Cadel Evans Discussion Thread

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Feb 8, 2013
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As an Australian I can completely understand this comment. Cadel isn't my favourite rider, even my favourite Australian rider. But he is my most respected rider, an absolute animal whose toughness is under rated. He has a major knock on him for not attacking in the mountains, but generally I think that is just because he doesn't have that ability.

Personally I'd prefer he head to the Vuelta after the Giro and try to win that. Provided he at worst defends his Giro podium spot he will be a former WC who has podiumed the set of GTs. He is also headed for his 10th top ten at a GT from 14 attempts, one of the misses he had a broken arm. Animal.


delbified said:
Cadel has never spoken about himself in the derisory terms so often used by cycing 'fans', including on this forum. he has always seen himself as an elite GT contender and put bad luck and experiences behind him. when his detractors mocked him and said he should aim lower and Bertie would mop the floor with him, he ignored them and persisted - and finally won.

people say his aussie fans are fanboys, but they don't get it - Cadel is special, in a way most other aussie riders are not. his grit and determination are on a higher level than even most of the elite pros. we love an underdog and i take great pride in his performance this year. it's not just that he's an aussie.
 
The Hitch said:
umm contador would wipe the floor with evans. The time evans won the tour, was the year contador did the giro :rolleyes:

Pathetic response. Anything can happen in a GT. You can never say who is going to win before the race has started. The fact that you have to come here and tell us that shows that it clearly is bothering you that AC got caught while Evans has not.
 
The Hitch said:
Plenty of us said Contador would struggle with giro tour after that giro. And the whole discussion went out of the window after contador lost 2 minutes before the race even began, then another 20 seconds with the injury on Luz Ardiden.

As for vino, there was that pic of them all at a night out in the off season from 3 or 4 years back. Cant find it now though.

You are right Evans had some luck in 2011 but when he punctured in the 2009 Vuelta and could not get a wheel, he had no luck, when he went over the handlebars on a descent in the 2008 Tour he had no luck, when he broke his elbow in the 2010 Tour he had no luck plus illness in the 2010 Giro and 2012 Tour. If anyone was due a change of luck it was Evans and he can only compete against the others, he can't control what happens to them. Contador's problems were partly his own doing by riding too far back in the bunch without protection from his team. In every grand tour there are lucky riders and unlucky riders, there is nothing special about Evans and Contador in that regard. We have seen plenty of examples in the current Giro. It's not a 100 metre sprint it's a three week race. Anything can happen re weather, illness or crashes, bonk or just tired legs.
 
Walkman said:
That was no a reference, I stated a fact. I don't really see how that is something wrong seeing as I did not took it any further.

What you did was going right to the very limit of what the moderators allow to pass without deleting/warning and that is unfair for people that could very well reply to your post, but can't because they would be warned for it as it would go into full clinic stuff.

So please in the future avoid this situations or simply take it to the clinic.
 
IMHO what Evans is doing is that he is playing a very tactical game. By not attacking and only following he is not revealing his strength and also his weak team is not required to be at the front in the mountains. He is preserving both his and his team's strength. Lookout for the MTT and the last mountain stage for him to react aggressively.
 
May 19, 2011
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IndianCyclist said:
IMHO what Evans is doing is that he is playing a very tactical game. By not attacking and only following he is not revealing his strength and also his weak team is not required to be at the front in the mountains. He is preserving both his and his team's strength. Lookout for the MTT and the last mountain stage for him to react aggressively.

LOL you are assuming Evans can attack, lots of people are expecting a diving performance from Evans in the third week due to old age
 

OnTheDrops

BANNED
May 16, 2013
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The last few stages have been pretty exciting in terms of riders attacking for stage wins. But let's face it, the GC has been a let down. Really thought Evans was going to give Nibali a run for his money when he was only 30s off. Now it's 1:26 and no sign of any attacks. He's got no chance.
 
May 4, 2013
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I'm still backing Nibali for the GC win but there are opportunities left and I respect Cadel's experience, fighting spirit, and abilities; plus Nibs could have a bad day or who knows. This has not been a boring Giro, imo, and it is not over. Cadel fans still have reason to hope. Nibali fans have reason to hope. But I don't celebrate until Sunday!
 
contessador said:
I'm still backing Nibali for the GC win but there are opportunities left and I respect Cadel's experience, fighting spirit, and abilities; plus Nibs could have a bad day or who knows. This has not been a boring Giro, imo, and it is not over. Cadel fans still have reason to hope. Nibali fans have reason to hope. But I don't celebrate until Sunday!
100% agree here. It's not over until the fat lady sings.
 
Mar 13, 2009
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Evans even having a shot at this is looking unlikely in the extreme. I think he should hold down second and look for opportunities as he doesn't have the team to create them. If he did the tactic would be make sure Nibali has no domestiques by the top of the penultimate climb. Acknowledging you won't either, and go toe to toe on the final decent and climb. Or Andy Galibier style put your domestiques up the road and force the pace. Either way BMC don't have the team for it. Best hope for a little dice rolling from some of the other teams.

EDIT: Best hope is NIbali having 1 bad day.
 
May 22, 2010
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maxmartin said:
LOL you are assuming Evans can attack, lots of people are expecting a diving performance from Evans in the third week due to old age

Nibali has so far shown himself to be too strong for Evans to gap him with an attack. Evans will test him, but unless Nibbles is having a bad day, it's unlikely he will drop him. but anything can happen - the most obvious opportunity for Evans to make up time will be in the MTT, but Nibbles doesn't look vulnerable at this point.
 
Aug 16, 2011
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Evans needs to try something if he has any ambition to win the Giro. If his hopes rest on the chance that Nibali has a bad day, then he is racing to preserve 2nd. I hope he does have the ambition to win. Evans has never been the type to go down without a fight, would be a shame if that has changed in him.
 
Afrank said:
Evans needs to try something if he has any ambition to win the Giro. If his hopes rest on the chance that Nibali has a bad day, then he is racing to preserve 2nd. I hope he does have the ambition to win. Evans has never been the type to go down without a fight, would be a shame if that has changed in him.

Does he have skis?
 
May 19, 2011
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delbified said:
Nibali has so far shown himself to be too strong for Evans to gap him with an attack. Evans will test him, but unless Nibbles is having a bad day, it's unlikely he will drop him. but anything can happen - the most obvious opportunity for Evans to make up time will be in the MTT, but Nibbles doesn't look vulnerable at this point.

Rumored reduced MTF actually play into Evans's hand, if Evans dig too deep in the Giro, I doubt he can do anything in the Tour.
 
May 22, 2010
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maxmartin said:
Rumored reduced MTF actually play into Evans's hand, if Evans dig too deep in the Giro, I doubt he can do anything in the Tour.
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.