Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[bambino]

Looked razor sharp on the climbs. Comfortably there with the guys who are on paper much punchier

And at least to my eyes, he seemed in relative ease, riding from saddle, hip hardly moving at all - while most of the others grinding out of saddle.

 

[Climbing]

Really good, but the team...

 

[Red Rick]

Shape seems on the rise. Team still MIA but it won't matter much over the weekend.
Prediction on gaps in the ITT?

Almeida to win ITT you heard it first. Top 10 on stage for Nibali best of other GC riders?

 

[Carols]

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!

 

[Eclipse]

Really good, but the team...

Saving energy don't you worry. Mythical 3rd week Ciccone is coming

Almeida to win ITT you heard it first. Top 10 on stage for Nibali best of other GC riders?

Can't see Almeida winning but he certainly still looks like he's got the legs to extend his lead. I think Kelderman might be best of the rest before flaming out later.

 

[Carols]

Really good, but the team...

What team? They Suck Ciccone better Step Up next week cause Brambillia is about overcooked.

 

[Rollthedice]

Almeida to win ITT you heard it first. Top 10 on stage for Nibali best of other GC riders?

The Bag says: + 15 sec. to Almeida, - 20s to Wilco, - 25s to Pelo, - 40s to Birdsong, - 90s to Pozzo.

 

[Brullnux]

Ciccone had coronavirus at a crucial point in preparation. These two weeks were basically him just riding himself into some form. Hopefully he is now there or thereabouts

 

[Red Rick]

The Bag says: + 15 sec. to Almeida, - 20s to Wilco, - 25s to Pelo, - 40s to Birdsong, - 90s to Pozzo.

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"

 

[topcat]

The Bag says: + 15 sec. to Almeida, - 20s to Wilco, - 25s to Pelo, - 40s to Birdsong, - 90s to Pozzo.

Almeida to extend his lead, get hyped, and blow up the next day.

 

[Laplaz]

My two cents:
+0s Almeida, Bilbao
-15s Kelderman
-30s Fuglsang
-50s Majka, Pozzovivo

 

[Rollthedice]

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?

 

[Red Rick]

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'.

 

[cobblesandstones]

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.

 

[italoc]

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?)

 

[SafeBet]

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.

Second overall or among the GC contenders?

 

[Red Rick]

I really worry for his team in the mountains. Who else is gonna drill it? Fuglsang can't either. He should be fine on Piancavallo, and maybe he can manage alone on Stelvio as well, but stage 17 is a death trap

 

[topcat]

I'm fairly certain Nibali was sandbagging in the sprint today. If he had gone all out, he could have beaten the cramp.

 

[italoc]

I really worry for his team in the mountains. Who else is gonna drill it? Fuglsang can't either. He should be fine on Piancavallo, and maybe he can manage alone on Stelvio as well, but stage 17 is a death trap

Bora might do something? And I feel Pozzo will finally unveil the NTT masterplan at some point.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

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?

 

[Red Rick]

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

 

[gregrowlerson]

Might find them on my grand quest looking for The Button, along with a Dutch World Cup Win probably

Dutch World Cup win? Like, in soccer?

We were doing so well Rick, keeping away from fantasy world's...

 

[Rollthedice]

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 Nibali ready for key weekend | Trek Race Shop

The home of Trek Factory Racing, and all the Trek programs. Whether its road, XC, enduro, downhill, freeride, cyclocross or triathlon, you’ll find a Trek athlete, racing for the win.

racing.trekbikes.com

 

[Red Rick]

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 Nibali ready for key weekend | Trek Race Shop

The home of Trek Factory Racing, and all the Trek programs. Whether its road, XC, enduro, downhill, freeride, cyclocross or triathlon, you’ll find a Trek athlete, racing for the win.

racing.trekbikes.com

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

 

[Forever The Best]

I expect him to lose some time ( but not that much ) to Almeida and Kelderman but gain some on everyone else.