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Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

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His form is coming along Just Fine! No issues staying with the leaders on the climbs, even the ones that don't suit him. He can't sprint, we all know that :).
The next 2 days he needs to Step Up and show all those youngsters Lo Squalo is swimming Strong and his bite Bloodies the waters!
After all there is a Bag, a Wardrobe and a Trophy Cabinet that need filling for 2020!
 
I am having a bad feeling even though my logical brain is trying to tell me 'lmao Almeida tried attacking Nibs and his gap required electron microscopy to see"

You need to have a bag feeling.

I have no idea how Almeida will perform, there is no reference over this kind of distance. In Algarve he was two seconds faster than a Nibali in Slogo prep mode over 20km. The kid might be good or not so good, now he's flying, tomorrow?
 
I have no idea how Almeida will perform, there is no reference over this kind of distance. In Algarve he was two seconds faster than a Nibali in Slogo prep mode over 20km. The kid might be good or not so good, now he's flying, tomorrow?
Feel like we don't even know how much he's flying in the first place. Kid dropped 3 minutes in U23 worlds ITT last year (less in 2018) but I feel nothing makes sense about his performance pattern which in turn vexes my noggin'.
 
Feel like we don't even know how much he's flying in the first place. Kid dropped 3 minutes in U23 worlds ITT last year (less in 2018) but I feel nothing makes sense about his performance pattern which in turn vexes my noggin'.

He crashed in the ITT at Harrogate. Was 4th at first intermediate... I think he will be 2nd tomorrow and there's nothing weird about that.
 
All in with the enthusiasm after today's excellent performance on the climbs, but what makes people think that he can gain time on Kelderman?

I was checking head-to-head results in ITTs. They rarely raced each other when both competing for the overall classification, but he lost time for example both in Utrecht in the Tour 2015 (first stage) and in the Vuelta 2017 (more meaningful comparison, with Kelderman 2nd and Nibali 3rd after Froome). Basically same time in Palermo this year, of course.

I'd be happy if he stays within a 20secs range, and beats everyone else.

(Almeida - I mean I love the kid, but can he really be a factor in the third week?)
 
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By Pozzovivo's own statement, he thinks he might lose 60s to Almeida. Maybe too optimistic? For sure Nibali isn't going to lose as much as on stage 1. I think him, Wilco and Almeida will be within a 30s range, with Almeida coming out on top (sorry, no stage win there - Dennis, Ganna & Campa will see to that).

Depending on the gaps we may or may not see some Piancavallo action. NTT masterplan = Pozzo getting seconds back there?

Lo Squalo's sprinting fins are lost forever to the bottom of the sea, I fear. Wasn't there an entire TV show about recovering them... One Piece, or something?
 
By Pozzovivo's own statement, he thinks he might lose 60s to Almeida. Maybe too optimistic? For sure Nibali isn't going to lose as much as on stage 1. I think him, Wilco and Almeida will be within a 30s range, with Almeida coming out on top (sorry, no stage win there - Dennis, Ganna & Campa will see to that).

Depending on the gaps we may or may not see some Piancavallo action. NTT masterplan = Pozzo getting seconds back there?

Lo Squalo's sprinting fins are lost forever to the bottom of the sea, I fear. Wasn't there an entire TV show about recovering them... One Piece, or something?
Might find them on my grand quest looking for The Button, along with a Dutch World Cup Win probably
 
Vincenzo is pouring gasoline on the hype fire, from Trek website:

The time trial in Palermo was complicated because of the well-known reason of wind, but tomorrow’s time trial in Valdobbiadene will be very different. Difficult to say now if I can gain on Almeida’s pink jersey or defend myself. So far, he is defending very well, he has a solid team supporting him, and we know how much Deceuninck is working well on the time trial races. I expect him to do a good race tomorrow and the same for Kelderman, who I see the most brilliant of all in the group.
We have an important weekend ahead of us, and the balance should be altered after Sunday. A time trial like tomorrow’s requires to do it to the maximum of your strength. I could lose something compared to the specialists, but the next day, with a hard climb like Piancavallo, the intense effort could also remain in someone’s legs.


More here:
 
Vincenzo is pouring gasoline on the hype fire, from Trek website:

The time trial in Palermo was complicated because of the well-known reason of wind, but tomorrow’s time trial in Valdobbiadene will be very different. Difficult to say now if I can gain on Almeida’s pink jersey or defend myself. So far, he is defending very well, he has a solid team supporting him, and we know how much Deceuninck is working well on the time trial races. I expect him to do a good race tomorrow and the same for Kelderman, who I see the most brilliant of all in the group.
We have an important weekend ahead of us, and the balance should be altered after Sunday. A time trial like tomorrow’s requires to do it to the maximum of your strength. I could lose something compared to the specialists, but the next day, with a hard climb like Piancavallo, the intense effort could also remain in someone’s legs.


More here:
tl;dr "I'm gonna be so bad but it's still in the bag"
 
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