Carols said:Thoughts......
Nibali defended marvelously. His team looked weak and he was basically glued on Alberto's wheel for the final 12km all by himself. There was a yellow helmet peeking through every once in a while back there but Nibali will need more team support than this very soon.
I've bred and raced thoroughbreds. There are a couple of saying that apply. Nibili was 'blowing hard' at the finish, he was used up. Alberto 'wouldn't blow out a match'; not taking a deep breath. Also in the slow mo replay it showed Nibs shake his head after the stage as if to say 'damn that man made my life hell I'm glad that is over'.
On the bigger climbs Nibs will be dropped it appears. He will hang on and fight desperately. The question is: is his cushion big enough? He needs to be in total defense mode, 2:30 is a Big spread!
BTW it is agony watching your 2 favs go mano a mano!!
2:30 is not a big advantage with 6 serious mountain stages coming up.
Contador has it in the bag, if he can stay on his bike.