Cadel's Team for 2010?

[180mmCrank]

For somebody 'tactically naive', he's put himself within seconds of winning the Tour twice now against much stronger teams. Yes a sports psych might be a good idea, but he's obviously doing some things very right in order to finish 2nd at the Tour surrounded by CSC. Plenty of other riders considered 'tactically astute' trying to take that spot. It sure wasn't gifted to him.

You are absolutely right he has come close and I don't think it's his ability that gets in the way - I actually think he is very talented. And a sports psych or mentor type coach would help him get his act together or rather keep his act together when the pressure is on.

Listen to this...

http://player.sbs.com.au/tdf#/tdf_08/interviews/interviews/playlist/Cadel-attempt-in-vain/

I listen to this and I want to give the guy a hug! He seems lost. IMHO.

 

[blaxland]

While his attacks may not have been well timed, I have to give Cadel kudos for changing his style and giving it a go. Firstly, he was one of the few riders that I know of that have changed their style to counteract rivals. Ullrich never changed his diesel engine climbing style despite being constantly beaten by Armstrong's high cadence climbing. Secondly, he more-or-less has to throw caution to the wind when he is three minutes down and facing teams as strong as Astana and SaxoBank.

Excellent post elapid.

 

[PACONi]

Cattle should target the Giro or Vuelta so he can retire with a GT win.

Sad part is, I agree with you. I don't think anyone can beat Contador if he keeps riding at this level.
It can't be easy for a pro athlete who has been so close to admit that he's just not good enough. So I won't blame him if he keeps trying.

 

[BroDeal]

Sad part is, I agree with you. I don't think anyone can beat Contador if he keeps riding at this level.
It can't be easy for a pro athlete who has been so close to admit that he's just not good enough. So I won't blame him if he keeps trying.

The sad thing is that Evans is a better rider than Menchov yet Menchov has one Giro and one and half Vuelta wins (two if you give him full credit for 2005).

 

[auscyclefan94]

Watching him race, it looks like Evans just can't push his body far enough to be a real chance at winning against a Contador or Sastre (to name two of the probably four or five GC guys who apparently can ride away from him uphill whenever they like). He's already constantly pushing himself to the brink just to keep up. The guy can barely speak when he's interviewed after a stage. I'd love to be wrong but those 2nd placings looked more like hard work from somebody without a strong team and emotionally not that suited to battling it out in the pro peloton, rather than a promise of better things to come.

Whether his problem is that he's not with the program (enough?) to compete, or it's just that there's a few even more gifted guys ahead right now, it's hard to see any team getting excited about investing in somebody who's proven their level best already and shown it to be 2nd.

None of the above is meant to belittle his achievements. In several ways his 2nd places looked more hard-earned than the respective winners those years.

Are you just saying that AC and CS are aerobically better than Cadel or cheats?