2013 UCI World Tour - The ten best pro-cyclists in the world

 

What follows is the sixth, in ten portraits, covering the UCI’s top ten World Tour riders, their 2013 season, and their future prospects. This article will be about Vincenzo Nibali, the world’s fifth best professional cyclist.

 

Additional articles in the series: Richie Porte #10, Rui Costa #9, Nairo Quintana #8, Fabian Cancellara #7, Daniel Martin #6, Peter Sagan #4, Alejandro Valverde #3, Chris Froome #2 & Joaquim Rodríguez #1.

 

Vincenzo Nibali, Astana – #5 / 474 points – 2013

 

Vincenzo “Lo Squalo / The Shark” Nibali is anything but your usual Italian pro rider.

 

Like any other good Italian citizen with the nickname of “The Shark” he originates from Sicily, rather than from Northern Italy (where just about any other Italian rider hails from), and like most “mafiosi” and real sharks lo Squalo is always prepared to make his move and is invariably on the attack.

 

He is characterized by sacrifice, persistence, respect and humility (his own words), and grew up listening to audiotapes of Francesco Moser’s 1984 victories.

 

Already in his junior years he often beat the opposition by several minutes, and people who knew him back then considered him a child prodigy. In recognition of his talent his ex-directeur sportif, Carlo Franceschi, brought him to his home in Tuscany (Northern Italy) where Nibalil lived ten months a year, away from his family, for most of his Junior and U23 career.

 

The move proved beneficial to Nibali and he placed third in the 2002 WC ITT, and again in 2004, though this time in the U23 category.

 

Three short facts:

 

Gave his recent Giro d’Italia Maglia Rossa to his mother.

 

Is known in the peleton as one of the most humble and decent guys around.

 

Joined Astana because they allowed him to be sole leader, and were willing to put the whole team behind him.

 

Fassa Bortolo

 

In 2005 Nibali got his first professional contract with the Italian super-star-team Fassa Bortolo. Despite being there primarily to get to know the world of professional cycling, and internal squabbles within the team (2005 would be their last season) Nibali managed a number of good results. At just twenty years of age he collected a second place during a stage of the Tour de Suisse (in the company of Chris Horner, Michael Rogers and Frank Schleck), a sixth in the Milan-Torino classics, and a fourth during the Italian ITT championship.

 

Liquigas

 

In 2006 Nibali changed to Liquigas due to the unexpected closure of Fassa Bortolo, and he delivered impressive results right away.

 

His first big win was during the second stage of the Settimana Coppi e Bartali, where he won alone on a day which was marked by pouring rain, and blinding descents (two unique difficulties that still characterize him). The young Sicilian would also take the second overall, only bested by “Il piccolo Principe” Damiano Cunego.

 

Nibali would do very well in most races as he was 1. Extremely good in ITT’s (especially for a guy that weigh around 60kg), 2. Always finished high in the classification, and always on the attack, 3. Consistent throughout the season, and rarely had off-days or off-periods (three traits that again still characterize him).

 

His biggest triumph yet came with the win during the GP Ouest France-Plouay, where he beat seasoned stars like Flecha, Moria, Popovich and Pozzato, and demonstrated that he (in addition to all his other qualities) also had a good finish.

 

He was one of the youngest riders ever to win a Pro Tour race, and stated to the press:

 

“When I crossed the finishing line, I almost cried. It's an enormous joy to win here. Plouay and San Sebastian are my favourite ProTour races, as well as the hardest of them all, Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I'm also fascinated by Paris-Roubaix, but I'm too light to do that one."

 

Hrmm. Fascinated by the Paris-Roubaix, huh? Something for 2014 perhaps?

 

In 2007 Nibali laid low, satisfying himself by winning smaller race, such as GP Industria & Artigianato – Larciano, Giro della Toscana, two stages in the Tour de Slovénie, and by placing 19th overall in the Giro d’Italia (where he was an invaluable help to captain Danilo Di Luca’s overall victory).

 

2008 would prove to be his breakthrough year. His first (and only) win of the season came during the Giro del Trentino, where he won alone on the third stage, and also took the overall title. A huge success to the still young Liquigas rider, who won against Italian superstars Garzelli, Simoni, Savoldelli and even his own captain Pellizotti.

 

"I'm very happy about my victory, it gives me a lot of confidence for Liége-Bastogne-Liége and the Giro d'Italia," said Nibali.

 

Two days later Nibali placed tenth in the Liége-Bastogne-Liége, and proved that he could play with the big boys in the classics.

 

He went on to decent results in the Giro and Tour, with numerous top ten placings, and by collecting eleventh and eighteenth overall, respectively; all while working for captains Pellizotti and Kreuziger. Pretty impressive.

 

In the years 2009 to 2012 Nibali cemented his status as a star of cycling, and (although still very young) collected some of cycling’s finest prizes.

 

Amongst his finest accomplishments were a 50km solo win in the Giro dell'Appennino, numerous top ten places in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and in the Milan-San Remo, an overall at the Tirreno-Adriatico, a Giro d’Italia second place, a Tour de France third place, and then of course the Vuelta a España title.

 

Nibali had demonstrated uncanny descending skills, ITT prowess, and an ability to leave the best climbers behind him in the high mountains. All while still displaying signs of being able to improve every single one of his skillsets.

 

He was set to conquer the 2013 season.

 

Vincenzo Nibali’s 2013 season, and the reason as to why he is currently considered #5 in the world

 

In 2013 Nibali changed to Kazakhstani Astana. He was ready to undertake the journey towards being “Capo dei Capi.”

 

It all began when Nibaly casually collected another Tirreno-Adriatico title, and won his first big duel against Froome. Most will remember how he escaped with Sagan and Rodriquez when the rain started falling, and how backwheels slipped on the 30% gradients if riders tried to climb out their saddles.

 

“I was encouraged when the bad weather came. Other riders suffered in the cold, but I was always OK," Nibali told the waiting press.

 

Later Nibali grabbed another stage victory at the Giro del Trentino, as well as the overall title. The stage win came after he dropped every single of his rivals (including doping-monster Santambrogio) on the last Hors Category climb.

 

Consequently Nibali entered the Giro d’Italia as one of only two favorites; the other being Bradley “I hate water” Wiggins.

 

The Shark gained the Maglia Rosa after finishing fourth in the ITT during the eight stage, conceding only eleven seconds to a Wiggins who had mentally resigned already.

 

The Giro was marred by bad weather, but it only seemed to make Nibali thrive. He gifted away snow ridden stage fourteen to fiend Santambrogio, and then won the 19.4km ITT stage eighteen, crushing every single of his opponents by a minute or more.

 

Il Squalo could celebrate his overall victory already during the mountaneous queen stage, Tre Cime, where he in a confident manner crossed the finish line by himself.

 

Subsequently Nibali prepared for the Vuelta and World Championsships, though he seemed unable to decide which he wanted to focus on.

 

The uncertainty probably cost him the Vuelta, when he decided to let senior citizen Chris Horner get too much time during the tenth stage. The forty-eight seconds he gave away proved to be too much to recollect, and grandfather Horner won the victory of his life thirty-seven seconds ahead of the Sicilian godfather wannabe.

 

Failure from the Shark.

 

Two weeks later Nibali and a very capable Italian team faced the World Championships. The Italians initially controlled the race as bosses, but as the proved harder and harder, they had to give up their domination.

 

With two laps to go Nibali crashed, and appeared to be out of the running. Somehow though, he managed to close a forty-second gap to the bunch, and then launched a winning move on the Fiesole climb (please imagine his destiny had he not crashed moments earlier…)

 

Unfortunately having spent most of his resources the Shark was toothless against Spaniards Rodriques and Valverde, and eventual winner Rui Costa.

 

“It’s a pity that I had to chase so hard after my crash, because my condition was excellent today,” said Nibali, who was also baffled by the Spanish tactics in the finale. “I think the Spanish rode badly because it was Rui Costa who won in the end, no?”

 

In the end Nibaly missed the podium, and as a consequence missed Valverde’s stern and impassive face, Rodriquez who wept openly, and an incredulous Rui Costa.

 

Failure again.

 

2014 and the future

 

With a bit of luck (or at least less unluck) Nibaly might have been the grand champion of 2013, and could securely have taken the Vélo d'Or prize from Froome. He could have won the Giro, Vuelta, and the Worlds. Instead he has to make do with the Italian title alone.

 

Nonetheless, Nibali is still a far better rider than his #5 spot in this series warrants. 

 

Nibali is currently the best all-round Grand Tour rider, with the ability to put his opponents in difficulties in nearly all types of terrain. He will enter the 2014 season as a favorite for most of the races in which he chooses participation, and he is the sole contender to Froome’s Tour throne, and to Froome himself.

 

He gets better and better the worse the weather.

 

If anyone can surprise the established classics rider it could very likely be the Shark.

 

If anyone can top Froome “the Dawg” it is Il Squalo.

 

Nibali is still young compared to his contenders, and more importantly; we have not seen the best from the Sicilian.

 

He may yet become “Capo dei Capi”. Why not in 2014?

 

P.S. @Nibali; happy twenty-ninth birthday on Thursday.

 

Vincenzo Nibali’s Palmarès

 

2006

1st GP Ouest-France

2nd Overall Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

1st Stage 1

3rd Overall Eneco Tour of Benelux

 

2007

1st Young Rider Classification Giro del Trentino

1st GP Industria e Artigianato di Lanciano

1st Giro di Toscana

1st Trofeo Città di Borgomanero

2nd Overall Tour of Slovenia

1st Stages 3 & 4

1st Points classification

 

2008

1st Overall Giro del Trentino

1st Stage 3

3rd Overall Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

10th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

 

2009

1st Giro dell'Appennino

1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore

6th Overall Tour of California

7th Overall Tour de France

9th Overall Tour of the Basque Country

 

2010

1st Overall Vuelta a España

1st Combination classification

1st Overall Tour de San Luis

1st Stage 4

1st Overall Tour of Slovenia

1st Stage 3

1st Trofeo Melinda

3rd Overall Giro d'Italia

1st Stages 4 (TTT) & 14

3rd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

5th Giro di Lombardia

 

2011

2nd Overall Giro d'Italia

1st Stage 16

5th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

7th Overall Vuelta a Espana

8th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

8th Milan – San Remo

 

2012

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

1st Points classification

1st Stage 5

1st Overall Giro di Padania

1st Mountains classification

1st Points classification

1st Stage 4

 

2nd Overall Tour of Oman

1st Stage 5

2nd Liège–Bastogne–Liège

3rd Milan – San Remo

3rd Overall Tour de France

5th Overall Tour de San Luis

 

2013

1st Overall Giro d'Italia

1st Stages 18 (ITT) & 20

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

1st Overall Giro del Trentino

1st Mountains classification

1st Stage 4

2nd Overall Vuelta a España

1st Stage 1 (TTT)

Held after Stages 2, 4–7, 11–18

3rd Overall Vuelta a Burgos

4th World Road Race Championships

7th Overall Tour of Oman

7th Gran Premio della Costa Etruschi

10th Overall Tour de San Luis