Vincenzo Nibali’s coach has published the impressive power data from his Tour de France stage victory in Val Thorens.
After suffering throughout the Tour, Nibali took his opportunity on the final mountain stage, making it into the day’s break and riding away on the shortened stage.
His stage win came just days after a spectator at the side of the road shouted “What a shame, you’re old. What have you come here to do? Go home” at the multiple Grand Tour winner as he climbed the Col du Galibier.
Power data from the 59km stage reveals the huge effort Nibali put in to take the win after three weeks of racing.
>>> Sir Dave Brailsford: Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome know when to put the team first
Nibali’s coach and Bahrain-Merida sports director Paolo Slongo published data from stage 20, as the Italian averaged 339 watts during the one hour and 51 minute stage, with a normalized power of 353w.
Those are huge numbers for a 65kg climber, putting Nibali’s watts per kilogram at 5.4 for his normalized power.
The stats also show that Nibali hit around 550w early in the stage to make the breakaway before the start of the climb to Val Thorens, jumping up to 500w one again at the foot of the 33km climb.
There was a slight lull in the power during the three short descents on the climb, but Nibali held around 350w for a majority of the climb.
He finally attacked his breakaway companions with 13km, with his power jumping back up to 500w to carry him away from his rivals, with his output remaining above 350w for the remainder of his attack, securing himself a sixth career Tour de France victory, silencing anyone doubting why he was racing.
>>> Geraint Thomas admits he’s disappointed not to win Tour de France 2019 but proud to help Egan Bernal
According to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Nibali was abused by a fan at the side of the road who questioned why he was riding the Tour, calling him “old.”
Nibali finished the Col du Galibier stage almost an hour down to stage winner Nairo Quintana (Movistar), and Trek-Segafredo rider Giulio Ciccone witnessed the fan shouting at Nibali.
The former winner of all three Grand Tours found his legs once more two stages later, taking the stage at the top of Val Thorens.
Ridley Kanzo Fast review: fast by name, fast by nature?
Virtual cycling becomes real: We watched the esports world championships live in Abu Dhabi and it absolutely delivered
