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Nibali and the Vuelta
Last Post 08/26/2015 02:26 PM by Nicholas Arenella. 18 Replies.
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79pmooney

Posts:3189

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08/25/2015 11:23 PM
As i recall, the rules are very specific that you must complete the whole course riding your bike. Yes, exceptions are made for doctor's visits and mechanicals. Sticky bottles are regularly used and quite commonly penalized. But what we saw here was more like Nibali getting a ride on a bus. (Which has been done in the past in the TdF and the rider disqualified when he was caught.) To stay within the rules (and precedents) I think they had to look at this as a step beyond a sticky bottle, more like a bus ride. Plus this decisive penalty will serve as good deterrent. Just penalizing him leaves room for DSs deciding how far to push things.

As I said above, I suspect Nibali and his DS knew he was toast without outside help; that he did not have to fitness or heart to pull off the required chase, then survive the finish. Hence I think they felt they had little to lose. I like the penalty he got.

Ben
smokey52

Posts:498

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08/26/2015 07:14 AM
two points:
Maybe Nibbles was the victim of revenge - Froome put super-glue on the water bottle in retaliation for the TdF 19th ride away.
Staying with the soccer analogy - red card, not yellow. He should miss the next competition too.
Spud

Posts:525

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08/26/2015 08:48 AM
The question here is , how long has this been going on? You know, before the cameras were capturing every move the riders make. I would think, a heck of a long time. Jeezus, they even get caught in the act of a nature break. Nibali deserves what was handed to him, according to the rules.
Nick A

Posts:625

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08/26/2015 02:26 PM
For those of us on the wrong side of the Atlantic, we're at a disadvantage by not being able to witness behind the scenes. But I remember the photos in Miroir du Cyclisme of fans pushing the hopelessly dropped up the mountains.

N
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