Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[maxmartin]

He'll have plenty of opportunities to win the Vuelta in the future.
Such a hard WC comes once every 15 years, maybe more. And it will be raced in Italy too.

You might be right on this, it do seems worlds is his biggest target later this year. So Vuelta might just be the preparation race.


Before taking his leave, Nibali was pressed on whether he might consider altering his pre-established programme and lining up at the Tour de France if he succeeds in carrying the maglia rosa all the way to Brescia. With the world championships on home roads in Florence in September, however, Nibali was cold on the idea.

"I only want to think about finishing the Giro at the moment, but I've always said that I want to ride the Worlds and I want to be in great form there," he said. "I've done a lot of racing to prepare for the Giro and I've already spent a lot of days away from home between training camps and races. If I rode the Tour I'd have to train in the mountains straightaway to be at my best, but then I wouldn't be at my best for the Worlds."

 

[Carols]

"I only want to think about finishing the Giro at the moment, but I've always said that I want to ride the Worlds and I want to be in great form there," he said. "I've done a lot of racing to prepare for the Giro and I've already spent a lot of days away from home between training camps and races. If I rode the Tour I'd have to train in the mountains straightaway to be at my best, but then I wouldn't be at my best for the Worlds."

Good for him, don't get lured into attempting the Giro/Tour double. He will be exhausted after this race, will need a break, not trying le Tour! Get the Worlds instead, would be a nice addition to his palmares if he could pull it off!

 

[Carols]

Lo Squalo lurks

 

[movingtarget]

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.

A change of teams might be the answer. A new approach with new people. The guy has talent but like you said, he has too many bad days.

 

[Cyivel]

Martinelli says zero chance Nibali will ride the Tour, vuelta and worlds for him.

 

[SafeBet]

Martinelli says zero chance Nibali will ride the Tour, vuelta and worlds for him.

Good to hear.

 

[The Hitch]

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.

I don't think so. In 2010 he had loads of good days. Fw, liege, castilla Leone, romandie, 3 days in the vuelta. Since then he had 2 or 3 good days in the giro and 1 in the vuelta. Nothing since.

 

[LaFlorecita]

I wonder who else will ride la Vuelta to give him a bit of a challenge

 

[The Hitch]

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

It was bad. Maybe for a week stage race it would have been good but for a gt it was the worst field since lord knows when.

 

[whittashau]

I wonder who else will ride la Vuelta to give him a bit of a challenge

I think it'll be Basso's main goal now. Perhaps Quintana?

 

[Afrank]

I wonder who else will ride la Vuelta to give him a bit of a challenge

I would say maybe something like Henao, Quintana, Purito, Valverde, Basso, Contador (maybe), Uran, Rujano, Igor Anton, + whoever crashes out of the Tour early. Far too early to know fore sure at this point of course.

Edit: Maybe Betancur also, and Sanchez (forgot to include him).

 

[all_in]

I would say maybe something like Henao, Quintana, Purito, Valverde, Basso, Contador (maybe), Uran, Rujano, Igor Anton, + whoever crashes out of the Tour early. Far too early to know fore sure at this point of course.

Quintana will not start.Just TdF for him this year.
Henao,Purito,Valverde,Anton,Samy Sanchez,Basso,Uran,Rujano,Intxausti,Ulissi,Pozzovivo,Mollema,JTL.Purito,Valverde,Basso,Mollema and Anton will have TdF in their legs.Also probably Rujano.
Nibali will have a good challenge.I think Ulissi will surprise a lot of people with his performance.Theoretically he will be the much fresher because he will not ride TdF and also he didn't ride Giro.

 

[Afrank]

Do you have a source that says Quintana won't start? He was always scheduled to do the Tour this year but I think it was the hope of many on the forum that he would get to race the Vuelta as leader after supporting Valverde in the Tour.

Valverde and Purito will be more tired after the Tour that's true, but I could still see them trying the Vuelta. After all it is their home race, they have the best chance of doing well in it (better than they can do at the Tour), and they will need it to prepare for worlds.
Also JTL doesn't deserve to be included, he'll never challenge Nibali.

 

[iZnoGouD]

Valverde should just do Vuelta, he has more chance of winning.
And Rui Costa should be leader at Tour because he is clearly stronger

 

[Parrulo]

Valverde should just do Vuelta, he has more chance of winning.
And Rui Costa should be leader at Tour because he is clearly stronger

Don't you ever get tired of saying stupid stuff?

 

[Red Rick]

Finally some action

 

[Red Rick]

Lol @ the fan falling on his ***

 

[all_in]

Do you have a source that says Quintana won't start? He was always scheduled to do the Tour this year but I think it was the hope of many on the forum that he would get to race the Vuelta as leader after supporting Valverde in the Tour.

Valverde and Purito will be more tired after the Tour that's true, but I could still see them trying the Vuelta. After all it is their home race, they have the best chance of doing well in it (better than they can do at the Tour), and they will need it to prepare for worlds.
Also JTL doesn't deserve to be included, he'll never challenge Nibali.

After LBL Quintana said that he will go to Colombia to prepare for TdF where he will help Valverde.He's just 23 and already have a full season(Andalucia,Paris-Nice,Catalunya,Pais Vasco,FW,LBL+Dauphine before Tour).
Purito after Vuelta presentation said that the parcours is perfect for him and he will participate.Valverde doesn't race too much till now because he want to podium TdF and a reload of the Vuelta.

 

[Carols]

I wonder who else will ride la Vuelta to give him a bit of a challenge

Well if Alberto comes 2nd in TdF he might have a go to defend his title. That would be a race!

 

[Carols]

It was bad. Maybe for a week stage race it would have been good but for a gt it was the worst field since lord knows when.

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!

 

[Samson]

don't tell Kangert doesn't work for/help Nibali. He even gave his arm warmers away.

 

[whittashau]

Yeah, Kangert has done a great job. And perhaps the team doesn't want him to kill himself working for Nibali like Agnoli does because they want him near by in case of a mechanical or the like. I personally feel Astana has really stepped up and are doing a fantastic job. Also, it looks like Tiralongo might finally be coming right.

 

[Samson]

I know this is Nibali's thread but in Estonian media Kirsipuu said that Kangert could get free role in Vuelta.

 

[maxmartin]

Kangert is the best helper Nibali has had so far. Kangert himself could be a strong GT contender, TT and climb exceptionally well. If Nibali only using Vuelta as training ride, Kangert could very well be the GC leader for Astana.

 

[contessador]

It was bad. Maybe for a week stage race it would have been good but for a gt it was the worst field since lord knows when.

Yeah, I finally looked up the start list to have a look and I don't have much of a defense Very thin on competition.

Even so, I enjoyed that Vuelta; probably because Nibs won.