29er Tires

I've been pretty high on Nibali (and computer duster) since he finished 7th at the 2009 TDF. This year he finished 3rd in the Giro and 1st in the Vuelta. Both races had strong riders and tough climbs. However neither race had Contador or A Schleck racing (Andy Schleck wasn't really racing in the Vuelta). Nibali can climb and do a decent time trial, but can he be a real rival for the 2011 TDF and not just a third place hopeful like Menchov was this year in the Tour?
 
cyclingnews.comnibali ready to take on contador and schleckOpen ↗

I don't think he can challenge them. He's certainly a worthy contender for the third step on the podium next year.

one thing i'd like to point up is that the next generation is coming of age--nibali and velits on the podium. should their respective teams begin organising around their efforts, i think contador and schleck might just feel a bit more pressure in the coming grand tours.
 
and hooray for slovakia! even with a few more months to go, peter and martin velits and sagan have made this quite a memorable year for their homeland. if they ride smartly in the worlds, one of them just might give a good run at the rainbow jersey.

 

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by slovakguy [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

one thing i'd like to point up is that the next generation is coming of age--nibali and velits on the podium. should their respective teams begin organising around their efforts, i think contador and schleck might just feel a bit more pressure in the coming grand tours.
 
and hooray for slovakia! even with a few more months to go, peter and martin velits and sagan have made this quite a memorable year for their homeland. if they ride smartly in the worlds, one of them just might give a good run at the rainbow jersey.

I would say your countrymen could do very well at the worlds. I haven't seen the profile of the circuit, but in reading it sounds like it may be similar to the Philadelphia International Championship circuit (around the same overall length - 250 k - with some pretty steep sections in the circuit), which Sagan finished 2nd.