Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Netserk]

Yeah, his TT level literally fell off a cliff from 2019 to 2020, in GTs ITTs he has been a constant finisher in the top 10 for a dozen of years with excursions into the top 5 in the second part of his career and then suddenly looks like he can't even crack the top 30, the funny thing about that is that there were people convinced that with Trek he would have improved because he was riding on "that terrible old iron of a Merida bike" [cit.].

Considering the level of yesterday TT with some big names out and others injured the Nibali from a couple of years ago could have even finished just behind Pogacar.

Anyway i don't understand way his fans want him to quit the GC, IMHO if he can climb at least like last fall he can finish in the top 10 a la Zubeldia whereas winning a stage from the break will be very hard considering the level of the climbing stage hunters and his total lack of explosiviness needed to try to drop break companions and saving for Tokyo is even more nonsensical because on Mikuni pass they are going to drop him like a stone, so considering that his past (winning) self is probably gone for good grabbing a top 10 on the GC is better than nothing.

It's the OG, he can attack before Mikuni. I don't think Bahrain Nibali would top-5, maybe top-10. Agreed wholeheartedly about Trek, Astana would have been much better.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

With a bit of luck next year the old man will leave the Trek days behind him.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

This article is pretty hilarious, but he says he has no chance to get into the break tomorrow... are we to believe he isn't even gonna try?

 

[Red Rick]

This article is pretty hilarious, but he says he has no chance to get into the break tomorrow... are we to believe he isn't even gonna try?

Gotta do something to feature in De Gendt tweets smh

 

[Ilmaestro99]

HE IS GOING FOR THE STAGE TODAY. MAYBE HE CAN TAKE THE YELLOW.

 

[Red Rick]

HE IS GOING FOR THE STAGE TODAY. MAYBE HE CAN TAKE THE YELLOW.

Peloton getting ready to embrace life in the Bag That Was Promised

 

[Ilmaestro99]

IN THE BREAKAWAY

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves now, that's an elite break and for all the talk of him going for the win those punchy climbs don't particularly suit him...

 

[gregrowlerson]

I doubt that this can lead to a serious gc challenge, but it's certainly interesting to watch.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

I doubt that this can lead to a serious gc challenge, but it's certainly interesting to watch.

Nah even if he gets yellow with 10 minutes on Ineos and JV there is no chance, lol. But it would be the funniest thing.

 

[Netserk]

I'm not even sure he will get to move past Van Aert in GC before Pogi overtakes both.

 

[HelloDolly]

Nibali just behind Pog
The dream is still alive

 

[Red Rick]

I'm not even sure he will get to move past Van Aert in GC before Pogi overtakes both.

390IQ just overtake them all at once

Nobody expects the Sicilian inquisition.

 

[skippo12]

Skuijns not working for Nibali suggests that the GC isn´t the target. Never felt like Trek was actually trying to push the pace for Nibali.

 

[Rollthedice]

Good ride. Active all along, climbed the garage ramp with the Vans while dropping Yates.

 

[Eclipse]

That was a fun day out in the sun.

Good Tokyo prep, legs look decent but maybe not quite enough in the tank yet.

 

[SafeBet]

Skuijns not working for Nibali suggests that the GC isn´t the target. Never felt like Trek was actually trying to push the pace for Nibali.

Yeah that was pretty obvious.
And it's fine really. Drop minutes tomorrow and save energy for the next break. Winning a stage is not impossible, especially if he gets better.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Honestly just seeing him up there in a group with Asgreen, VA, VdP and Yates (who dropped!) kind of made my day. Tomorrow he will ship time, either willingly or unwillingly, and maybe win a stage (although the level is crazy high in this Tour).

 

[Netserk]

Comparable to Aspin '16, right? He's on the right track.

 

[Mayomaniac]

"It's not my intention to ride for the gc, let's see how the legs respond tomorrow."

 

[Eclipse]

Sounds like a sit in and see approach tomorrow.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

It makes sense, I mean there's no drawback to trying and stay with the GC group tomorrow (definitely he won't be allowed in a break...) and eventually on Sunday. Considering that Asgreen, VdP and Mohoric are all presumably going to drop from GC, he may end up pretty high even if he ships time.

Having said this I'd rather see him forget about it entirely.

 

[Amazinmets87]

Other than Pog there are no GC threats ahead of him. Why not give it a go?

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Other than Pog there are no GC threats ahead of him. Why not give it a go?

At this point I'm not sure I wouldn't think of VA as a GC threat. If he finds the legs he had last year in the mountains, which are not super tough anyway, then with that final TT he has a chance to get a good result.

 

[Amazinmets87]

At this point I'm not sure I wouldn't think of VA as a GC threat. If he finds the legs he had last year in the mountains, which are not super tough anyway, then with that final TT he has a chance to get a good result.

Even if we assume he's a threat, that's still only two riders, one of whom is unproven.

Nibali knows his form better than we do, but if he has any legs I don't see the point in giving it a go.