Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

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I hope he knows what he's doing. Last time he started well was in 2016, won Oman, most likely would have been in the mix for winning T-A without that cancelation of the MTF then he went backwards and was all over the place in the Giro.

If Sanremo and Liege are real targets, then starting with better form than usual must be a good sign. Let's see how he does in the TT.
 
I think he should just be decent in Tirreno, MSR is always a yolo race for him.

Just before Sanremo, 2018.

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Via Gazzetta, Nibali after today’s TT:

"I went regular from beginning to end. I got through the hard part well. Maybe I got a little bothered by the wind at the end because I caught a few gusts."

"The speed was high, in the last four kilometers I was almost always going over 60 per hour and the final average was over 50. My personal feelings were not bad, as was the data."

Actually, his average speed was far lower but Slongo says: “We got off to a better start than in the last few seasons because we didn't lose days of work in winter.”

Next races will be on Saturday and Sunday, Faun-Ardèche Classic and Royal Bernard Drome Classic.
 
Nibali should be very good at Tirreno. He is lean and has time to kick in the diesel, his longue duree stamina for the Giro. Although he did just get beaten by a kid on the bike for 3 years, which doesn't say as much about the Shark as the kid.
 
He was searching his pockets for food when he slowed down so could have been a hunger knock. Anyway, he is not in a shape that could have produced a result. Same as in Algarve he seems to be enjoying attacks regardless if he has the legs or not. Today he went again with a teammate (Bernard) forcing a bit on a descent and getting clear on the flat with Barguil and Quintana following with 37 km. to go. The he proceeded to drop everybody, found himself alone without being able to cut the gap to Cavagna and chased by a bunch of good climbers. Next race tomorrow.
 
"I had very good feelings today (Sunday), unlike yesterday (Saturday) when I was completely dead in the last twenty kilometers. This time, the conditions were better and I told my teammates that I was going to try to win, " he briefly summed up to DirectVelo after the finish. "In the last ten kilometers, there were three of us and I knew that Simon Clarke was very fast in the sprint. But hey, I'm very happy with this podium .

"I feel better and better over the days and I hope to be in good condition for Tirreno. The level was good here and for my part, I was not bad, I worked well". The former winner of the three Grand Tours is not particularly worried when asked about the coronavirus epidemic which currently affects many countries, and particularly its Italian lands. "It's a problem, of course, but I don't think about it. I don't plan to change my racing program and give up Tirreno for Paris-Nice, no. I will go to Tirreno and then to Milan-San Remo, is planned like that "

https://www.directvelo.com/actualite/81015/vincenzo-nibali-de-mieux-en-mieux
 
Impressive start to the season for Nibali. Usually he starts pretty slow, but he is Nibali. He can strike if he a has good day not being in top shape also. It was a very hard race today and he looked very strong. Attacked multiple times and followed other attacks with ease.
 
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"I had very good feelings today (Sunday), unlike yesterday (Saturday) when I was completely dead in the last twenty kilometers. This time, the conditions were better and I told my teammates that I was going to try to win, " he briefly summed up to DirectVelo after the finish. "In the last ten kilometers, there were three of us and I knew that Simon Clarke was very fast in the sprint. But hey, I'm very happy with this podium .

"I feel better and better over the days and I hope to be in good condition for Tirreno. The level was good here and for my part, I was not bad, I worked well". The former winner of the three Grand Tours is not particularly worried when asked about the coronavirus epidemic which currently affects many countries, and particularly its Italian lands. "It's a problem, of course, but I don't think about it. I don't plan to change my racing program and give up Tirreno for Paris-Nice, no. I will go to Tirreno and then to Milan-San Remo, is planned like that "

https://www.directvelo.com/actualite/81015/vincenzo-nibali-de-mieux-en-mieux
So no Strade Bianche? I know he's never performed in that race but who knows what he could in this shape.