Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Froome has shown that he has a big capacity to recover quickly. I think it's going to be very tight.

It looks crucial that Nibali's team drives a huge pace in these next two days. They can't help him much on stage 20 anyway, so surely they have to give everything to make these rolling Cantabrian and Asturian stages really demanding. And the terrain is there to make them really tough like hilly classics. They should make sure that no-one can recover properly from today and yesterday and so that when anyone cracks on Angliru it's going to be a big one.

Contador 's presence won't help Froome at all because he will now try to attack on every stage and if he doesn't gain time himself, someone else will. One or two riders like the Orica riders further down GC will try and go with Contador. That is bad news for Froome as he won't get the easy rides before the Angliru that he wants. Froome is hoping for two easy days, can't see it happening after yesterday. Trek and Orica will sense opportunities at least for a stage win. Poels and Nieve will very important now for Froome.

 

[Tonton]

Re:

it will be interesting to ask Nibali if he thinks that is condition is better at la vuelta than in the giro , i think he is better in this gt , this will debunk the fact that everybody at la vuelta are more tired than at giro

I'd be curious too, but by looking at his performance and Zakarin's, I would say: equal. And deep inside, I wish that Pinot was there. Giro-Vuelta is the way to go, unless you bet all your chips on July and the big prize.

Dumoulin would have won this Vuelta. Too bad he didn't try. same with Quintana.

Vino-cenzo can win. It's not over.

 

[bambino]

Re: Re:

Froome has shown that he has a big capacity to recover quickly. I think it's going to be very tight.

It looks crucial that Nibali's team drives a huge pace in these next two days. They can't help him much on stage 20 anyway, so surely they have to give everything to make these rolling Cantabrian and Asturian stages really demanding. And the terrain is there to make them really tough like hilly classics. They should make sure that no-one can recover properly from today and yesterday and so that when anyone cracks on Angliru it's going to be a big one.

Contador 's presence won't help Froome at all because he will now try to attack on every stage and if he doesn't gain time himself, someone else will. One or two riders like the Orica riders further down GC will try and go with Contador. That is bad news for Froome as he won't get the easy rides before the Angliru that he wants. Froome is hoping for two easy days, can't see it happening after yesterday. Trek and Orica will sense opportunities at least for a stage win. Poels and Nieve will very important now for Froome.

Bahrain should make a fair deal of pushing as well in the next two stages. The only one who can stay in climbs at least for a while is Pellizzotti. They can save him and put the rest 6 to work their ass out. They are useless anyway in 119km Angliru stage.

 

[telencefalus]

at the start of lavuelta i was pessimistic of Nibali chance to win overall , the guy has almost 150000 km under his belt , and also he said that winning Lombardia was also his target, but i think that Nibali at this vuelta is better than giro so hope he keeps improving and he can win

 

[SafeBet]

Rewatched the stage. Nibali was very smart during the whole climb. As soon as he understood he couldn't follow Contador he started pacing himself, accelerating in the final 3 km when it was clear Froome was struggling.

He will find allies in the next few stages.

 

[Eclipse]

Re:

Nibali may not be at his very best, but he's still pretty good and what is important, he's pacing himself very well - today, yesterday in the TT - actually during pretty much all of the stages. That's his racing smarts (+ an extra lesson learnt at this year's Giro).

I really agree with this. He has raced this exceptionally well, from the early stage win to not going too deep on terrain that didn't suit him (particularly at that stage in the race) to managing his efforts well now. Only questionable racing decision was the flyer he tried on the 5% slopes a few days back that seemed to cost him seconds i the end. I'm cautiously optimistic that he's still got a bit in the tank to really unleash some powerful attacks in the closing days.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Oh well, Naranco 2013 all over again. That was pretty horrible, but I can't fault him for getting pooped on by the tractor.

 

[jsem94]

Tomorrow should still be an opportunity but his chances are slim to none now.

 

[Eclipse]

Well that was a disaster. We're done bar an ambush or a surprise crack

 

[Pricey_sky]

Saturday will suit him much better, it's still not over for him. He's really struggled on these short ramps.

 

[fantomas]

I wouldn't rule him out just yet. Tomorrow nothing will happen, probably, but on Saturday, anything is possible - especially with Contador there. But of course, his chances didn't increase today.

 

[SafeBet]

Would have been better not to lose time today (especially from a psychological point of view) but just doesn't have those extra watts for super short efforts.

Hope he doesn't fade and gives us a proper fight on saturday.

 

[Matteo.]

Re:

Well that was a disaster. We're done bar an ambush or a surprise crack

It wasn't a good finale for him...but when i saw him riding conservative while contador was attacking....not a good sign. He may paid yesterday effort

 

[Carols]

Not much hope left now.....

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Well 1.37 is too much, even on Angliru, unless Froome has a disaster or something.

 

[Gigs_98]

This is so frustrating. Just when you think he has finally cracked froome this bs happens. After this, Nibali has to make a long range attack or it's over and considering Sky's strength I could basically just write it's over. I'm so mad right now. This is one of these moments in cycling where I just don't want to accept the truth.

 

[Climbing]

Too bad, expected to lose a bit, not 20 secs.
Hopefully he doesn't give up with a descent coming tomorrow and all to play on the last stage.

 

[Red Rick]

Can't blame him for something that's not his quality.

They need to get rid of Froome on the Cobertoria. Lopez and Contador will surely join. If Froome is weak, he won't. There's likely gonna be wet descents to work with too.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Too bad, expected to lose a bit, not 20 secs.
Hopefully he doesn't give up with a descent coming tomorrow and all to play on the last stage.

Looking at tomorrows profile the descent really doesn't look like a place where you can gain time.

 

[Red Rick]

Vino one more letter?

 

[Rollthedice]

Fina alla fine. Raindance, a froome doll and a few needles is all that's needed.

 

[portugal11]

Re:

Fina alla fine. Raindance, a froome doll and a few needles is all that's needed.

And a mad contador

 

[Red Rick]

Re:

Fina alla fine. Raindance, a froome doll and a few needles is all that's needed.

Few drunk canibali with pitchforks, torches and clubs may also do the trick.

 

[Bardamu]

Contador, Nibali and Kelderman to surprise Sky with an early attack tomorrow!

 

[Billie]

Where's the flair gone?