Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Carols]

Nope, that's in the U23. A friend of mine, who is 19, improves his PR's every month or so. As soon as you become pro in the elite levels, you acclimatise to that and gain experience, progressing even more.

From then on(older than 25-26) it's just marginal progress though, except if you're unrightfully pushed into a domestique role, or become pro at a somewhat later age.

Well that sure doesn't explain Froome's Zero to Hero at age 27.....

 

[The Hitch]

When Contador is in the leader's jersey he usually follows moves mostly and also does some attacks.

It's not like Contador constantly attacks when he is the leader.

Vuelta '12: Only one mountain stage left and probably couldn't attack, but also didn't try.

Giro '11: Followed and cooperated with Rujano on Grossglockner. Followed and attacked Nibali on Zonc. Attacked on Giau, Fedaia and Gardeccia. Attacked on Macugnaga. Followed on Finestre/Sestriere.

Tour '10: Followed Andy on Tourmalet. Made a half-attack.

Tour '09: Followed the Schlecks (and made some half-attacks) towards Le Grand-Bornand. Followed on Ventoux.

Grossglockner definately counts as an attack. Rujano was like 6 down on gc at the time.

also in the other examples you give Contador got the jersey very late so he had no chances to attack while in the jersey. In 09 he was virtual lead when he attacked on verbier as he had been for a week cos the oficial leader of the race was nocentini 6 seconds in front. In 07 chicken had the jersey. In 2010 he was behind Andy because of cobblesgate and only got the jersey with the tourmalet mtf to go where Andy attacked quite far from the bottom.

 

[taiwan]

Indeed, he has progress incrementally and nicely since Giro 2010.

If he manages this win that is a Vuelta and a Giro in the win column, plus a podium at Le Tour. Not bad for a so called 2nd rate rider

+1 you simply cannot dismiss a rider who has podiums in all 3 GTs. Froome's palmares is threadbare by comparison. He is objectively one of the best GC men around and that's why he's winning the Giro

 

[Pentacycle]

Well that sure doesn't explain Froome's Zero to Hero at age 27.....

You're right, but let's not adress this subject any further, for the sake of this thread.

 

[del1962]

Anyone got a good caption for this photo?

 

[Afrank]

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=3484&page=135

 

[Carols]

Anyone got a good caption for this photo?

Damn he looks like a wasted old man....this Giro is brutal!!!

 

[del1962]

Damn he looks like a wasted old man....this Giro is brutal!!!

That was T-A stage 6

 

[Carols]

That was T-A stage 6

Damn!!! He looks totaled exhausted. As I recall that was a wet, cold day also, yes?

 

[whittashau]

He is looking a lot older nowadays and right now his face looks really gaunt in certain pictures. I hope his form and health holds up

 

[Carols]

He is looking a lot older nowadays and right now his face looks really gaunt in certain pictures. I hope his form and health holds up

Me also, still a week to go!!!! It's not over until the finish line!

 

[Netserk]

I hope Nibali will aim for the Giro year after year.

Would be awesome if he could get 3 wins

 

[whittashau]

What the hell. Stop with the Jinxing. The guy has less than a 2 minute lead. You guys are terrible.

 

[SafeBet]

If he manages this win that is a Vuelta and a Giro in the win column, plus a podium at Le Tour. Not bad for a so called 2nd rate rider

He's just lucky. Weak fields

 

[Miburo]

He's just lucky. Weak fields

You can't deny that if Anton didn't crush in the vuelta...

 

[maltiv]

He's just lucky. Weak fields

I wouldn't say that the field is week. Actually there were about 30 riders in this race who are better climbers than Nibali (just see Ryo's infamous list), but all of them have either crashed out, are afraid of rain, can't handle the cold or have become sick

So at this point, without all the luck he has, he should've been 31st overall, at best!

 

[Netserk]

You can't deny that if Anton didn't crush in the vuelta...

...He'd lost a lot in the ITT.

 

[Parrulo]

...He'd lost a lot in the ITT.

Also if there is anything Anton has proved ever since that vuelta, is that he is very inconsistent. Just look at the giro 2011 where he was third overall a couple seconds behind Nibali after the zoncolan stage and was nowhere the next day ending the giro out of the top 15(!!!!!)

 

[maxmartin]

Also if there is anything Anton has proved ever since that vuelta, is that he is very inconsistent. Just look at the giro 2011 where he was third overall a couple seconds behind Nibali after the zoncolan stage and was nowhere the next day ending the giro out of the top 15(!!!!!)

yep it is so stupid and pointless for some people keep bringing up "what if Anton did not crash question".

 

[contessador]

Unfortunately for Anton, I doubt very much that he would have been leading the Vuelta after the individual time trial. And the 2010 climbing field was not that bad, really. I mean both Schlecks were there for the start and I recall hoping for Frank Schleck to somehow win. But Andy was there to party and did not help his bro. Nibs was the strongest, best fighter.

But this Giro is not over. I won't relax until my man gets the trophy! Too much can still happen in the race... crashes, illness...every day is a roll of the dice.

 

[cineteq]

Also if there is anything Anton has proved ever since that vuelta, is that he is very inconsistent. Just look at the giro 2011 where he was third overall a couple seconds behind Nibali after the zoncolan stage and was nowhere the next day ending the giro out of the top 15(!!!!!)

End of discussion.

 

[Miburo]

Also if there is anything Anton has proved ever since that vuelta, is that he is very inconsistent. Just look at the giro 2011 where he was third overall a couple seconds behind Nibali after the zoncolan stage and was nowhere the next day ending the giro out of the top 15(!!!!!)

After that crash Anton was never the same anymore though. Ok zoncolan win but that's it.

2010 was also by far his best year.

 

[Pentacycle]

Unfortunately for Anton, I doubt very much that he would have been leading the Vuelta after the individual time trial. And the 2010 climbing field was not that bad, really. I mean both Schlecks were there for the start and I recall hoping for Frank Schleck to somehow win. But Andy was there to party and did not help his bro. Nibs was the strongest, best fighter.

But this Giro is not over. I won't relax until my man gets the trophy! Too much can still happen in the race... crashes, illness...every day is a roll of the dice.

Come on, even Roche managed to finish in the top 10 and to be among the best climbers. This must be a joke.

 

[contessador]

Come on, even Roche managed to finish in the top 10 and to be among the best climbers. This must be a joke.

It was not that bad. Not saying it was that great either. It had promise I remember thinking the first week is all.

 

[Parrulo]

After that crash Anton was never the same anymore though. Ok zoncolan win but that's it.

2010 was also by far his best year.

He only had some cuts that needed stitches and a cracked elbow/collarbone, not even a total fracture. That crash had no influence on Anton's performance since then.

Anton simply isn't consistent, on his day he is one of the best climbers in the world, simply fantastic, the problem is that for every great day he has 3 average days and 1 terrible during a whole GT.