I wonder if these two get along well, what the levels of respect between them is.
Who can forget the Simon Yates interview before the 2019 Giro when he said 'if I was my rivals, I would be sh**ing myself'
And then Vincenzo comment after crossing the line on stage 1 ITT to San Luca climb; 'maybe now I should go to the toilet'
In 2019 vincenzo came out on top, as in 2020. 2021 Yates was the stronger. This year, different goals in the end, but a lot of time together on the road in Italy.
Anyway, I was wondering if there was some point chasing going on with Astana here in Spain, but looks like these .1 races were getting some important speed efforts in the legs before San Sebastian
I think they are indifferent to each other. Anyway the proverbial top shape Yates in preparation races is back, it might have been a small race but he looked already ready for Vuelta, which of course is some three weeks away.
Nibali is fine for these first races, I expect him to be lively in San Sebastian but with no hopes whatsoever to see him involved in the final battles.
From a recent interview in La Stampa:
"No nostalgia to see the stages (Tour de France) from home, I still feel like a rider and I don't think about the past."
Starting the last two and a half months of your career? "A little bit, yes. In Astana we are all in shock because of the doping blizzard that hit Lopez, I hope for him that everything will be resolved. In the meantime, let's look ahead, I will race the Vuelta for fun."
Could a duel with Pogacar in Lombardy be the ultimate gift for the fans? " Of course it could, that would be great."