Cadel Evans Discussion Thread

[El Pistolero]

Why would the French prefer an Australian over a British? Are you really asking that lol?

Anyway, what I think he means is that the French cyclists will ride aggressively and that will only work in Cadel's benefit.

 

[dlwssonic]

Why would the French prefer an Australian over a British? Are you really asking that lol?

Anyway, what I think he means is that the French cyclists will ride aggressively and that will only work in Cadel's benefit.

Oh ok...
I only can see rolland doing that.
Schlecks, Gesink might help out cadel.
Because cadel rarely attacks on a mountain. And if he does he simply isn't explosive enough to gap the others, he has to do it by setting a very hard pace.

 

[Morbius]

I think Evans will need to be tactically very aware this tour. If he can ride with the best climbers then that would be ideal. However if he has to let them go then he will have to decide whether and for how long to ride with Wiggins to limit losses, before attacking him to try to gain time himself.
The risk of staying with the climbers is that he would use a lot of energy and that Wiggins (with / without Froome assistance) will slowly claw him back, in which case Evans could be vulnerable.

 

[greenedge]

Cadel cant rely on Wiggins cracking in Mountains or the last TT.

He is going to have to race to win.

Remember last year, Andy thought Evans would crack, he didnt.

Look at the Giro, they all thought Ryder would crack, he didnt.

Its going to be a great race as usual, cant wait, go Cadel!!!

The other climbers are going to have to attack as well, I can see Wiggans thinking he can just sit on Cadels wheel all the way.

Hugh

Yeah but Cadel is quite a solid ITT rider in his own right. He is a much better ITTer than Ryder as well.

@Moribus: Not if Wiggins cracks ( he won't be able to pull him back ).

 

[greenedge]

Of course Cadel does not have a super domestique like basso, froome or horner.

No Horner for RSNT this year ( the fools ).

 

[Morbius]

@Moribus: Not if Wiggins cracks ( he won't be able to pull him back ).

That will be part of Evans' dilemma. If he expects Wiggins to crack he may attack less, but will then risk coming second if Wiggins lasts the three weeks.

For the other riders, the tactics are simpler. The climbers need to gain time in the mountains. Wiggins needs to keep a steady speed and limit losses, and rely on a good ITT. Evans has to get the balance right between the two.

If Wiggins cracks slightly and loses say a minute or two on a stage, the roles are immediately reversed as Wiggins would need to attack Evans, if possible.

 

[hfer07]

Cadel on paper has more "weaponry" in his repertoire than Wiggo, specially the "attacking" one, which he has to be wise to know "when" to use it-because Wiggo & Co seem to have found the "formula" to cleverly pull back attacks...

Cadel also has to keep an eye on Froome, because if Wiggo somehow cracks, next in command is him & we know what he's capable of, given him the slightest chance to for the kill.....

 

[Angliru]

But why would the french prefer cadel to win rather than wiggins.
100 seconds is not enough for wiggo IMO unless he is really strong in the mountains, hill top finishes and descents.

I believe Mello isn't saying the French riders/teams prefer one over the other, just that the French riders in general have to attack to gain glory since a very select few have any gc aspirations. Aggressive riding plays more into Evans' hands than Wiggins/Sky. Wiggins would be just as happy that everyone sit behind them and let set the tempo from stage one to Paris.

 

[AussieEdge]

Fair start I think

the prologue thread is just too lol worthy - I thought the trolls would of waited for Stage 1 to start first......

Anywhoo

9 seconds is nothing in a 2 week tour so Im happy with it Ive always believed Cadel's strength is the Alps/Pyrenees & will have enough time to counteract the TT's

Cadel also has to keep an eye on Froome, because if Wiggo somehow cracks, next in command is him & we know what he's capable of, given him the slightest chance to for the kill.....

no different to 2011 where he had to keep an eye out for both Shleck's and Contador....

 

[Carols]

Well Cadel better not discount Menchov....only 1 GC rider finished in front of him today? I think Not; ignore Menchov at your own peril Cadel.

I sure wouldn't mind seeing a Cadel/Menchov/Nibali(dreaming) podium with Mr. Wiggins cracked in the high mountains

 

[UlleGigo]

Well Cadel better not discount Menchov....only 1 GC rider finished in front of him today? I think Not; ignore Menchov at your own peril Cadel.

Who said he was ignoring Menchov?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Well Cadel better not discount Menchov....only 1 GC rider finished in front of him today? I think Not; ignore Menchov at your own peril Cadel.

I sure wouldn't mind seeing a Cadel/Menchov/Nibali(dreaming) podium with Mr. Wiggins cracked in the high mountains

Evans has always rated Menchov so he probably just forgot him for just that interview. It is easy to forget people or things just after you have finished a stage or an explosive effort like a Prologue.

 

[Winterfold]

Sky know they can isloate Evans - and if Froome goes he has to follow, pulling Wiggins with him (and prob Menchov).

He is going to have to cut deals or he is going to get 1-2'd and worked over (or should be worked over, if Sky play their cards right).

 

[greenedge]

Fair start I think

the prologue thread is just too lol worthy - I thought the trolls would of waited for Stage 1 to start first......

Anywhoo

9 seconds is nothing in a 2 week tour so Im happy with it Ive always believed Cadel's strength is the Alps/Pyrenees & will have enough time to counteract the TT's

3 weeks- 10 char

 

[LaFlorecita]

Fair start I think

the prologue thread is just too lol worthy - I thought the trolls would of waited for Stage 1 to start first......

That awkward moment when the new member starts calling respected regular forum members trolls..

9 seconds is nothing in a 2 week tour so Im happy with it Ive always believed Cadel's strength is the Alps/Pyrenees & will have enough time to counteract the TT's

Cadel isn't a great climber. He doesn't have a great acceleration uphill. If he just rides tempo Wiggins can probably hang on. Real climbers need to crack Wiggo, but they might as well crack Evans. Anyway, Cadel's strength isn't in the mountains, Wiggo's weakness is in the mountains.

no different to 2011 where he had to keep an eye out for both Shleck's and Contador....

He only had to keep an eye on Andy.

 

[Froome19]

That awkward moment when the new member starts calling respected regular forum members trolls..

Cadel isn't a great climber. He doesn't have a great acceleration uphill. If he just rides tempo Wiggins can probably hang on. Real climbers need to crack Wiggo, but they might as well crack Evans. Anyway, Cadel's strength isn't in the mountains, Wiggo's weakness is in the mountains..

Cadel was arguably the strongest climber last year in the mountains, probably just behind Andy and on par with Frank.
There is a lot more climbing talent on show this year but I dont see any of them bettering Cadel's climbing last year.

Also Wiggo's weakness maybe in the mountains but we cant ascertain that just yet

He only had to keep an eye on Andy.

You say that in hindsight, go back and watch the stages and you will see how they were all still concerned about Contador until the last hurrah at the summit of Alpe d'huez. Just see how Frank Schleck acted on stage 18.

 

[greenedge]

Even Voeckler made little dashes following the Shlecks, he definitely had to go after those.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cadel was arguably the strongest climber last year in the mountains, probably just behind Andy and on par with Frank.
There is a lot more climbing talent on show this year but I dont see any of them bettering Cadel's climbing last year.

Also Wiggo's weakness maybe in the mountains but we cant ascertain that just yet

Yes he was a strong climber last year, but I disagree with that his strength lies there. Obviously his strength lies in the tt.

You say that in hindsight, go back and watch the stages and you will see how they were all still concerned about Contador until the last hurrah at the summit of Alpe d'huez. Just see how Frank Schleck acted on stage 18.

That is true, but my point is that it wasn't needed.

 

[dlwssonic]

That awkward moment when the new member starts calling respected regular forum members trolls..



Cadel isn't a great climber. He doesn't have a great acceleration uphill. If he just rides tempo Wiggins can probably hang on. Real climbers need to crack Wiggo, but they might as well crack Evans. Anyway, Cadel's strength isn't in the mountains, Wiggo's weakness is in the mountains.



He only had to keep an eye on Andy.

Who is that respected regular forum member??
Just because you are a regular forum member does not mean you aren't a troll

Cadel is a pretty good climber just that he lacks that acceleration. I don't see many riders in the race that can crack evans.
Andy and alberto surely can but they aren't here.

 

[Froome19]

Yes he was a strong climber last year, but I disagree with that his strength lies there. Obviously his strength lies in the tt.



That is true, but my point is that it wasn't needed.

It depends on how you define his strength....

His strength over Wiggins lies in the mountains. His strength over VDB in the TT..

Or if you define it as his strongest attribute then I dont know how you can say his strength is certainly his TT.. if he is in the top 3 climbers but then not in the top 3 TT you would assume his strength lies in the former..

 

[LaFlorecita]

It depends on how you define his strength....

His strength over Wiggins lies in the mountains. His strength over VDB in the TT..

Or if you define it as his strongest attribute then I dont know how you can say his strength is certainly his TT.. if he is in the top 3 climbers but then not in the top 3 TT you would assume his strength lies in the former..

In a GT with a normal field a lot of GC contenders are better climbers. (Andy, Fränk, Samu, Alberto etc.) While there are very few opponents that tt better. Yes he needs the mountains now to crack Wiggo but that doesn't mean it's his strength. Also as I see it Evans will have a very hard time cracking the UK Postal train on his own.

 

[dlwssonic]

When the real racing starts in the mountains. Wiggins will have very few domestiques left. Froome only maybe.

He does not need to crack the UK postal train.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Who is that respected regular forum member??
Just because you are a regular forum member does not mean you aren't a troll

Cadel is a pretty good climber just that he lacks that acceleration. I don't see many riders in the race that can crack evans.
Andy and alberto surely can but they aren't here.

Yes there are few GC contenders that can crack Evans (they are "here" though, cough Fränk, Samu, Gesink) but there also very few GC contenders Evans can crack.

 

[LaFlorecita]

When the real racing starts in the mountains. Wiggins will have very few domestiques left. Froome only maybe.

He does not need to crack the UK postal train.

Yeah we'll see Anyway I cannot even see Evans cracking Wiggo alone on his own.

 

[LaFlorecita]

And just because someone is strong in something it doesn't mean it's his strength. For example Alberto rides a strong tt at times but climbing is still his strength.