Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[IndianCyclist]

By the way Hitch, Nibali disagrees with you.

All hail the new CAESAR

 

[Netserk]

 

[maxmartin]

It seems Tour 14 is on the table. And he suffered dearly after double crash.

"Team manager Giuseppe Martinelli, who had already guided five other riders to grand-tour wins, decided with Nibali that it would be best if they stayed at home this year to focus on the Giro instead of the Tour.

Martinelli’s idea was that with a Giro win under his belt, Nibali would race the 2014 Tour with greater confidence.

“I wanted to come here this year and win with a big team at my back,” Nibali said. “We haven’t spoken about the Tour de France, or a Giro-Tour double. It is not in my plans or thoughts. I want to race it again in the future, one race at a time. I need more time to prepare for the longer climbs that require a different rhythm.”

“The most difficult moment was when I crashed twice in the wet stage to Pescara. I thought my Giro was at risk. Nobody really saw it, but after my second crash in Pescara, I suffered. It was difficult to get back on my bike.”

http://velonews.competitor.com/2013...umph-in-a-tough-cold-2013-giro-ditalia_288717

 

[jens_attacks]

the 3rd first page in three weeks? not a bad number

chapeau nibali!

 

[saneguy]

Nibs was too strong all thru this Giro. Looked comfortable all through. Never troubled at all. What a Giro for him. Simply walked over the rest of the contendors...

 

[The Hitch]

By half I was referring to the fact that only half of the gc km in this race were actually raced. Nothing to do with the 2010 vuelta which was a full gt raced.

And I was obviously joking. If the full race had taken place squalos margin would only have been bigger.

Evans though does only have half a podium, because in a full race he almost certainly would have been off it.

 

[The Hitch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflrLwKVb5Y&feature=youtu.be

Nibali meets papa shark and mama shark in amongst fans.

 

[Carols]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflrLwKVb5Y&feature=youtu.be

Nibali meets papa shark and mama shark in amongst fans.

Totally awesome, thanks for sharing

For the moment, Nibali will set that bike aside, having made a promise to his new wife, Rachele. Mrs. Nibali is waiting for The Shark to hang some curtains at their home in Lugano. The Giro celebrations, plans for the future, and everyone and everything else can wait.

LOL take the man to the beach Rachele!!!

 

[Parrulo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NflrLwKVb5Y&feature=youtu.be

Nibali meets papa shark and mama shark in amongst fans.

AWESOME!!!! It seems like the Italians trully love Nibali, during the last k's of the tre cime climb all you could hear were "Vincenzo" shouts!

Question for the Italians on the forum. What do the Italians think of Nibali and what do they expect of him?

 

[SafeBet]

AWESOME!!!! It seems like the Italians trully love Nibali, during the last k's of the tre cime climb all you could hear were "Vincenzo" shouts!

Question for the Italians on the forum. What do the Italians think of Nibali and what do they expect of him?

Well it's not easy to speak on behalf of the whole population. What I feel is that the general opinion about him has truly changed throughout this Giro.
He was perceived as a strong and brave rider before this race, but maybe not exactly a champion, not someone who could represent italian cycling for years to come. Now it's different. Three consecutive front pages on Gazzetta speak for themselves. Even the average Joe can tell you who he is.

Not a legend like Pantani was. Probably still not a national hero. But approaching that level if everything keeps going this way. Sure I haven't seen such enthusiasm for an italian rider since Ivan Basso pre-ban.

 

[Miburo]

Well it's not easy to speak on behalf of the whole population. What I feel is that the general opinion about him has truly changed throughout this Giro.
He was perceived as a strong and brave rider before this race, but maybe not exactly a champion, not someone who could represent italian cycling for years to come. Now it's different. Three consecutive front pages on Gazzetta speak for themselves. Even the average Joe can tell you who he is.

Not a legend like Pantani was. Probably still not a national hero. But approaching that level if everything keeps going this way. Sure I haven't seen such enthusiasm for an italian rider since Ivan Basso pre-ban.

Just a question but if Basso didn't have that ban would he have attained the legendary status Pantani had or at least be close to it?

I see it as unlikely cause Pantani was just well one of a kind. Attack armstrong for example from 100 km, Basso would never do that but if Basso would have won the tour that year (2006)...His popularity must have went crazy then.

Nibali needs to try and do the double, will never succeed imo but just for trying it the italians will love him even more (i think)

He'll be eventually (if not already) more popular than Basso.

 

[Parrulo]

Nibali needs to try and do the double, will never succeed imo but just for trying it the italians will love him even more (i think)

He'll be eventually (if not already) more popular than Basso.

NO, the italians will love him more if he wins the worlds in Italy later this year.

 

[SafeBet]

Just a question but if Basso didn't have that ban would he have attained the legendary status Pantani had or at least be close to it?

Not a chance.
Nobody will ever get close to that.

 

[Miburo]

NO, the italians will love him more if he wins the worlds in Italy later this year.

I'm not talking about the double this year. Worlds is way more important.

But in 2015 or 2016 orso.

Then sky might be gone

Not a chance.
Nobody will ever get close to that.

Not even close? Even if he won the tour that year? Ok not the same status...

 

[cineteq]

Not a chance.
Nobody will ever get close to that.

Sorry to give you the bad news: records are meant to be broken.

 

[Arnout]

Sorry to give you the bad news: records are meant to be broken.

It's not about records, that's the thing.

 

[cineteq]

It's not about records, that's the thing.

You need to read between the lines, that's the thing.

 

[SafeBet]

Sorry to give you the bad news: records are meant to be broken.

This is not a record. It's not a fact.
It's something much deeper.

Not even close? Even if he won the tour that year? Ok not the same status...

Pantani alone could challenge soccer as the national sport if he kept winning that way.
People would stop working just to follow his races.
When he got busted in Madonna di Campiglio I remember streets being unusually quiet. People mourned for days as if a relative had died. Most of those fans literally stopped following cycling because of that, and they haven't come back.

You really have no idea how big of a social phenomenon Pantani was.

 

[Eshnar]

This is not a record. It's not a fact.
It's something much deeper.



Pantani alone could challenge soccer as the national sport if he kept winning that way.
People would stop working just to follow his races.
When he got busted in Madonna di Campiglio I remember streets being unusually quiet. People mourned for days as if a relative had died. Most of those fans literally stopped following cycling because of that, and they haven't come back.

You really have no idea how big of a social phenomenon Pantani was.

quoted for truth

 

[whittashau]

AWESOME!!!! It seems like the Italians trully love Nibali, during the last k's of the tre cime climb all you could hear were "Vincenzo" shouts!

Question for the Italians on the forum. What do the Italians think of Nibali and what do they expect of him?

But Ryo said....

 

[RHRH19861986]

But Ryo said....

Don´t like my avatar choice for you?

 

[Miburo]

Pantani alone could challenge soccer as the national sport if he kept winning that way.

Was he at that point even more popular than guys like Maldini and del piero?

I always thought he was by far the most popular cyclist in Italy but challenge football in Italy is quite a feat

 

[number0]

AWESOME!!!! It seems like the Italians trully love Nibali, during the last k's of the tre cime climb all you could hear were "Vincenzo" shouts!

Question for the Italians on the forum. What do the Italians think of Nibali and what do they expect of him?

italians expect that he was,he is,he will be clearly..or almost clearly..if will not be it, in Italy the cycling sport will dead .
after Pantani,Basso,Rebellin,Di Luca..it would be too difficult to endure another doping case.

 

[SafeBet]

Was he at that point even more popular than guys like Maldini and del piero?

I always thought he was by far the most popular cyclist in Italy but challenge football in Italy is quite a feat

He was not at that level of popularity yet but I'm sure he could reach it.

 

[jens_attacks]

can somone from italy tell me how were the tv audiences for il giro this year?

found this somewhere with most watched cycling races

TOP 15 Televisione Italiana

01 – DOM – 16/07/2000 – TOUR – Briancon - Courchevel 6.046.000 (54,15%) 1H RAI3
02 – DOM – 05/06/1994 – GIRO – Merano – Aprica 5.847.000 (50,90%) 3H ITA1
03 – SAB – 06/06/1998 – GIRO – Mendrisio – Lugano 5.835.000 (58,70%) 2H RAI3
04 – SAB – 29/05/2004 – GIRO – Bormio – Presolana 5.262.000 (47,76%) 2H RAI3
05 – SAB – 11/06/1994 – GIRO – Les Deux Alpes – Sestriere 5.102.000 (49,70%) 2H ITA1
06 – DOM – 28/05/1995 – GIRO – Val Senales – Lenzerheide 4.793.000 (28,62%) 2H ITA1
07 – DOM – 05/06/1994 – GIRO – Merano – Aprica 4.617.000 (30,13%) 2H ITA1 *
08 – GIO – 04/06/1998 – GIRO – Cavalese – Monte Campione 4.557.000 (51,03%) 1,5H RAI3
09 – SAB – 02/06/2001 – GIRO – Cavalese – Arco 4.526.000 (47,15%) 1,5H RAI3
10 – DOM – 28/05/2000 – GIRO – Selva Val Gardena – Bormio 4.497.000 (37,06%) 1H RAI 3
11 – DOM – 25/08/1991 – Mondiale – Stoccarda 4.465.000 (52,22%) 2H RAI2
12 – SAB – 28/05/2005 – GIRO – Savigliano – Sestriere 4.429.000 2H RAI3
13 – VEN – 10/10/1987 – Record Ora Moser 4.396.000 (37,82%) 1H RAI1
14 – VEN – 10/06/1994 – GIRO – Cuneo – Les Deux Alpes 4.369.000 (44,70%) 2H ITA1
15 – SAB – 08/06/1996 – GIRO – Cavalese – Aprica 4.356.000 33,59%) 2H ITA1


i really doubt that cycling in italy would ever reach again those heights.
courchevel-pantani is just brutal