Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Red Rick]

They're showing some Velon numbers on RAI.
Last 3 km of the ITT:

Thomas 3'32"
Nibali 3'36"
Yates 3'45"

Looks like Il Giro is back in the bag boys

 

[Gigs_98]

They're showing some Velon numbers on RAI.
Last 3 km of the ITT:

Thomas 3'32"
Nibali 3'36"
Yates 3'45"

Worth mentioning Nibali is always a slow starter in TT's so this doesn't mean we can just multiply this with five and say the result is what would have happened without wind. It still shows Nibali most likely would have gained at least a bit of time in Yates under normal circumstances and definitely doesn't lose more than half a minute to him.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Looks like Il Giro is back in the bag boys

All we need is for Vincenzo to win, and then when asked, "Were you confident?", he answers with sunglasses coolness:

"I always knew that I had this Giro in the bag."

 

[roundabout]

I am a bit puzzled though. Nibali was 46 seconds behind Thomas at time check 2, 1'06'' behind at the finish, so he was over 5 s/km slower than Thomas between km9 and km12?

Edit: and over 4 s/km slower than Yates?

 

[Red Rick]

I am a bit puzzled though. Nibali was 46 seconds behind Thomas at time check 2, 1'06'' behind at the finish, so he was over 5 s/km slower than Thomas between km9 and km12?

Nibali stopped to put the Giro back in his bag

Spoiler

Probably mostly wind direction.

 

[SafeBet]

I am a bit puzzled though. Nibali was 46 seconds behind Thomas at time check 2, 1'06'' behind at the finish, so he was over 5 s/km slower than Thomas between km9 and km12?

Velon numbers could be wrong.
Another possible explanation is that the late starters actually had a headwind for most of the time trial and a tailwind in the final 2 km (the opposite of the early starters). This would explain a huge time loss in the flat part between km 9 and km 13 and a time gain between km 13 and 15.

 

[Rollthedice]

Worth mentioning Nibali is always a slow starter in TT's so this doesn't mean we can just multiply this with five and say the result is what would have happened without wind. It still shows Nibali most likely would have gained at least a bit of time in Yates under normal circumstances and definitely doesn't lose more than half a minute to him.

The diesel didn't have the time to kick in. In prosecco land he'll lose less than 1 minute to Thomas and put time in all the others.

 

[tobydawq]

Nibali stopped to put the Giro back in his bag

Spoiler

Probably mostly wind direction.

I hope you find your button before I have to endure three weeks of bag jokes...

 

[roundabout]

Velon numbers could be wrong.
Another possible explanation is that the late starters actually had a headwind for most of the time trial and a tailwind in the final 2 km (the opposite of the early starters). This would explain a huge time loss in the flat part between km 9 and km 13 and a time gain between km 13 and 15.

The change in wind direction could be it, but a tailwind/headwind in the final 2 km would be a crosswind on the downhill run and even there Nibali lost something like 30 seconds to Thomas in 8 km.

It's very likely (almost 100% certain) that Nibali had worse conditions, but it seems that Velon comparison takes the section where Nibali had the benefit of the weather for 2/3 of the time.

 

[Gigs_98]

I hope you find your button before I have to endure three weeks of bag jokes...

The joke is useless anyway as long as we don't find the bag first

 

[Red Rick]

The joke is useless anyway as long as we don't find the bag first

Same location as button probably. Button, bag and all my lost socks all in one place.

 

[Forever The Best]

Nibali is a good ITTer even when off form, so let's wait till Etna. But yes, he looked strong, matching Kelderman and putting time into Kruiswijk and Fuglsang.

 

[skippo12]

Finishing in front of all other GC guys in a murito sprint

 

[Red Rick]

Nibali is a good ITTer even when off form, so let's wait till Etna. But yes, he looked strong, matching Kelderman and putting time into Kruiswijk and Fuglsang.

Nah this stopped being the case after 2014 or so.

 

[Forever The Best]

Looked good indeed.

 

[Rollthedice]

Finishing in front of all other GC guys in a murito sprint

Very good and slightly unexpected even for the "in the bag" team.

 

[Red Rick]

Tbh, I don't think Nibali has ever struggled on non Murito uphill sprints where drag and positioning are still the most important.

 

[SafeBet]

I don't even know why they're riding the rest of the Giro. Just give him the win and book a tour to his upgraded trophy cabinet.

 

[Rollthedice]

Tbh, I don't think Nibali has ever struggled on non Murito uphill sprints where drag and positioning are still the most important.

Up until a few weeks ago he struggled everywhere the pace went through the roof uphill.

 

[Red Rick]

Up until a few weeks ago he struggled everywhere the pace went through the roof uphill.

Yeah and that worry was over directly after the worlds.

 

[Carols]

Squalo has form I had to pause for a phone call and just finished the stage. At 2km he looked totally within himself and to finish 8th was a plus. He is unblocked! I think he won't lose more than a few seconds tomorrow. Dare I hope for a really good ride?

 

[Pippo_San]

Just give the man a bag to put the Giro in.

 

[Eclipse]

Rivals will have been shaken today.

G apparently requested extra large shades for tomorrow to hide the fear in his eyes.

 

[Red Rick]

Rivals will have been shaken today.

G apparently requested extra large shades for tomorrow to hide the fear in his eyes.

Now you're tempting me to make LOTR style quotes all Giro.

 

[Eclipse]

Now you're tempting me to make LOTR style quotes all Giro.

All that is gold does not glitter.
Not all who finish 19th at T-A are lost
The old that is strong does not wither,
Good legs are not reached by the frost.

On Etna a fire shall be woken,
a light on the Stelvio shall spring,
renewed shall be hopes once forgotten,
the crownless again shall be king