Yellow jersey holder Vincenzo Nibali has showed a great deal of strength during the first two key stages in the Tour de France. His performance has impressed his rivals and turned him into the man to beat for the rest of the race. Also the DS’s from other teams praises him and says it is worth to rmember.

To the ASO website Alain Gallopin, whose nephew is Tony Gallopin of Lotto-Belisol, says Nibali has a good tactical mind and is a clever rider.

 “He's clever, he saved strength all season to be fit for the Tour and he reaches top form on D Day,” said Trek Factory team director Alain Gallopin.

The Frenchman saw his rider Fabian Cancellara, a three times Paris-Roubaix winner, dropped by Nibali on the cobbles, a feat that says a lot about the Italian's current condition.

“Two years ago, we had Tour for time trial specialists, last year we had a Tour for climbers. This year will be a Tour for an all-rounder,” added Gallopin, always an expert analyst of the race.

Winner in Sheffield of a mini Liege-Bastogne-Liege, third in Arenberg of a small Paris-Roubaix, the Astana team leader is in splendid shape and already bore two deadly blows. He can also count on crucial support from team-mate Jakob Fuglsang, second in the day's stage and overall, two seconds behind his Sicilian leader.

Despite the bitter disappointment of losing Chris Froome on the cobbles, Team Sky manager Dave Brailsford was full of praise.

“When you see the way Nibali rode, it was very impressive. It's just unbelievable to ride away from Cancellara and Sagan on the cobbles. That was exciting. We'll remember it for a long time”, he said.