Cadel Evans Discussion Thread

[maxmartin]

as much as i will be supporting Cadel at the Tour, it seems obvious the Giro is his best chance to win a GT. i'd prefer to see a hard final week in the Giro.

the weather report don't look too good, chances for other GC contenders are slipping away

 

[Afrank]

Evans confirmed as TdF team leader.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling...our-de-france-team-leader-20130523-2k274.html

Ochowicz must have a lot of faith in Evans to think a 36 year old will be able place well in the Tour de France after 3 weeks of racing on demanding classic-like and mountain (maybe) terrain, and in harsh conditions, where multiple riders continued to attack and make it a hard race across multiple stages. Generally things like that would tend to tire a rider out.

Hopefully they don't make Tejay go back and pace him if he ends up getting dropped in the mountains (which I think is likely).

 

[delbified]

Hopefully they don't make Tejay go back and pace him if he ends up getting dropped in the mountains (which I think is likely).

i don't think they should do that, i think TJ is now good enough to be a semi-protected rider, i.e. be ready to take up leadership duties should Cadel falter.

but i certainly don't agree the reverse should occur - Cadel is the proven GT winner who is kicking **** at the Giro despite being under-prepared. TJ's declaration that winning AToC marks his arrival is a bit premature, although i wouldn't write him off for the Tour either. it's possible to let both riders go for GC.

 

[hfer07]

Ochowicz must have a lot of faith in Evans to think a 36 year old will be able place well in the Tour de France after 3 weeks of racing on demanding classic-like and mountain (maybe) terrain, and in harsh conditions, where multiple riders continued to attack and make it a hard race across multiple stages. Generally things like that would tend to tire a rider out.

Hopefully they don't make Tejay go back and pace him if he ends up getting dropped in the mountains (which I think is likely).

double talking to me. Ocho must be on crack to ever think of Evans as a sole Tour leader while TJVG is rising...

 

[delbified]

double talking to me. Ocho must be on crack to ever think of Evans as a sole Tour leader while TJVG is rising...

as per my post above, the term 'leader' is very rubbery. it doesn't mean TJ won't be allowed to do well.

 

[Afrank]

but i certainly don't agree the reverse should occur - Cadel is the proven GT winner who is kicking **** at the Giro despite being under-prepared. TJ's declaration that winning AToC marks his arrival is a bit premature, although i wouldn't write him off for the Tour either. it's possible to let both riders go for GC.

I wouldn't say his win in Cali is what marks his arrival, that was just the long awaited first stage race win for him. I'd say his 5th at last years Tour is more what marks his arrival. Agree that they should be co-leaders. Or at the very least let Tejay have a free role.

 

[Pentacycle]

I wouldn't say his win in Cali is what marks his arrival, that was just the long awaited first stage race win for him. I'd say his 5th at last years Tour is more what marks his arrival. Agree that they should be co-leaders. Or at the very least let Tejay have a free role.

TJVG had a free role at first, until he exploded on La Planche. It wasn't that hard of a decision for BMC to decide who was going to be the protected rider from then on.

BMC just didn't anticipate the possible fading of Cuddles, not that it would've mattered that much for TJ.

 

[movingtarget]

TJVG had a free role at first, until he exploded on La Planche. It wasn't that hard of a decision for BMC to decide who was going to be the protected rider from then on.

BMC just didn't anticipate the possible fading of Cuddles, not that it would've mattered that much for TJ.

Evans is 36, most riders have already faded by then and are not in the running for podiums in a grand tour. Yes TJVG has won the Tour of California in good style. The Tour is almost three times the distance of that race & TJVG had the right course last year with plenty of TT kms plus Evans caught a virus. TJVG is on the way up while Evans is nearing retirement but you don't right people off just because of their age. BMC will do what they did last year, if Evans weakens they will switch to TJVG and in the mountains it hardly matters because they will be the only two BMC riders at the front. Leipheimer, Horner, Mick Rogers & Gesink also had good wins in the TOC. When was the last time they looked likely to podium a grand tour ?

 

[Cookster15]

Great quotes from Jim Ochowicz today about Evans form at the Giro and Tour leadership....

Yeah ... We came in here really thinking about the Tour de France and still are. Still, being in this position in the Giro is a blessing – for us and for Cadel it confirms he is ready for the Tour. But we are more focused on this [Giro] right now and we will be going through Tour activities next week, but right now we are going to enjoy these next five days

Asked if Evans would still be BMC's outright leader for the Tour, Ochowicz told Fairfax Media: "Sure ... that's clear." He added that Evans' performance in the Giro had cemented that leadership: "It solidifies that. You have to have the confidence and he does.This is a great performance here [by Evans].

"Tejay is a great young athlete coming up. He is learning from Cadel. He and Cadel and are a pretty formative package

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cycling...our-de-france-team-leader-20130523-2k274.html

 

[memyselfandI]

Tejay is coming, but he far away from Evans in terms of race base and mental toughness. Props to Tejay this far, but keep on good work. Let's hope they give him (Tejay) quite free role, Cadel is outright captain in TdF. ToC is thin plastics after all compared to Tour.

Cadel is on trailing edge of his career peak, but around 70.000 km racing k's (finished .1 and above) vs. Tejays 45.000 km during last six and half yrs.....Cadel still is quite tough cookie and like Ocho said Giro performance shows it.

 

[maxmartin]

Poor Evans most likely will fall off top three in next two days. as expected does not have the reserve to race three weeks any more

 

[movingtarget]

Poor Evans most likely will fall off top three in next two days. as expected does not have the reserve to race three weeks any more

So he is only good for 2.7 weeks ? I hope you are wrong. I hope he picks up tomorrow but he must be very disappointed. Scarponi and Uran will give it everything over the next two stages.

 

[maxmartin]

So he is only good for 2.7 weeks ? I hope you are wrong. I hope he picks up tomorrow but he must be very disappointed. Scarponi and Uran will give it everything over the next two stages.

tbh. the first two weeks of this Giro is not demanding at all in terms of climbing. sure the weather is horrible. Just like last year Tour, Evans did okish in the first two weeks including first ITT, then fading badly dropping the bomb in the third week.

The good news is if the weather is really bad, MTF will be significantly reduced, Evans will have a slim chance to keep his podium position.

 

[Netserk]

How well did he exactly in the stage to Jafferau? Galibier was de facto neutralized. It's time for Evans to say good bye to the podium.

 

[movingtarget]

How well did he exactly in the stage to Jafferau? Galibier was de facto neutralized. It's time for Evans to say good bye to the podium.

It's funny. You might be right but before the start most people picked Evans for a possible top 5 which is where he may end up anyway. But I hope he can hang in there.

 

[Parrulo]

Where is that guy saying he would keep every post saying Evans couldn't beat Nibali and would rub them in our faces once it happened?

 

[BroDeal]

Where is that guy saying he would keep every post saying Evans couldn't beat Nibali and would rub them in our faces once it happened?

He is probably drowning his sorrows at the local watering hole with the guy who kept posting that Evans was getting stronger.

This was not exactly unpredictable. Even five years ago Evans would weaken in the final week of a GT and now he is five years older with an insufficient racing base. He probably had a bad day on top of fatigue, so it does not necessarily mean he will implode on subsequent stages.

 

[maxmartin]

From Evans interview

"As I've always said, I came to the Giro with high hopes but without expecting too much. Today I gave it everything but when we have a short stage, like at Bardonecchia or today, I'm not at the level of the best riders here. That probably comes down to my ability to recovery in third week. There were also a couple of things that haven’t been optimal for me outside of the racing that maybe compromised things a little bit."

"It's not for a lack of trying that I lose a couple of minutes to him. I'm unlikely to win (the Giro) but considering I came here for training for the Tour de France, second place at this point is not too bad. The reason I came here was to get back to my best for the Tour. I want to give everything I can and being second at this point is good. I have to see my glass as half full.

 

[jens_attacks]

well that settles it...

he's only training here and still most likely gets on the podium. this is too easy for cadel
i guess we'll see in the tour then

 

[Cookster15]

He is probably drowning his sorrows at the local watering hole with the guy who kept posting that Evans was getting stronger

That would be me . Nothing wrong with being an optimistic fan .

Incredible ride by Nibali today. But Cadel seems to have taken it well by the reports. Now I'll have to admit today raises more questions on Cadel's age etc. But what I'd also like to know if he he really did ride the Giro to get into form for the Tour, why was he so underdone earlier in the season? Riding a GT is not normally how you prepare for another GT?

 

[Ripper]

That would be me . Nothing wrong with being an optimistic fan .

Incredible ride by Nibali today. But Cadel seems to have taken it well by the reports. Now I'll have to admit today raises more questions on Cadel's age etc. But what I'd also like to know if he he really did ride the Giro to get into form for the Tour, why was he so underdone earlier in the season? Riding a GT is not normally how you prepare for another GT?

Actually, Lemond has done exactly this, as have others. In terms of specificity, stage races are the best prep for stage racing, and if you can do a GT without it being your season goal, then you are likely going to benefit.

Of course, this all comes down to your ability to recover once the racing is over.

No doubt about it, Evans is taking a risk this year. But given his lack of racing base, not that surprising of a risk to take.

My favourite thing is the mix of opinions on Evans' performance. Some folks were totally writing him off for even being near the pointy end, and yet he is still in 2nd and has actually ridden OK. The last time he rode the Giro he was riding to win, and yet he managed 5th. So this very well could be he best ever Giro performance even though he was not aiming to do well.

 

[IndianCyclist]

Evans like Purito is very strong in the closing kilometers but the race of truth exposed his true condition over long distance. So far no one has attacked or ridden strongly at the front 5-6 km from the finish except Uran. Evans will crack over that distance but not at 1-2 Km from finish.

 

[delbified]

Where is that guy saying he would keep every post saying Evans couldn't beat Nibali and would rub them in our faces once it happened?

i assume you mean me

i never said that - i was referring to all the posters who asserted that Evans was washed up and completely out of form and would do nothing. how wrong you all were... the fact he faded in the 3rd week of a GT he came into with ambitions only of getting km into his legs proves that.

he will go into the Tour with 40 days of racing in his legs, Scott McGrory was commentating that 50 is normal? there's just as strong an argument he will be underdone as overcooked from the Giro.

as a sidenote, is anyone available to help me with compiling a list of posts writing off Evans at the start of the race?

 

[OnTheDrops]

I thought Evans was going to speed past the Astana team car and give their DS 'the look', like Armstrong-Riis on the Alpe d'Huez ITT 2004.

 

[Afrank]

i assume you mean me

i never said that - i was referring to all the posters who asserted that Evans was washed up and completely out of form and would do nothing. how wrong you all were... the fact he faded in the 3rd week of a GT he came into with ambitions only of getting km into his legs proves that.

he will go into the Tour with 40 days of racing in his legs, Scott McGrory was commentating that 50 is normal? there's just as strong an argument he will be underdone as overcooked from the Giro.

as a sidenote, is anyone available to help me with compiling a list of posts writing off Evans at the start of the race?

So your still going to go ahead and do it, huh? Good. I was hoping you would. It will give me something to laugh at.

I still haven't been able to figure out what the point of even doing this is? Care to answer what it is?