A couple of months after showing superb form in the Giro d’Italia, Vincenzo Nibali fired a warning shot to his rivals when he nabbed fourth on Monday’s stage of the Vuelta.
The Team Liquigas rider raced up the final climb to the line, crossing it 14 seconds behind the winner Philippe Gilbert. However he took time out of most of his GC rivals, with only Joaquin Rodrigus and Igor Antón finishing ahead.
Others such as Denis Menchov (Rabobank), Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank), Tom Danielson (Garmin Transitions), Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas-Doimo) and Carlos Sastre (Cervélo Test Team) lost between four and sixteen seconds.
Those were small gains, but psychologically important ones.
“I tried to give it a try and to search for success on the day, as well as some time bonus,” said the 25 year old afterwards, according to Tuttobici. “The gradients were better suited to explosive riders [like Gilbert] but I followed them on instinct, and pushed myself to test my condition.
“The sensations are good but we're just at the beginning: the road to Madrid is still long and full of pitfalls, such as the heat. It is an unknown consideration because it costs a great deal of energy and may prove crucial in some days”
Nibali has moved to fifth overall, and begins today’s fourth stage 28 seconds behind Gilbert.
The 25 year old wore the Maglia Rosa for several stages in this year’s Giro, finishing third overall. After that, he won the Tour of Slovenia, then nabbed the Trofeo Melinda some ten days ago.