Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[contessador]

Easy to say in hindsight.....Anton looked awesome, Schlecks were there. But yes it was a weak field.

People will say this Giro had a weak field....LOL defending TdF winner, defending Giro winner. They left tail between legs, so final result will make field look weak. But it sure wasn't at the start!

Just so. This Giro has been tough. Maybe in hindsight it will not be remembered as a particularly hard edition, but that wouldn't be right, imo.

 

[Afrank]

Just so. This Giro has been tough. Maybe in hindsight it will not be remembered as a particularly hard edition, but that wouldn't be right, imo.

I agree, it's been a hard Giro with multiple 200+ km stages, harsh weather, and demanding classic-like parcours. If the mountain stages get cut more due to weather than it will detract from the difficulty of this year's edition as will the absence of Wiggins and Hesjedal (to a far lesser degree however), but even so it wouldn't be right to remember this year as an easy edition. I for one will remember it as a hard one.

 

[The Hitch]

Easy to say in hindsight.....Anton looked awesome, Schlecks were there. But yes it was a weak field.

People will say this Giro had a weak field....LOL defending TdF winner, defending Giro winner. They left tail between legs, so final result will make field look weak. But it sure wasn't at the start!

Im not saying the giro field was weak im saying the 2010 vuelta field was weak.
Anton crashed out.
Andy was there for about 1 week before he got thrown out by Riis for breaking curfew. During that time he got dropped on a hill which half the sprinters made it over.

One could also say that Menchov was there. Did **** all apart from podium the time trial and come top 10 on a hill stage, but he was there, I guess

What was left was a Purito who had done already a full seasons worth of racing before the vuelta began, Schleck the weaker post collarbone injury, Peter Velits, Eze, Tondo , Sastre post 2 other gts, Roche and 4 decent Caisse riders none of who was a real gt leader.

No way around it. A very weak field for gt standards.

 

[Jelantik]

I agree, it's been a hard Giro with multiple 200+ km stages, harsh weather, and demanding classic-like parcours. If the mountain stages get cut more due to weather than it will detract from the difficulty of this year's edition as will the absence of Wiggins and Hesjedal (to a far lesser degree however), but even so it wouldn't be right to remember this year as an easy edition. I for one will remember it as a hard one.

even compare to Giro 2011?

 

[Afrank]

even compare to Giro 2011?

Who tried to compare this year's edition to 2011? 2011 is obviously the hardest Giro we've had in a long time.

 

[Carols]

Im not saying the giro field was weak im saying the 2010 vuelta field was weak.
Anton crashed out.
Andy was there for about 1 week before he got thrown out by Riis for breaking curfew. During that time he got dropped on a hill which half the sprinters made it over.

One could also say that Menchov was there. Did **** all apart from podium the time trial and come top 10 on a hill stage, but he was there, I guess

What was left was a Purito who had done already a full seasons worth of racing before the vuelta began, Schleck the weaker post collarbone injury, Peter Velits, Eze, Tondo , Sastre post 2 other gts, Roche and 4 decent Caisse riders none of who was a real gt leader.

No way around it. A very weak field for gt standards.

Why the need to defend when my last sentence was "But yes it was a weak field'?

 

[webbie146]

Tomorrow is Nibali's day for sure First stage win coming up.

 

[Netserk]

I fear Evans might take it

60-40 in Nibali's favour.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I fear Evans might take it

60-40 in Nibali's favour.

lowering expectations I see

Nibali is the big favorite, Evans doesn't seem strong

 

[Cyivel]

Nibali by about 15s for me.

 

[hfer07]

Are you folks crazy?? Nibbs gonna wrap it up tomorrow on the MTT for sure. Evans won't get near him at all-Cuddles is barely waiting for Cenzo to have a bad day, so he can profit from it.

 

[Netserk]

lowering expectations I see

Nibali is the big favorite, Evans doesn't seem strong

Try to see Evans' history in MTTs. (okay not that fair. He has only ridden one while in form in his entire career.)

Nibali only got 2nd in '11 due to the flat part.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Try to see Evans' history in MTTs. (okay not that fair. He has only ridden one while in form in his entire career.)

Nibali only got 2nd in '11 due to the flat part.

He would've done better or worse without the flat??

 

[Netserk]

He would've done better or worse without the flat??

Worse without the flat part. He was far from the fastest up the mountain.

EDIT: Nibali had the best time at the time check after 5.3km

 

[The Hitch]

Yeah but in 2011 Nibali was not this good/ competition was weaker.

Relevant to the competition Nibali was barely better than most of the top 10 in the high mountains in 2011. Scarponi in his annus mirablis where he was on a wiggins half year peak.

This year he is clearly better than everyone.

 

[maxmartin]

I think he looks absolutely fine, I don't know why you guys keep saying he looks gaunt like an old man
Btw, this is post-race stage 16 press conference

 

[Carols]

I think he looks absolutely fine, I don't know why you guys keep saying he looks gaunt like an old man
Btw, this is post-race stage 16 press conference

He looks like a Winning man eater

 

[contessador]

He looks great there!!

It was after a bitterly cold, miserable day - thinking it was Saturday that he appeared gaunt and wasted. Anyways, it was only a temporary look.

 

[cineteq]

He looks like a Winning man eater

You're funny! He's looking like Il Padrone!

 

[Carols]

Boss Shark... Eating Wiggo?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9745371/A-great-white-shark-hunts-a-seal-off-the-coast-of-Cape-Town-South-Africa.html

 

[Ninouka]

Boss Shark... Eating Wiggo?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/9745371/A-great-white-shark-hunts-a-seal-off-the-coast-of-Cape-Town-South-Africa.html

The lovely Bradley Wiggins is NOT shark food.

 

[Carols]

The lovely Bradley Wiggins is NOT shark food.

Just having some fun

 

[Jazasz]

I think Nibali looks good, fittest I have ever seen him.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

Oh happy days!

 

[webvan]

So I guess this is Nibali's "wonder year" à la Bertie/2009 ?