JA.Tri said:
First, this is not intended to Flame.
Cadel seems to suffer illness/body malfunction during GTs. I guess that he competes to the very limit of his physical/psychological capabilities.
I note that other riders reported illness during recent Giro and did not cop flack for it... seems Cadel's method of reporting his problems gets under peoples' skin??
Therefore iff Cadel has problems, perhaps as others suggest, he bites his tongue and either not mention it at all or just state "I did the best I could" or allow some weeks to pass before making comment..."I did the best I could given some minor probs with my health."
Having said all that I appreciate knowing how all cyclists are really going. We can see when a rider is physically injured and sympathise and I like the idea that I can sympathise when a rider is ill.
My question is do even Evans' most ardent supporters tire of all the "what-ifs" as it pertains to his grand tour and stage racing adventures?
-2002 Giro: What if he hadn't blown up and dropped in the standings from the race lead?
-T-Mobile days: what if he hadn't broken his collar bone multiple times in that one season
-2008 Tour: What if he hadn't crashed and sustained injuries that he said limitied his ability to ride at his best?
2008 Tour: What if he hadn't gotten "ganged up on" by all the other contenders and the Saxo Bank trio on Alpe D'huez?
2009 Dauphine: What if he had responded to Valverde's attack on Mont Ventoux instead of waiting on the rest of his competitors to?
2009 Dauphine: What if Contador had not decided to ride the Dauphine to simply guage his form and not "allegedly" ride in support of Valverde as Evans and many fans have insisted he did?
2009 Tour: What if he hadn't gotten sick at mid race (or whatever happened) and lost time in addition to the time lost in the TTT?
2009 Vuelta: What if he hadn't had the flat and the delayed/slow wheel change?
2010 Giro: what if Evans hadn't gotten sick midway through? Would he have been able to still contest for a podium spot and even have knocked Basso off the top step?
2010 Giro: What if he had the team support that he insists was once again missing?
I believe many had thought that he had turned it all around with his having regained his aggressive riding and added WC stripes to his results along with a victory at Fleche Wallone. Not that his career was in a shambles prior to these great wins but he had always faltered for whatever reasons at the grand tours. IMO just like Sastre, he rode admirably at the Giro and they both should be proud of his performances. I figure he has another 2 years at least that he can continue to perform at this level and he should continue to pursue his goal of winning a grand tour by riding the Tour this year of course and in 2011 ride the Tour, the Vuelta, allowing for a period of recuperation after the end of 2010 season and then skipping the Ardennes Classics.