Not sure where Lombardy sits on the BR spectrum, we had 5 pages of build up and 2 on the race. Not good stats for a monument
Rugby world cup, big weekend in the Premiership, probably took their toll.
I only caught the last 5km.
“Road racing was over and the UCI had banned my riding positions on the track, so it was like ‘Jings, crivvens, help ma Boab, what do I do now? I know, I’ll go away and be depressed for 10 years’.”
Its been said before, but Nibali isn't that amazing a descender, he just has a lot of balls.
You don't win a monument on a descent without being a great descender, that was a great bit of descending today.
I know some on here have in the past claimed Nibali isn't a great descender but surely today put that one to bed - even Magnus "have I told you what a good descender I was" Backstedt said he rated him.
Not sure where Lombardy sits on the BR spectrum, we had 5 pages of build up and 2 on the race. Not good stats for a monument
A lot of forumites seemed to retire after le tour. At this time of the year I'm not staying inside watching when it's beautiful weather for riding (and it was foggy all morning).
the team have been in good spirits in all the build up races and seem to have found a new level of camaraderie - Geniez did a good role in getting Pinot to where he needed to be - just as they said they would - when you look at Astans and katushas budgets - and (archaic) mindset - this is a very good ride - and a triumph for the new age of cycling
The thing that disappointed, but didn't surpise me today was that the chasing group gifted Nibali 20s on the flat by messing around. Without that things would have been a lot closer, and there were a number of riders who had good reason to ride including Moreno, Pinot and Valverde.
Its been said before, but Nibali isn't that amazing a descender, he just has a lot of balls.
You don't win a monument on a descent without being a great descender, that was a great bit of descending today.
I know some on here have in the past claimed Nibali isn't a great descender but surely today put that one to bed - even Magnus "have I told you what a good descender I was" Backstedt said he rated him.
He also won a stage of the tour this year almost entirely from descending, but much of the focus on that day was about whether he saw Froome's mechanical
The thing that disappointed, but didn't surpise me today was that the chasing group gifted Nibali 20s on the flat by messing around. Without that things would have been a lot closer, and there were a number of riders who had good reason to ride including Moreno, Pinot and Valverde.
Yes I agree they could have committed a bit more couldn't they. Valverde in particular annoys me - has he got worse as he has got older because he seems unwilling to stick his face in the wind ever - I know his palmares is impressive but with his sprint and the number of times he makes the final selection (just about every race) he isn't converting as many as he might. Just occasionally I'd like to see him get involved in the race a bit more not just more often than not the sprint for places.
Apart from that where does Gilbert go from here - been a while since he bagged a big win.
It is fitting that in the year that has seen corruption being exposed in FIFA and wide-spread drug-taking in T&F, the dodgiest team in Pro Cycling win the last monument of the 2015.
And nearly sandwiched himself between a wall and a moto
Service di corsa moto. Motorbikes in the way have been a big feature recently. Maybe some driver training needed?
Nah, this one was all nibs. Went into a gap that was already closing
"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
And nearly sandwiched himself between a wall and a moto
Service di corsa moto. Motorbikes in the way have been a big feature recently. Maybe some driver training needed?
Nah, this one was all nibs. Went into a gap that was already closing
Nibali shouldn't need to choose which side of the motorbike to go. It is not an obstacle course.
Maybe, but I'd rather be wrong and alive than right and dead. If you see the moto moving right to let you by, don't try and go up the right of it
"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
Valverde gives another master class in wheel sucking his way to failure.
Valverde: 675 UCI points and world No.1 at 35 and you call that 'failure'? I call that working to one's limitations very shrewdly and if it takes a bit of wheel sucking, then it's up to riders around him to drop him or make it difficult.
1st LBL, 1st FW and 2nd Amstel Gold in 1 week this year. Nuff said.
Missed Il Lombardia due to other commitments and managed to avoid results all week by some miracle, so I have got on the end of this rather belatedly. Watched the video on Eurosport. Nibs showed some kamikaze descending skills mixed with a hint of desperation, probably trying to rescue a less than successful season by his standards.
The race of the falling leaves is so scenic and what a spectacular end to the season (bar Paris Tours and 1 or 2 others). Can't believe people don't think its a monument. Do you need grey skies, rain, mud, cobbles and chaos for a race to be a classic? Would swap Il Lombardia for the perennially boring Milan San Remo anyday.
I think Valverde knew he didn't have the legs for the final bump, so minimised his efforts. The problem was that Moreno and Pinot probably didn't know this, so no one did any work and Nibali won with ease.
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Everyone's just waiting for Paris-Tours next Sunday
Rugby world cup, big weekend in the Premiership, probably took their toll.
I only caught the last 5km.
@DrHeadgear
The Vikings are coming!
You don't win a monument on a descent without being a great descender, that was a great bit of descending today.
I know some on here have in the past claimed Nibali isn't a great descender but surely today put that one to bed - even Magnus "have I told you what a good descender I was" Backstedt said he rated him.
A lot of forumites seemed to retire after le tour. At this time of the year I'm not staying inside watching when it's beautiful weather for riding (and it was foggy all morning).
fair play
He also won a stage of the tour this year almost entirely from descending, but much of the focus on that day was about whether he saw Froome's mechanical
Was hardly a bold prediction!
Yes I agree they could have committed a bit more couldn't they. Valverde in particular annoys me - has he got worse as he has got older because he seems unwilling to stick his face in the wind ever - I know his palmares is impressive but with his sprint and the number of times he makes the final selection (just about every race) he isn't converting as many as he might. Just occasionally I'd like to see him get involved in the race a bit more not just more often than not the sprint for places.
Apart from that where does Gilbert go from here - been a while since he bagged a big win.
DD.
Service di corsa moto. Motorbikes in the way have been a big feature recently. Maybe some driver training needed?
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I thought the Nibali descending was amazing to watch, even though it looked likely he might bin it on a number of occasions.
It always frustrates me how much dilly dallying around the other favourites do to make allow an attack to go clear and stick.
Too many riders happy with a podium as opposed to being happy to finish 9th and know they have left it all on the road.
Exceptions being Thibault and Dani yesterday.
Some of the back drops were amazing ... these pics from Steephill bring it home. http://www.steephill.tv/2015/giro-di-lombardia/photos/page-01/
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Nah, this one was all nibs. Went into a gap that was already closing
@gietvangent
Nibali shouldn't need to choose which side of the motorbike to go. It is not an obstacle course.
Maybe, but I'd rather be wrong and alive than right and dead. If you see the moto moving right to let you by, don't try and go up the right of it
@gietvangent
Valverde: 675 UCI points and world No.1 at 35 and you call that 'failure'? I call that working to one's limitations very shrewdly and if it takes a bit of wheel sucking, then it's up to riders around him to drop him or make it difficult.
1st LBL, 1st FW and 2nd Amstel Gold in 1 week this year. Nuff said.
Missed Il Lombardia due to other commitments and managed to avoid results all week by some miracle, so I have got on the end of this rather belatedly. Watched the video on Eurosport. Nibs showed some kamikaze descending skills mixed with a hint of desperation, probably trying to rescue a less than successful season by his standards.
The race of the falling leaves is so scenic and what a spectacular end to the season (bar Paris Tours and 1 or 2 others). Can't believe people don't think its a monument. Do you need grey skies, rain, mud, cobbles and chaos for a race to be a classic? Would swap Il Lombardia for the perennially boring Milan San Remo anyday.