Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[Red Rick]

The funny thing is, if two weeks ago you had told me Nibali is gonna enter the Alps in 5th place behind only Almeida, Kelderman, McNulty and Bilbao my reaction would have been, well easy win then. If Nibali's shape is there those guys should still really not be a problem (with the exception of Kelderman maybe, but even then it's just Kelderman), but at this point I fear the shape just isn't there.

Literally nothing makes sense anymore. The thing I sort of hang on to is that he hasn't had any good ITTs at Trek yet, but the sample size is really low. He's looked good and solid on all but one road stage.

 

[Rollthedice]

The funny thing is, if two weeks ago you had told me Nibali is gonna enter the Alps in 5th place behind only Almeida, Kelderman, McNulty and Bilbao my reaction would have been, well easy win then. If Nibali's shape is there those guys should still really not be a problem (with the exception of Kelderman maybe, but even then it's just Kelderman), but at this point I fear the shape just isn't there.

It's 2016 all over again. Sadly there will be no Scarponi waiting for him.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah, that's also how I see it. At least the weather is looking good at the start of the next week, so fingers crossed for the Stelvio stage. Wilco also isn't the greatest bike handler, so he could probably gain a lot of time on a descent.
If the race goes on as planned (fingers crossed) I can see Nibali, Birdsong and Pozzovivo attacking on stage 16.

Yes he might have allies on the attack.

It is known that Fuglsang likes his husbands.

Rachele might not be a fan.

 

[SafeBet]

Yes he might have allies on the attack.

It is known that Fuglsang likes his husbands.

Rachele might not be a fan.

Rachele is apparently very close to Fuglsang's wife though.

 

[Mayomaniac]

I hope this isn't the year Nibali suddenly turns into 2012 Basso...

 

[skippo12]

Sucks that Trek doesn´t have the strength to blow up the race in the mountains. Blowing up the race on one of the earlier climbs isn´t an option without a team. Can only hope that NTT or even Sunweb (trying to drop Almeida) will make the race hard.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Is this GG for GC?

 

[Red Rick]

Is this GG for GC?

It isn't over until the Shark drifts ashore

 

[Red Rick]

Some more.

Good: It wasn't like he did a Purito and lost 6 minutes. He was in the middle of GC field in ITT
Bad: I don't think Piancavallo suits Lo Squalo at all if they hit it hard from the beginning.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Guys... he heads into 3rd with no team and 2'33'' from pink, after TTing on Pozzo's level (losing time to Majka as well).

The lord Shark works in mysterious ways. Is he testing our faith? Are our sins so great?!

 

[Eclipse]

The funny thing is, if two weeks ago you had told me Nibali is gonna enter the Alps in 5th place behind only Almeida, Kelderman, McNulty and Bilbao my reaction would have been, well easy win then. If Nibali's shape is there those guys should still really not be a problem (with the exception of Kelderman maybe, but even then it's just Kelderman), but at this point I fear the shape just isn't there.

I just don't see a reason to really think the shape isn't there yet when he's looked good on everything bar the one finish that really didn't suit him.

This weekend is about as clear a double header as it gets with a hard discipline split on TT vs big Mountain coming at peak fatigue before the rest day. Nibali and Birdsong both said that tomorrow is a consideration for today and I'm not going to worry until he gets dropped 5k out tomorrow

 

[Rollthedice]

It isn't over until the Shark drifts ashore

Just saw the GC, needs to lose about 2 minutes more before Agnello.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The Giro isn't a sprint, you gotta hold back,
otherwise it'll never be in the bag
Save your powers for the final set
and you'll need a new shelve in the Trophy Cabinet

 

[Sestriere]

I'm holding to the straw that Vincenzo had only bad TTs with Trek so far and that he has been holding back a wee bit today.

Moving closer to the panic button

 

[SafeBet]

I just don't see a reason to really think the shape isn't there yet when he's looked good on everything bar the one finish that really didn't suit him.

This weekend is about as clear a double header as it gets with a hard discipline split on TT vs big Mountain coming at peak fatigue before the rest day. Nibali and Birdsong both said that tomorrow is a consideration for today

I wouldn't worry if he improved in the final part of the time trial, but he was just terrible. This doesn't sound like someone trying to measure his effort.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Let's brush today's result aside. Tomorrow on Piancavallo he will reveal the Truth to us, as Moses did on the Sinai.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

I wouldn't worry if he improved in the final part of the time trial, but he was just terrible. This doesn't sound like someone trying to measure his effort.

To be fair he improved a bit in the very last part with the slight downhill, if that counts at all... but yeah otherwise he always looked like he couldn't quite put down enough power.

Plus he looked cooked after crossing the line, more so than Wilco or Almeida. Doesn't bode well for tomorrow... which is not even a climb all that suited to him.

 

[Netserk]

PANIC!

He really needs to go all out on Stelvio, early enough for it to become mano a mano, but Sunweb seems too good.

 

[Red Rick]

I wouldn't worry if he improved in the final part of the time trial, but he was just terrible. This doesn't sound like someone trying to measure his effort.

Well I am waiting for his explanation cause if there's Trek gearing fuckups or craziness that's another wee little straw to hang on to.

Another straw is honestly Val Thorens super long climb overperformance.

 

[Red Rick]

PANIC!

He really needs to go all out on Stelvio, early enough for it to become mano a mano, but Sunweb seems too good.

Stelvio is still a few stages away. A lot about that stages strat depends on the stages before, but on a monster climb like the Stelvio I don't see the relative strength of Sunweb as prohibitive. Agnello is the real place for desperation moves IMO.

 

[skippo12]

Let's brush today's result aside. Tomorrow on Piancavallo he will reveal the Truth to us, as Moses did on the Sinai.

Don´t think he should attack tommorrow. Climb does not suit him and the stage isn´t difficult enough to make a big difference. Should just follow wheels and limit his loses. We will probably have to wait for the Stelvio.

 

[Red Rick]

Don´t think he should attack tommorrow. Climb does not suit him and the stage isn´t difficult enough to make a big difference. Should just follow wheels and limit his loses. We will probably have to wait for the Stelvio.

It is fairly straightforward. Attack if you have legs and/or you sense weakness. Don't attack if you don't. I don't rate Kelderman as that great on Piancavallo either.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Don´t think he should attack tommorrow. Climb does not suit him and the stage isn´t difficult enough to make a big difference. Should just follow wheels and limit his loses. We will probably have to wait for the Stelvio.

Yeah I was thinking the same, I'm not saying he should attack but at least look good on the bike to reassure his followers.

 

[SafeBet]

Why wouldn't Piancavallo suit him? I mean in this field who would be a better climber than him if he's in shape? Pozzovivo?

 

[wheresmybrakes]

It's 2016 all over again. Sadly there will be no Scarponi waiting for him.

Scarponi will be with him high up in the mountains to give him a slight invisible push along the way.