Cadel Evans Discussion Thread

[Cookster15]

Why is he so much more fatigued than Wigans??

Because he's been fighting sinus infections all year and Wiggins had good health. This illness effected his preparation for the Tour. At 28 you can recover but at 35 you can't loose that much quality training time due to health and expect to defend a TDF title let alone back up two week later.

 

[PCutter]

Why is he so much more fatigued than Wigans??

More importantly, why did he tell the Australian team he would be fine to recover on the Tuesday after the Tour thus stopping the Australians from switching in either Porte, who looked strong in the tour, or Durbridge (both on the Olympic reserves list) who could have done the same ride he did in the RR and been competitive in the TT.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Evans pulls out of Olympic ITT due to fatigue. I cannot figure out what he did during the last few months that could tire him out.

Can't he just show up and ride the course for fun?

He has had sinus infections. Also, e=he said at the end of the Tour that he rarely gets sick more than once a year and this year he has been sick multiple times. Possibly to do with getting a new kid?

 

[movingtarget]

More importantly, why did he tell the Australian team he would be fine to recover on the Tuesday after the Tour thus stopping the Australians from switching in either Porte, who looked strong in the tour, or Durbridge (both on the Olympic reserves list) who could have done the same ride he did in the RR and been competitive in the TT.

I have to agree. After what we saw in the Tour, Porte had to have the other TT position. Cadel was just hoping. Bit of a shame for Porte.

 

[The Eggman]

I have to agree. After what we saw in the Tour, Porte had to have the other TT position. Cadel was just hoping. Bit of a shame for Porte.

I'd have taken Durbo. He's an animal

 

[goggalor]

Yeah, that was dumb by Aus. They should've dropped Evans or Gerrans from the team and brought Porte (or Durbridge) to ride the TT, with Martin and Cancellara struggling he could've medaled.

 

[Better Call Saul]

Time to retire for cuddles?
After a fairly poor year 2012 and following up with a shocker this year, I thought at least he could be a valuable domestique for TJVG. But after his poor showings at TA and Criterium International I can't really see what service he can possibly offer to his team??

 

[Jelantik]

More importantly, why did he tell the Australian team he would be fine to recover on the Tuesday after the Tour thus stopping the Australians from switching in either Porte, who looked strong in the tour, or Durbridge (both on the Olympic reserves list) who could have done the same ride he did in the RR and been competitive in the TT.

I bet that must be his "ego" bruised after the TDF. He wasn't a factor whatsoever just like Sastre. Probably he felt that he got something to proof. I think australian was dumb for choosing Evans instead of Porte. The TDF should give them some indication of how his condition was. At least Porte showed that he got more strength than Evan in TDF. If Evan was competing and lost, that would be fine. He wasn't even competing! Maybe he was affraid that Porte might outshine him if he released his spot to him.. who knows..

 

[jens_attacks]

Time to retire for cuddles?
After a fairly poor year 2012 and following up with a shocker this year, I thought at least he could be a valuable domestique for TJVG. But after his poor showings at TA and Criterium International I can't really see what service he can possibly offer to his team??

i will wait for le tour. he seems to adopt andy tactics for this one. definitely he's not done and i see him in le tour much stronger than tejay

 

[maxmartin]

i will wait for le tour. he seems to adopt andy tactics for this one. definitely he's not done and i see him in le tour much stronger than tejay

Andy tactics is such yesterday story, now is all about new sky method winning all year around like froom, port, nibali, Jr.

 

[coinneach]

Time to retire for cuddles?
After a fairly poor year 2012 and following up with a shocker this year, I thought at least he could be a valuable domestique for TJVG. But after his poor showings at TA and Criterium International I can't really see what service he can possibly offer to his team??

yep, I agree.....except I'm not sure TJ is in much better shape!

Cuddles doesn't really know his own limits, so it's up to others to tell him.

Looks like Sastre, Evans (and possibly Wiggins?) will be good for one tour win at the end of their career, but they keep going longer than is advisably.

He should look back on it all with satisfaction though, even though it could have been more.

 

[Better Call Saul]

Yeah I think he was unlucky not get a victory at the giro 2010. Wiggins looks like he has chosen wisely there and will be peaking there rather than le tour this year.

 

[Contadoraus Schlecks]

It's a shame but I don't see him making top 20. He will TT okay but will likely lose lots of time in the mountains

 

[movingtarget]

He caved in early on the final climb which is unlike him and when you saw who was left in the group, Voeckler was still there after being in the break, Andy Schleck was there and we know how well he has been going. There must be a physical issue or he he has lost motivation. A guy like Evans is usually so motivated so if he has lost interest he should just retire or just ride for TJVG in the Tour and then ride the Vuelta as a tune up for the Worlds. I can't believe he would be so far behind in his conditioning because he is always active in the off season and usually starts the season in good shape. Bit of a mystery and his TT was pretty awful by his standards.

 

[Lexman]

Time to retire for cuddles?
After a fairly poor year 2012 and following up with a shocker this year, I thought at least he could be a valuable domestique for TJVG. But after his poor showings at TA and Criterium International I can't really see what service he can possibly offer to his team??

I fear this might be the year too much for Evans, given his results he won't even be coleader for the TDF...

Well with less pressure he might of course ressurect but i fear he's done...

 

[Pentacycle]

I fear this might be the year too much for Evans, given his results he won't even be coleader for the TDF...

Well with less pressure he might of course ressurect but i fear he's done...

Evans has always had a good early season, and exactly the last ones, after his Tour win, have been dramatic. Last year's CI was the only race where he showed form prior to the Tour for example. I blame his post-Tour break in 2011, it cost him the necessery preparation for 2012, as a normal year-long season would do. And that virus hasn't really helped him get back on track of course.

Time to fully support Van Garderen for 8th in the Tour then...

 

[Better Call Saul]

"I was happy to hang with Tejay and deliver him to the final climb fresh and safe, a different role for me but enjoyable racing without the expectations of delivering the team's results"


What kind of an attitude is this?? He left TJVG stranded against 3 sky riders, 2 of them GC threats. This really lends credence to rumours of evans being a poor team player. At best he's deluding himself, at worst he doesn't care about helping a teammate. Too many years being the protected team captain perhaps?

I don't think he can expect much dedication from his own team at le tour even were he to miraculously pull some incredible form from his @ss

 

[gthx_gthx_]

"I was happy to hang with Tejay and deliver him to the final climb fresh and safe, a different role for me but enjoyable racing without the expectations of delivering the team's results"


What kind of an attitude is this?? He left TJVG stranded against 3 sky riders, 2 of them GC threats. This really lends credence to rumours of evans being a poor team player. At best he's deluding himself, at worst he doesn't care about helping a teammate. Too many years being the protected team captain perhaps?

I don't think he can expect much dedication from his own team at le tour even were he to miraculously pull some incredible form from his @ss

I don't remember precisely this stage , even though it was yesterday. But perhaps he is just in crap form and couldn't do better for Tejay Van Garderen.

 

[Yingge]

I guess time will tell as to what his problem is, be it the Virus again, form, or just old age. Nothing has been said on either the BMC web site, or his own. Presumably Amstel is his next race, and opportunity to show some form.

Personally, I think it is age, combined with motivation, and the departure of Hincapie - he has achieved his goals, and now just needs to ride out his (no doubt very generous) contract until the end of 2014 and impart his experience on the younger BMC riders along the way - and hopefully have one last go at the Giro in 2014 - not that I think he can win it. Lombardia 2014 would be a fitting last race for him.

Maybe its time for the Aussie fans to now look to the next great hope - Porte.

 

[ANCrider]

I think this may well be Cadel's last tour. He's not got much fight left in him, no chance of a Podium ever, and let's face it, there are some very strong up and coming riders.

 

[cineteq]

I think this may well be Cadel's last tour. He's not got much fight left in him, no chance of a Podium ever, and let's face it, there are some very strong up and coming riders.

He might as well concentrate in La Vuelta and cut his losses.

 

[movingtarget]

"I was happy to hang with Tejay and deliver him to the final climb fresh and safe, a different role for me but enjoyable racing without the expectations of delivering the team's results"


What kind of an attitude is this?? He left TJVG stranded against 3 sky riders, 2 of them GC threats. This really lends credence to rumours of evans being a poor team player. At best he's deluding himself, at worst he doesn't care about helping a teammate. Too many years being the protected team captain perhaps?

I don't think he can expect much dedication from his own team at le tour even were he to miraculously pull some incredible form from his @ss

You would expect more but he seemed to think getting him to the climb was job done which is weird considering his ride at Oman. The only thing he could be doing is an Andy type preparation and simply preparing for the Tour without bothering to get other results. He does not seem to be sick and has admitted that he is fine but maybe he is careful not to over train to avoid illness. Unlike him to sit back in races though. He had one good stage at Tirreno on the second last day where he chased hard and did well at Oman.

 

[movingtarget]

He might as well concentrate in La Vuelta and cut his losses.

I guess the Dauphine will be the key. He always does well there or at least tries to. Bad form there will not look good for him re the Tour.

 

[cineteq]

I guess the Dauphine will be the key. He always does well there or at least tries to. Bad form there will not look good for him re the Tour.

Actually, this may be a good race to target for him, since most riders will be in training mode. He may never have another chance to win an important stage race in his life.

 

[Better Call Saul]

Actually, this may be a good race to target for him, since most riders will be in training mode. He may never have another chance to win an important stage race in his life.

True, a good finish there may at least give him the dignity of some team support at the tour. His pride might be interested in that.

Given the way he's racing now though, I don't see him being anywhere near good enough to win the dauphine. The guys targeting a top 10 at the tour won't be that far off their peak and he won't stay with them in the alps