Cadel Evans, I told you it was his year.

[Dermie]

For the most part it isn't negativity. He's had a good Tour so far but we haven't even hit the real mountains yet and it's not like he's simply put minutes into his opponents on terrain that is his domain. He's thrived on routes that he's done well on in the past. You can't base your belief that he's bridged the gap in the mountains on his rivals on what he's done in the past week. The proof will be at the end of Thursday's stage and beyond, not on such short rises as what was in the first week. I think you're getting a bit too excited by the fact that he's at the top of the gc (ahead of his rivals). If he's still there come the ITT then you can stick your chest out and be happy with little fear of him losing it (Well maybe, the same belief existed in 2008 and we know what happened there). IMO he has no difference in support in the mountains than he had in 2008.

Yeah really i agree mate It is probably more that it is grinding on my positivity for him that's all. It is just good to see (our) rider getting a good run in this years tour, given that he is a bit quirky too. That good run includes, luck, a good team, totally devoted pre season & his better head space since his wc win.
Last year he had to do the Giro to sort of qualify for the tour. AC had to do the Giro aswell this year cos he did not know if he was going to the tour. So every year the previous part of the season is significant too.
And the next few days will start to tell the real story & bring out the reality of our bull****, extreme truths & exaggerations of our preferred riders abilities. Riders have stood on the podium in Paris for lots of different reasons over the years, & on top of all the reasons it has been because they have been the toughest damn dog in one of the toughest bloody dog fights of the year.

 

[Maxiton]

In order to balance out having posted that picture of the smiling Ivan Basso in the other Cadel forum, permit me to draw your attention to the words of Liquigas-Canondale boss Roberto Amadio, from this article:

"Amadio also noted that while many observers expect the Tour to be decided by a third installment of the Schleck-Contador duel of recent years, the in-form Cadel Evans poses a genuine threat to their dominance.

"'Everybody is talking about Schleck and Contador, but they forget about Evans sometimes,' Amadio warned. 'He's been looking very good, he's a real hard man.'"

That is all.

 

[BM1979]

we'll see him pass them by while AC stops to help AS put his chain back on before the thankyou hug then stand their saying "after you", "no after you" to restart


Like you, I'd really like to see Cuddles have a problem free tour - no crashes, illness, punctures, stepped on dogs, etc... and be able to see just how good he can be.

Then after the stage , Go out and Share a steak together

 

[hfer07]

Today's stage is the big test for Mr Evans to prove the doubters wrong-and I hope for the sake of good cycling- he delivers--good luck Cuddles

 

[Dermie]

In order to balance out having posted that picture of the smiling Ivan Basso in the other Cadel forum, permit me to draw your attention to the words of Liquigas-Canondale boss Roberto Amadio, from this article:

"Amadio also noted that while many observers expect the Tour to be decided by a third installment of the Schleck-Contador duel of recent years, the in-form Cadel Evans poses a genuine threat to their dominance.

"'Everybody is talking about Schleck and Contador, but they forget about Evans sometimes,' Amadio warned. 'He's been looking very good, he's a real hard man.'"

That is all.

One of the riders in the group i was with in Sicily met Basso & his team on Mt Etna while they were training. He told them that he was feeling strong & to watch out for him in the Tour!!!
He would have had the accident after our guys met him. We were there on about the 18th

 

[Dermie]

Today's stage is the big test for Mr Evans to prove the doubters wrong-and I hope for the sake of good cycling- he delivers--good luck Cuddles

And I believe that he is one of the cleanest riders in the pro ranks. I reckon he is that quirky & dogmatic that there is probably nothing anyone could offer him to do illegal "things".

By the way do not bother posting all the dope related rebuffs to this statement, they will just fall on deaf ears & hopefully the moderator will just can them & you

 

[auscyclefan94]

Today's stage is the big test for Mr Evans to prove the doubters wrong-and I hope for the sake of good cycling- he delivers--good luck Cuddles

And if he does, I will go nuts! Give it to 'em Cadel!

 

[gregrowlerson]

Best of luck Cadel. Ride with your head more than your heart and keep those losses to a minimum.

 

[Dermie]

Best of luck Cadel. Ride with your head more than your heart and keep those losses to a minimum.

True, but are you a good driver if you only follow the rules & do not get caught???

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

And I believe that he is one of the cleanest riders in the pro ranks. I reckon he is that quirky & dogmatic that there is probably nothing anyone could offer him to do illegal "things".

By the way do not bother posting all the dope related rebuffs to this statement, they will just fall on deaf ears & hopefully the moderator will just can them & you

Maybe you should be canned for making ridiculous cleanliness claims in the pro racing forum. There is an appropriate place for that kind of foolishness.

 

[Oldman]

And I believe that he is one of the cleanest riders in the pro ranks. I reckon he is that quirky & dogmatic that there is probably nothing anyone could offer him to do illegal "things".

By the way do not bother posting all the dope related rebuffs to this statement, they will just fall on deaf ears & hopefully the moderator will just can them & you

I entertain the fact that you believe so completely in a rider and the sport. That's good but warning us to avoid disagreement or face banishment usually works just the opposite.
IGNORE

 

[gregrowlerson]

True, but are you a good driver if you only follow the rules & do not get caught???

My comment wasn't clinic related. I was referring to Cadel's tactics in the past of trying to hang on until he can't hang on any longer - and therefore putting himself into the red zone and losing minutes (PDB '07, Zoncolan '10 for example) when he maybe could have lost only seconds if he had ridden at his own tempo. If a Schleck puts on a serious acceleration tonight then I hope that Cadel actually ignores it.

 

[Cimber]

Maybe you should be canned for making ridiculous cleanliness claims in the pro racing forum. There is an appropriate place for that kind of foolishness.

+1 (10 char)

 

[mickkk]

Oh well, all good things must come to an end.

Thats it for Evans, game over, he has gone back to the poor lil ole me routine.

The Shreks have spooked him it seems.

It was fun while it lasted.

 

[unsheath]

My comment wasn't clinic related. I was referring to Cadel's tactics in the past of trying to hang on until he can't hang on any longer - and therefore putting himself into the red zone and losing minutes (PDB '07, Zoncolan '10 for example) when he maybe could have lost only seconds if he had ridden at his own tempo. If a Schleck puts on a serious acceleration tonight then I hope that Cadel actually ignores it.

Depends on which Schleck. He'll probably let Frank fly and tightly mark Andy's wheel. He can't and won't chase both or he'll blow. He's been hurt by the Saxo 1-2 sucker punch before so he'll wary of this tactics this time around. A short video snippet of Evans on the rest day suggested BMC have plans in place for horse face and gyno boy. Whether he can respond on the road when the action begins in another story.

We've waiting 12 days for the fireworks, so about time.

 

[Midnightfright]

Depends on which Schleck. He'll probably let Frank fly and tightly mark Andy's wheel. He can't and won't chase both or he'll blow. He's been hurt by the Saxo 1-2 sucker punch before so he'll wary of this tactics this time around. A short video snippet of Evans on the rest day suggested BMC have plans in place for horse face and gyno boy. Whether he can respond on the road when the action begins in another story.

We've waiting 12 days for the fireworks, so about time.

I imagine the plans he has on place for the brothers of handsome is to.limit his losses and to beat them in the time-trial.

 

[Dermie]

He sounds good in that interview, are any of the guys in his team able to stay with the AC's & AS's or ***'s to be exact.

 

[movingtarget]

Oh well, all good things must come to an end.

Thats it for Evans, game over, he has gone back to the poor lil ole me routine.

The Shreks have spooked him it seems.

It was fun while it lasted.

I don't see any evidence of that. The good thing for Evans is that the Schlecks are rarely in great form at the same time and the only way thay can play the two on one routine is to use up one or the other in attacks. If that does not work it will be to the other GC riders advantage. I can't see both Schleck's finishing on the podium even though that is what they are aiming for.

 

[movingtarget]

He sounds good in that interview, are any of the guys in his team able to stay with the AC's & AS's or ***'s to be exact.

Not usually.

 

[Dermie]

Weather looks not too good on the mountain, who does that disadvantage ???

 

[Dermie]

Cadel still looks good, no great to me. Looks like a world champion to me

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

this changes nothing before peopel are like "what he can't climb??"

This as I even mentioned in many posts was going to be the MTF that suited him the most, and moreover considering some of the other riders who finished not that far behind (Tommy V etc) I refuse to drop my opinion.

Andy rode like a loser, only concerned with ac.
If he really goes for it at de bellie I am certain he beat cadel my 2min +

 

[theyoungest]

this changes nothing before peopel are like "what he can't climb??"

This as I even mentioned in many posts was going to be the MTF that suited him the most, and moreover considering some of the other riders who finished not that far behind (Tommy V etc) I refuse to drop my opinion.

Andy rode like a loser, only concerned with ac.
If he really goes for it at de bellie I am certain he beat cadel my 2min +

Well, I gotta say, he looked better than I thought he would. But Andy Schleck really only cared about Contador today.

 

[jobiwan]

Andy's gonna get him now. Still a great ride today! Chapeau!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Well, I gotta say, he looked better than I thought he would. But Andy Schleck really only cared about Contador today.

he did do well, I will give him that.
I am very confident however that cuddles will crack.

If cuddles wins this tour tlr will take a cuddles avatar permanently