

[bambino]

(Am I safe from the shark pool now?)

I didn't see you mentioning:

1. Bag
2. Trophy Cabinet
3. Great brother

So you probably still should focus on swimming very fast.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The blood is in the water. No way to back out now.

I expect to be served like this then

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6kGxUqf0vA&ab_channel=GrazieNanu

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I didn't see you mentioning:

1. Bag
2. Trophy Cabinet
3. Great brother

So you probably still should focus on swimming very fast.

1. After two Giro wins, he certainly has the bagging rights
2. The Trophy Cabinet isn't located inside a birdhouse, so there's no way for Fulgsang to enter
3. Nibali has a greater brother than Jelle Vanendert, Philippe Gilbert and Elisa Longo Borghini, so he has obviuously taught him well.

 

[SafeBet]

I expect to be served like this then

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6kGxUqf0vA&ab_channel=GrazieNanu

Lol Nibali is probably a better sprinter than actor.

 

[skippo12]

Are we sure that he knows that the guys in the Trek jerseys are his teammates. It´s probably smart not to follow the wheels of the Porte/Mollema team on a stage like todays but it is hilarious to watch him sitting behind Fuglsang or next to Sagan all day long.

 

[Rollthedice]

Are we sure that he knows that the guys in the Trek jerseys are his teammates. It´s probably smart not to follow the wheels of the Porte/Mollema team on a stage like todays but it is hilarious to watch him sitting behind Fuglsang or next to Sagan all day long.

Actually he was also marking Almeida and the DQS boys at some point. Apart from Mosca and maybe Bernard there's no reliable men for stages like today, good that it's over.

 

[SafeBet]

Yeah Trek is pretty hopeless for flat stages in this Giro.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah Trek is pretty hopeless for flat stages in this Giro.

I don't know this Vincenzo guy is a decent road captain

 

[Climbing]

But Mosca was with him in some critical moments tbh, and saved his skin in the first split, his words.

 

[Rollthedice]

But Mosca was with him in some critical moments tbh, and saved his skin in the first split, his words.

Never heard of Mosca before Nibali moved to Trek but he was a pleasent surprise in every race he did with Vincenzo. Good rouleur, can get over hills and long lasting battery.

 

[Red Rick]

"The Chronicles of Lo Squalo, the Bag, the Voodoo, and the Trophy Cabinet"

The random things my brain is doing

 

[Samu Cuenca]

"The Chronicles of Lo Squalo, the Bag, the Voodoo, and the Trophy Cabinet"

By Sea S. Lewis (or Shark Twain)

 

[gregrowlerson]

"The Chronicles of Lo Squalo, the Bag, the Voodoo, and the Trophy Cabinet"

The random things my brain is doing

I have started to put together a Nibali short story, though it doesn't have nearly as good a title as this.

It also probably has too many clinic references to post here

P.S. I suppose the voodoo and the witch can be comparable

 

[perico]

Fuglsang has actually beaten him in multiple TT's the last couple of years (although Nibali hasn't really been good in any of those races). Nibali isn't as good a TT'er as he once was. Here he'll obviously get the better moto in front of him, so that may make the difference.

So has Kruijswijk. I think Kruijswijk could put a little time into Vince in the TTs.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So has Kruijswijk. I think Kruijswijk could put a little time into Vince in the TTs.

Jaws theme suddenly heard in the background. You're gonna need a bigger boat.

 

[Gigs_98]

Every year people look at some TT results in prep races by Nibali, think he isn't actually that good of a TT'er and then get surprised when he finishes first of the non TT specialists. He finished top 10 in all three giro TT's last year (among those a 3rd and a 4th place), before that the last time he rode a gt TT when riding for gc was in the 2017 Vuelta, where he finished 3rd. In the 2017 Giro he only finished 13th in the stage 21 TT, but that was a day after a hard mountain stage, and the only gc guy beating him was Dumoulin, in the longer and earlier TT that giro he finished 6th. It goes on and on...

But yeah Nibali probably can't sleep at night cause he is so afraid of Kruijswijk's superior TT.

I guarantee you, Nibali is gonna finish stage 14 in the top 5 and once again everyone will be shocked about what they will call "the TT of Nibali's career"