Cadel Evans Discussion Thread

[Franklin]

oh, right, I forgot about the time when Levi went back to the dark side after stopping

Yeah, I'm an arrogant *******, so it's okay to try to joust me

But this one simply isn't true, Cadel second TT was not usually worse than his first. The data says otherwise.

 

[Ripper]

Yeah, I'm an arrogant *******, so it's okay to try to joust me

But this one simply isn't true, Cadel second TT was not usually worse than his first. The data says otherwise.

The whole "cadel fades" "cadel sucks" "he'll not make the podium", etc stuff is laughable. Basically, it just shows how much cycling fans are all fanboys or anti-fanboys to a certain extent, and that opinions mascarade as facts.

I also find it interesting that some riders seem to generate more negative reactions from some folks without an obvious reason (e.g. acting like a real jerk and doping like madd ... like Ricco )

 

[Tom T.]

So now BMC is saying Cadel will be the leader for the TDF with TVG riding a supporting role. What kind of game are they playing? It's pretty clear that Tejay will be their best bet. Simply giving Cadel his respect knowing it will be inevitable that TVG will end up the leader?

 

[maxmartin]

So now BMC is saying Cadel will be the leader for the TDF with TVG riding a supporting role. What kind of game are they playing? It's pretty clear that Tejay will be their best bet. Simply giving Cadel his respect knowing it will be inevitable that TVG will end up the leader?

Respect for Cadel clearly. BMC will play double leader cards for sure. TJVG will pull for Evans, but if Evans can't follow, TJVG will ride away unlike last year. If Cadel do falls apart, BMC can attribute this to Giro effort. So happy for everyone.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Evans said he should have been 2nd in this giro but the "mechanical" yesterday.


Uran won the stage to Montasio, beat Evans on Jafferau, finished with him on Galibier, the climb that suited Evans most, crushed him on the mtt, and with the bonus seconds only needed to beat Evans on Tre Cime for 2 seconds.

But on this climb, the one which suits Uran most and Evans least, Evans doesn't give Uran a chance of taking 2 seconds

Cadel will never take accountability for his own shortcomings, it's why I always disliked him. He's a chump.

Anyway, BMC are as brainless as rabo if they think cadel is any sort of a chance in france. Go with youth.

 

[PCutter]

Evans said he should have been 2nd in this giro but the "mechanical" yesterday.

Do you have an actual quote for that or is it just the usual forum lack on comprehension of what is actually said?

The only interview I've seen with him he mentioned he had a mechanical issue and that second would be better than third but that he was still happy to podium.

This doesn't imply that he says he would have finished second if not for the mechanical, but that he was restricted from at least fighting for second. Please correct me with his quote otherwise if you have seen it.

 

[karlboss]

Cadel will never take accountability for his own shortcomings, it's why I always disliked him. He's a chump.

Anyway, BMC are as brainless as rabo if they think cadel is any sort of a chance in france. Go with youth.

If TJ hasn't finished ahead of Richie Porte yet this year, that's Sky's 3rd best rider, what chance do you really think TJ has at the Tour? Honestly 5th again would be exceptional.
Having said i think Evans has a similar chance. The difference is 5th for a 25 year old is a great result, for a former winner it's a failure.
It's too early to make the call in my opinion and it is Cadel's call to make. If the multi million dollar rider and former winner on the team says he can do it, then you back him, if not then you give TJ a freehand.

If it were me, TJ for consistency and finish high on GC, with minimal support. Cadel for jour sans, KOM and stages, and attempt the Vuelta and worlds. Or better yet, not even go to the tour and do Vuelta and worlds.

 

[Kingsley A]

So now BMC is saying Cadel will be the leader for the TDF with TVG riding a supporting role. What kind of game are they playing? It's pretty clear that Tejay will be their best bet. Simply giving Cadel his respect knowing it will be inevitable that TVG will end up the leader?

I think that BMC have probably got it right. At this point Cadel is still the rider to support. If he fails at any point though there will be no hesitation in transfering the leadership to Van Garderen.

It's interesting though. Tejay's career is on the way up and Evens' is plateauing and probably going to start declining. Given the fact that neither is likely to have any domestique support once they get into the high mountains, calling one Team Leader and giving the other a free roll seems much of a muchness.

 

[delbified]

i love all these people now writing Cadel off for the Tour, in July. they were going to discuss whether his lowly performance in the Giro was down to his declaring that he was riding it just for conditioning and that the Tour was his main objective this year, or whether it was due to his being a washed up old man. but that didn't quite work out...

the Cadel-haters are always right. when he falters, they all knew he would falter. when he wins, it was an accident, or it was his last-hurrah and he's now over the hill, and they focus on the next race he will fade away on.

 

[Ferminal]

Didn't you say a few pages back that he was going to win the Giro?

 

[delbified]

Didn't you say a few pages back that he was going to win the Giro?

i don't think so. did i?

 

[Miburo]

i love all these people now writing Cadel off for the Tour, in July. they were going to discuss whether his lowly performance in the Giro was down to his declaring that he was riding it just for conditioning and that the Tour was his main objective this year, or whether it was due to his being a washed up old man. but that didn't quite work out...

the Cadel-haters are always right. when he falters, they all knew he would falter. when he wins, it was an accident, or it was his last-hurrah and he's now over the hill, and they focus on the next race he will fade away on.

So you think Evans at his age, after riding the giro where he clearly declined at the end can actually really do something in the tour (podium orso)?

Evans has no chance.

 

[delbified]

So you think Evans at his age, after riding the giro where he clearly declined at the end can actually really do something in the tour (podium orso)?

sure he can. he came into the Giro underdone, with few ambitions, and went toe-to-toe with a rampaging Nibali, who is in the form of his life.

i don't claim to know that he will podium in the Tour, but i see little to suggest he can't.

 

[Ripper]

So now BMC is saying Cadel will be the leader for the TDF with TVG riding a supporting role. What kind of game are they playing? It's pretty clear that Tejay will be their best bet. Simply giving Cadel his respect knowing it will be inevitable that TVG will end up the leader?

Quick to jump on that bandwagon, eh?

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

If TJ hasn't finished ahead of Richie Porte yet this year, that's Sky's 3rd best rider, what chance do you really think TJ has at the Tour? Honestly 5th again would be exceptional.

Ridiculous logic.

Contador also hasn't beaten Porte this year in a stage race either, I better contact him to not waste his time in france.

TJ I don't even rate that much, but I'd still put him as leader then a bloke edging closer to 40 and who just rode the giro.

 

[Cookster15]

TJ I don't even rate that much, but I'd still put him as leader then a bloke edging closer to 40 and who just rode the giro.

Evans is two years closer to 34 than 40. At 34 he won the Tour in impressive circumstances. Meanwhile Horner was beating Evans at TA earlier this year at 41 years of age, then we had Jens Voight at TOC at how old? Beetroot juice or not that tells me it's possible.

Plus this Giro while cold, wet and snowy was probably less hard on the legs due to major Mountain stages being cut or drastically reduced. I'd say there'd be less accumulated fatigue from this Giro than in 2011 or 2012 at least. Then Evans went into the Giro short on prep so the accumulated fatigue he brought into the Giro was less than otherwise - unlike Nibali for example whos been going full gas all season and the Giro was his only major goal this year.

Not taking anything from Tejay who'll get his chance but at his age BMC were wise to give the old man one more chance to be leader. Tejay will have his chance in 2014.

I could still be proven wrong in July but looking at the facts a case for Evans can be made quite easily and I'm sure thats how BMC looked at it.

 

[movingtarget]

Ridiculous logic.

Contador also hasn't beaten Porte this year in a stage race either, I better contact him to not waste his time in france.

TJ I don't even rate that much, but I'd still put him as leader then a bloke edging closer to 40 and who just rode the giro.

BMC know that either rider will be hard pressed to make the podium. Would Van Garderen have done as well as Evans in the Giro ? Doubtful. VG not exactly known for being a tough professional like Evans. BMC are in a no win situation. Their team for grand tours is weak, one rider is nearing retirement but still getting results and another one is still learning but has the ability to improve. If VG is as superior as some people think then the TTs and the mountains should take care of Evans and that will be the end of it. The team time trial should be okay for BMC with Evans, VG, Cummings and Phinney or maybe Pinotti. They should not lose much time. Cadel might have been better off saving himself for the Vuelta as the Worlds course looks like a good one for him and he would go into the Vuelta with plenty of kms in his legs but also fresh because of the gap between the Giro and the Vuelta.

 

[Pentacycle]

Evans is two years closer to 34 than 40. At 34 he won the Tour in impressive circumstances. Meanwhile Horner was beating Evans at TA earlier this year at 41 years of age, then we had Jens Voight at TOC at how old? Beetroot juice or not that tells me it's possible.

Plus this Giro while cold, wet and snowy was probably less hard on the legs due to major Mountain stages being cut or drastically reduced. I'd say there'd be less accumulated fatigue from this Giro than in 2011 or 2012 at least. Then Evans went into the Giro short on prep so the accumulated fatigue he brought into the Giro was less than otherwise - unlike Nibali for example whos been going full gas all season and the Giro was his only major goal this year.

Not taking anything from Tejay who'll get his chance but at his age BMC were wise to give the old man one more chance to be leader. Tejay will have his chance in 2014.

I could still be proven wrong in July but looking at the facts a case for Evans can be made quite easily and I'm sure thats how BMC looked at it.

Why mention Voigt? He's way past his real peak years as well. Winning a stage or two a year, but his top form is clearly not coming back, like with Evans. Evans needs a his best level to compete in the Tour, in the Giro he could profit from the weather and many other favourites fading.

The Tour will be much, much harder than the Giro, in terms of competition and the pace set uphill. Evans can't handle real big climbs and tough mountain stages anymore, and neither can TJ.(yet?) They're lucky to have one guy in the top 10.

 

[karlboss]

Ridiculous logic.

Contador also hasn't beaten Porte this year in a stage race either, I better contact him to not waste his time in france.

TJ I don't even rate that much, but I'd still put him as leader then a bloke edging closer to 40 and who just rode the giro.

True, but TJ is staking a claim for tour leadership against the 2011 winner, he has next to nothing to back that claim, hence this year's form is more relevant.

 

[The Hitch]

Who knows, maybe Evans will get a gap from the ttts and itts, then all the mountains apart from a few mtfs will be neutralized or cancelled, and he will finish on the podium.

 

[Walkman]

Who knows, maybe Evans will get a gap from the ttts and itts, then all the mountains apart from a few mtfs will be neutralized or cancelled, and he will finish on the podium.

I am really enjoying your misery. Sour grapes from hitch, ohh yeah!

 

[Pippo_San]

Unfortunately the sad truth is that the truth is sad, and Evans was VERY lucky in this Giro to get that podium.
Without any stage cancellation...I mean even if Scarponi didn't fall he was off the podium!

Let's get real please.

Beetroot juice my ***. A very clever ride from Cadel, way beyond his possibilities.

 

[movingtarget]

Unfortunately the sad truth is that the truth is sad, and Evans was VERY lucky in this Giro to get that podium.
Without any stage cancellation...I mean even if Scarponi didn't fall he was off the podium!

Let's get real please.

Beetroot juice my ***. A very clever ride from Cadel, way beyond his possibilities.

How often does Evans fall ? He is a much smarter rider than people give him credit for. Sure he had some luck but how many riders have good luck or bad luck stories over three weeks ? Many. Without his terrible TT his race still would have been a good one. He is 36 but people expect him to ride like Nibali who has not even hit his peak yet ? Nibali was impressed with Evans as was Wiggins as were other team directors but many of the fans expect too much. Let's see how Contador and Froome are riding when they are 36. The fact that he can still compete with the best in the world at his age just shows how disciplined and tough he is.

 

[movingtarget]

Who knows, maybe Evans will get a gap from the ttts and itts, then all the mountains apart from a few mtfs will be neutralized or cancelled, and he will finish on the podium.

He made the most of his opportunities. That's his job. Someone like Gesink would have the same benefits and still fail.

 

[Tom T.]

Quick to jump on that bandwagon, eh?

No, I really couldn't care less about Tejay or Cadel. I just think it's an interesting decision and an interesting point of discussion. It is just my opinion that Tejay is the better choice. Don't read too much into it.