Whatever happens now, Nibali is a tour great...

[rhubroma]

It would be stupid to deny that Froome was a great champion in 2013. On the other hand, he did lose Tirreno Adriatico to Nibali that year even though few thought of Nibali as being Froome's equal. Certainly he would have been left floundering in Froome's wake had he ridden the Tour instead of the Giro.

But Nibali's look of utter remorselessness as he crossed the line in Arenberg is as important to the history of cycling as Froome's imperious 2013. What his face said at that moment is that no amount of marginal gains will ever get you to this point. It says you can't bottle this and store it in the Directeur Sportif's fridge. That all happened out on the road because we made it happen, reacting opportunistically to events in a creative way. Marginal gains is part of the history of cycling but Nibali's look as he crossed finish drew a line under the era forever. It says that no matter what the media think, all those other races like Tirreno aren't just Froome's warm up act. It also says that whether a rider can challenge for such titles on paper or not often doesn't matter. Froome is a great Tour champion, but he doesn't win stages like Sheffield or Arenberg because he can't.

Hence aesthetics over scientific management. Like it.

Well now we can take pleasure in that other spectacle on the road, and the titanic battle that will ensue in the Alpes and Pyrenees.

 

[Lord Stanley]

I love Nibali so much and his performance in the first week is a performance of a champion. Magnificent ride on the cobbles.

Bobby Orr revolutionized ice-hockey, I don't even know whether there has ever been anyone like him in cycling, definitely not Nibali though.

 

[xanadu]

Chapeau to Nibbles and his exploits on the cobbles, but one swallow does not a summer make. We know of Nibali`'s bike handling skills, we also know that dimunitive Spanish mountain pixies do not like being bounced around on the pave. Anyone recall the exploits of Joseba Beloki in past Paris-Robaix races; no, coz there werent any, but the Spaniard still podiumed in Paris
Nibali showed the grit, endurance and charachter of a true champion. But it was one days exploits and Paris is still a long way off. In fact the entire Astana team showeed their mettle and if we are to heap praise on Nibali then Jacob Fugslang deserves a mention in dispatches also.
The TDF is a battle of attrition and Froome is but the first of the big names to fall by the wayside, others will succumb in the mountains others will be brought low by the weather, saddle sores, tummy bugs and road rash.
Between the cobbles and Paris there are many hurdles and Nibbles will be challenged all the way. As fo taking the jersey all the way to Paris, its a big ask i doubt his team are that good.

 

[murali]

i dont think tht someone can become a Tour great by winning a Tour. It has to be more than one win. Wiggins and Froome are not Tour greats by this definition.

He has to show that he can win more than once.

He can become a good GT rider.

 

[Rollthedice]

Wouldn't it be a bit early to call him a Tour great in the first Tour he could actually win? Let's wait and see if he can contend in another 2, then we can think about calling him one of the greats.

This. The title of the thread should be different if we need another thread about Nibali. Let the man win Le Tour "tranquillo" and then we can talk about it. No doubt he is "grande" as an all-rounder, GC winner and all, no doubt that the Arenberg stage will go down in history but he is yet to win this tour. I hope he does.

 

[Red Rick]

Define "Tour great".

If Froome and Evans are Tour greats, I don't necessarily want him to be a Tour great, I just want him to continue to be the badass mofo he is. He's got cojones, he's got heart

 

[dduff442]

Last week we were living in "the Froome era".

Ain't that no moah.

 

[jens_attacks]

luv nibali but let's not get that far

 

[kenk09]

Christ almighty.

 

[Warhawk]

This thread is a little overly dramatic, but he has had one of the most impressive first weeks a GC guy has ever had, and big props to him for that.

 

[xanadu]

i dont think tht someone can become a Tour great by winning a Tour. It has to be more than one win. Wiggins and Froome are not Tour greats by this definition.

He has to show that he can win more than once.

He can become a good GT rider.

Charley Gaul Marco Pantani and Stephen Roche all knocked up solo wins but are not touted as great champions, i agree that multiple wins are needed

 

[icefire]

Yes, Nibali is Tour great just a step below JF Bernard

 

[movingtarget]

Nibali is a stage winner in the Tour that is all. You don't become a Tour great until you build a record. Nibali has two stage wins and a podium. Yes his performance was excellent on the cobbles but I would say if Nibali is already a Tour great what do you call a guy who was GC runner up and won the following year by over 4 minutes ?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Nibali is a stage winner in the Tour that is all. You don't become a Tour great until you build a record. Nibali has two stage wins and a podium. Yes his performance was excellent on the cobbles but I would say if Nibali is already a Tour great what do you call a guy who was GC runner up and won the following year by over 4 minutes ?

A tour legend.....

 

[Inquitus]

Yes, Nibali is Tour great just a step below JF Bernard

Best answer yet!

 

[Angliru]

He's great because like Froome he's changed the sport.

In what way has Froome changed the sport? What has he done that hasn't been done in the sport's long history? Nibali's ride was epic but first of all, he didn't win the stage and secondly it's only near the end of the first week and he hasn't won the Tour, yet. There are 2 weeks left and we haven't even made it to the mountains yet. You are a bit premature with this. The ride itself by Nibali will be remembered as great but one great ride in the Tour does not make one a "Tour great", IMO.

 

[Jspear]

Nibali is a stage winner in the Tour that is all. You don't become a Tour great until you build a record. Nibali has two stage wins and a podium. Yes his performance was excellent on the cobbles but I would say if Nibali is already a Tour great what do you call a guy who was GC runner up and won the following year by over 4 minutes ?

This....definitely going overboard calling him a tour great and all. He is one of the better stage racers from the last 5 years, but he is not a Tour great.

 

[bambino]

Indeed not even close to Tour great, winning a stage and riding well in cobbles will not qualify. In case he will manage to take it to Paris tough, at least you could start call him GT great, as he would join the small group of Anquetil, Contador, Gimondi, Hinault and Merckx, that have won all the 3 GT's.

 

[Carols]

Nibali has had a Great first week and 2 great stages; one a win and one a hosing of the other GC guys. As much as I love Lo Squalo he is Not a Tour great yet. Let's see if he wins it and joins the 5 guys that have won all 3 GTs. Then we can discuss, because that is a jaw dropping palmares.

 

[pigoonse]

Define "Tour great".

If Froome and Evans are Tour greats, I don't necessarily want him to be a Tour great, I just want him to continue to be the badass mofo he is. He's got cojones, he's got heart

Pure poetry. Exactly

 

[Angliru]

This thread is a little overly dramatic, but he has had one of the most impressive first weeks a GC guy has ever had, and big props to him for that.

"Ever" is a very long time and the Tour history is long as well. It's been impressive but let's ramp this all down a bit.