I'd happily take 22 top tens in a season without a win and get paid to ride my bike. Anyway it might be frustrating for the rider and team but it's better than doing nothing all season and being pack fodder
Nibali is playing this one smart. He knows he won't win the TDF again against the top dogs, but in the Giro and perhaps the Vuelta, he is the biggest favorite.
And it fits perfectly for Nibali, that Aru won the Vuelta, since he can now be considered a serious GC man for Le Tour.
Nibali wants to win as many grand tours as possible, he is being sneaky and going to the grand tours where the best of the best isn't attending. Look at his Giro and Vuelta win, both was against GC riders that wasn't top 3 in the world at that time, or in the Vuelta, had ridden the TDF prior to the attending the Vuelta. His TDF win was kinda lucky (but still a great ride), but when it came to the mountains both Contador and Froome was out after crashes.
He has 3-4 years left as a top 5 GC rider, and he is trying to maximize his profit when it comes to taking home big wins. You don't gain much from going to the TDF and getting your ass handed to you, by Froome, Quintana or a hungry Contador who is eager to take his last TDF win before he retires.
Besides, that Giro route looks great for Nibali IMO.
I see it as both Nibali playing it smart knowing his best chance to take out his 4th GT is the Giro and it's also Vino not liking Nibali and knowing Aru is the future of his team, if the potential Tour lineup turns up on form Aru will get his arse handed to him by Froome, Quintana and a much lesser extent Contador. Having Nibali at the Giro should be fun to watch
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Also I think that Aru is better fpr the tour climbs than Italian mountains. He is looking very good on these 7-9% slopes (like in the Tour). If You look The Giro and Vuelta, he was struggling on the steepest climbs ala Mortirolo or Ermita del Alba.
So if TdF is climbers friendly I see Aru like serious contender, at least for top 3.
wisdow23 wrote:
Also I think that Aru is better fpr the tour climbs than Italian mountains. He is looking very good on these 7-9% slopes (like in the Tour). If You look The Giro and Vuelta, he was struggling on the steepest climbs ala Mortirolo or Ermita del Alba.
So if TdF is climbers friendly I see Aru like serious contender, at least for top 3.
He can contend for 3rd but something would have to go wrong with Froome or Quintana for him to finish any higher, good chance we will have another mountainous Tour seeing as that type of route suits the current crop of French GC hopes
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Reading that again riders wages haven't been payed in full and many other issues not just related to funding that's the demise of the team. Hopefully this signals the end of Corti and a real Colombian squad can step up seeing just how much talent is coming out of that country
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Finally confirmed that Saxo Bank ends its sponsorship leaving Tinkoff as sole sponsorhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/saxo-...koff-team/ Oleg claims it was his decision but it's hard to believe anything he says. It's starting to look like Oleg is losing interest in the team if signings for next season are anything to go by.
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Strydz wrote:
Finally confirmed that Saxo Bank ends its sponsorship leaving Tinkoff as sole sponsorhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/saxo-...koff-team/ Oleg claims it was his decision but it's hard to believe anything he says. It's starting to look like Oleg is losing interest in the team if signings for next season are anything to go by.
He will spring something big before next season knowing him
Strydz wrote:
Finally confirmed that Saxo Bank ends its sponsorship leaving Tinkoff as sole sponsorhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/saxo-...koff-team/ Oleg claims it was his decision but it's hard to believe anything he says. It's starting to look like Oleg is losing interest in the team if signings for next season are anything to go by.
He will spring something big before next season knowing him
Hopefully that would be him disappearing up his own arsehole
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
Strydz wrote:
Finally confirmed that Saxo Bank ends its sponsorship leaving Tinkoff as sole sponsorhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/saxo-...koff-team/ Oleg claims it was his decision but it's hard to believe anything he says. It's starting to look like Oleg is losing interest in the team if signings for next season are anything to go by.
He will spring something big before next season knowing him
Hopefully that would be him disappearing up his own arsehole
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
