Teams & Riders Vincenzo Nibali discussion thread

[HelloDolly]

Ciro Scognamiglio on the Shark : " Dear listeners it is sport not a fairy tale "

 

[Gigs_98]

Ciro Scognamiglio on the Shark : " Dear listeners it is sport not a fairy tale "

So what? I'm gonna keep living in this fairy tale as long as it goes on.

 

[greyclouds]

Ciro Scognamiglio on the Shark : " Dear listeners it is sport not a fairy tale "

It’s a sports fairy tale!

 

[Red Rick]

So what? I'm gonna keep living in this fairy tale as long as it goes on.

Let me dream until I can dream no more

 

[Ricco']

Let's go! One last bite!

 

[groogster]

One thing is for sure already, every single contender is having nightmares with him atm! I'm sure that all of them are being haunted in their sleep because... the Shark from Messina is hungry and is coming to get you

 

[hfer07]

regardless of the final GC, I know Nibs will give us the fans a last one great spectacle

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

No joke, I actually dreamed about this stage tonight. Twice. The first time he smashed the competition, the second one he got dropped immediately.

I am worried for my mental sanity guys.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Got a bad feeling about this...

 

[TourOfSardinia]

hovering at theback

 

[Eclipse]

A very respectable ride, if he had even a little more in the tank he probably hangs on to Almeida and they may even have got back on.

Just needs to find a place to win a stage now.

 

[Netserk]

At least it means that it wasn't a win he threw away on Etna. Now he is free to go crazy.

 

[skippo12]

Moved up to 5th today. Gets the best of the rest award. Top 4 within one minute. Nibali 3:40 behind.

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

Got a bad feeling about this...

So, not so bad. Lost 42" from Carapaz, Hindley & Landa and 28" from Almeida, but moved up to 5th on GC. He'll have to fight to keep that spot against Bilbao and unlucky Pozzo though.

Of course 5th on GC despite being a good result won't feel as sweet as a stage win at this point, and unfortunately there seems to be no chance of making it to the podium. Landismo is a fickle mistress and Almeida may at some point be unable to undrop himself, but without crashes and/or abandons (which I don't wish to see) the top four looks set in stone.

The question for me is whether the Turin stage was a never to be reached again peak or if maybe he just suffered a bit more after the rest day, similarly to Etna. If it's the latter, then maybe he can still fight for a stage.

 

[Climbing]

Top 5 and a stage would be amazing, but not easy, a bit too near to let him go.

 

[Brullnux]

He won't be allowed into a break but he's so far back now that he wouldn't be chased, say, on the Fedaia should he take 1 or 2 minutes before the favourites go for it. Tomorrow might be a bit early, unless he decides to go on the first climb and the descent. Friday another possibility.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

In my opinion, there is little threat from the riders behind him. I don't see Bilbao or Pozzovivo being any stronger, and then there is huge gap to buchman, hirt, valverde.

Problem is also he is 3 minutes behind the top 4.

Let's see what happens

 

[DoYouEvenRideBruh]

In my opinion, there is little threat from the riders behind him. I don't see Bilbao or Pozzovivo being any stronger, and then there is huge gap to buchman, hirt, valverde.

Problem is also he is 3 minutes behind the top 4.

Let's see what happens

Other than for the ugly crash today Pozzo has actually been just as good of a climber, if not a better one. So if he recovers he might endanger his position. I agree that Bilbao should not be a threat, especially considering how he's working for Landa.

He's sitting in a kind of limbo where it's almost impossible to go up GC but also it is unlikely to go down. An awkward situation for someone who really wants to win a final stage and doesn't care too much for GC.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Boys; time gap and position (and even to some extent form) are very similar.

Fedaia shall be Nibali's Angliru.

FEDAIAAAA!!!!

 

[skippo12]

Other than for the ugly crash today Pozzo has actually been just as good of a climber, if not a better one. So if he recovers he might endanger his position. I agree that Bilbao should not be a threat, especially considering how he's working for Landa.

He's sitting in a kind of limbo where it's almost impossible to go up GC but also it is unlikely to go down. An awkward situation for someone who really wants to win a final stage and doesn't care too much for GC.

Interesting question. What is more valuable for Nibali. Another top 5 GC result or a stage win? I think now that he is in a good GC position he cares a lot about it and won´t risk everything just to get a stage win.

 

[skippo12]

Boys; time gap and position (and even to some extent form) are very similar.

Fedaia shall be Nibali's Angliru.

FEDAIAAAA!!!!

Even better. He is getting in prime 2016 position. Just needs to move up one spot and lose another minute.

 

[topcat]

In a better position than 2016. While it's not in the bag, it's still not impossible. Interesting that he knows how to pace himself at the end of his career. He won't bow out quietly.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Interesting question. What is more valuable for Nibali. Another top 5 GC result or a stage win? I think now that he is in a good GC position he cares a lot about it and won´t risk everything just to get a stage win.

A top GC result is undervalued on this forum compared to a stage win imo. A stage win would be good, but not at the expense of a top 5 overall (which is especially good at his age), if he's now able to hold onto that.

 

[Eclipse]

A top GC result is undervalued on this forum compared to a stage win imo. A stage win would be good, but not at the expense of a top 5 overall (which is especially good at his age), if he's now able to hold onto that.

I don't think it's undervalued so much as it not being "a moment", and it feels like if this is to be his last Giro it would be really nice for him to have one big send off moment at home.

 

[Mayomaniac]

In a better position than 2016. While it's not in the bag, it's still not impossible. Interesting that he knows how to pace himself at the end of his career. He won't bow out quietly.

You'd think that Basso would have given young Nibali a few lessions about how to pace yourself, but nope...