Cancellara Thread

[Durden93]

So he is not riding anything serious anymore? He does not seem to be very clear about this, but maybe I missed something.

Isn't he going to ride Giro di Lombardia?

Is he? AFAIK he's never ridden it before. Is he going as a dom?

 

[Valv.Piti]

So he is not riding anything serious anymore? He does not seem to be very clear about this, but maybe I missed something.

Isn't he going to ride Giro di Lombardia?

Is he? AFAIK he's never ridden it before. Is he going as a dom?

Surely he shouldn't have any expectations of doing well there, but yes, he will ride it saying goodbye to the Italian fans. I guess he feels very much attached to Italy

 

[Sciatic]

Would be nice to see him there. He certainly was climbing well (for someone of his size) at the Olympics, but doubt he will have that kind of shape in lombardia.

 

[Durden93]

So he is not riding anything serious anymore? He does not seem to be very clear about this, but maybe I missed something.

Isn't he going to ride Giro di Lombardia?

Is he? AFAIK he's never ridden it before. Is he going as a dom?

Surely he shouldn't have any expectations of doing well there, but yes, he will ride it saying goodbye to the Italian fans. I guess he feels very much attached to Italy

Right, that makes a ton of sense

 

[gerundium]

Will he ride the Worlds as well?

 

[42x16ss]

So he is not riding anything serious anymore? He does not seem to be very clear about this, but maybe I missed something.

Isn't he going to ride Giro di Lombardia?

Is he? AFAIK he's never ridden it before. Is he going as a dom?

Surely he shouldn't have any expectations of doing well there, but yes, he will ride it saying goodbye to the Italian fans. I guess he feels very much attached to Italy

Right, that makes a ton of sense

Why not? It's not like he has to back up and race again - ever. Would be hilarious if he emptied the tank and hung on for the win.

 

[Ricco']

Re:

Will he ride the Worlds as well?

Not in Swiss pre-selection.

I know he won the Olympics but it's a bit of a shame that his retirement is being a bit covered, without an official date for hanging the bike.

Would love to see a last duel between Boonen and Cancellara in Roubaix, with both of them retiring after that race.

 

[Durden93]

Is he? AFAIK he's never ridden it before. Is he going as a dom?[/quote]

Surely he shouldn't have any expectations of doing well there, but yes, he will ride it saying goodbye to the Italian fans. I guess he feels very much attached to Italy[/quote]

Right, that makes a ton of sense[/quote]
Why not? It's not like he has to back up and race again - ever. Would be hilarious if he emptied the tank and hung on for the win.[/quote]

I was being sincere.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

It seems like the Japan Cup Crit today was Fabian's last race ever? He's not going to the actual hilly Japan Cup race tomorrow, according to the start list on PCS.
Next season it will be weird to watch the classics and time trials with no Fabian to animate the races.

E3 2011
Paris Roubaix 2011 - Carrefour secteur
Paterberg 2013

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

It seems like the Japan Cup Crit today was Fabian's last race ever? He's not going to the actual hilly Japan Cup race tomorrow, according to the start list on PCS.
Next season it will be weird to watch the classics and time trials with no Fabian to animate the races.

E3 2011
Paris Roubaix 2011 - Carrefour secteur
Paterberg 2013

My personal favorite Cancellara moment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86SqAg5sUn0
You don't have to understand the language to find this commentary great

I will definitely miss Cancellara and it will feel strange to watch a classics season completely without him. I'm so happy that he won the Olympic TT so he can now end his career satisfied.

 

[Nirvana]

I'd prefer this win https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJNLMYpr2TM

 

[Echoes]

Re: Re:

I know he won the Olympics but it's a bit of a shame that his retirement is being a bit covered, without an official date for hanging the bike.

??? It's been announced last July that Golazo are organising a farewell event in Ghent on 12 November, the way they did for Nys.

Ryo Hazuki may laugh all he wants but Fabian will sure say again he'd consider himself a half Belgian after this.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Will never forget how he annihilated Martin, Larsson und Wiggo in Mendrisio. Waving a flag and smiling like he just went for a walk, while Tony Martin was lying on the ground almost in a coma.

 

[Bardamu]

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

 

[Ricco']

Re: Re:

I know he won the Olympics but it's a bit of a shame that his retirement is being a bit covered, without an official date for hanging the bike.

??? It's been announced last July that Golazo are organising a farewell event in Ghent on 12 November, the way they did for Nys.

Yeah, but the mainstream isn't going to see that.

Cancellara won the Olympics and then it was blackout, speaking of professional cycling. Not a statement saying "I'm going out with a bang, I finished my professional career at Rio". We were left wondering if we would do Lombardia, if he was going for a last TT world title at Doha or if he was going to finish his pro career somewhere else or if he indeed had finished his career that day.

I would like to see the last TV pictures of Cancellara racing knowing that it would be his last race, it would add more sentimental value.

Take Purito for example. He all knew that OG RR was his last race (despite what happened after that) and we all know PR will be Boonen's last race.

 

[Bardamu]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

It really depends on what criteria you value the most- palmares or the way of winning. Undoubtedly, Fabian beat Tom when both were on their peak. If anything it suggests that Fabian's peak level on the cobbles is unrivalled in the last 15 years. Yet, Tom has won all important cobbles classics there is to win - multiple times - something Fabian hasn't.

 

[This Charming Man]

Re: Re:

I know he won the Olympics but it's a bit of a shame that his retirement is being a bit covered, without an official date for hanging the bike.

??? It's been announced last July that Golazo are organising a farewell event in Ghent on 12 November, the way they did for Nys.

Yeah, but the mainstream isn't going to see that.

Cancellara won the Olympics and then it was blackout, speaking of professional cycling. Not a statement saying "I'm going out with a bang, I finished my professional career at Rio". We were left wondering if we would do Lombardia, if he was going for a last TT world title at Doha or if he was going to finish his pro career somewhere else or if he indeed had finished his career that day.

I would like to see the last TV pictures of Cancellara racing knowing that it would be his last race, it would add more sentimental value.

Take Purito for example. He all knew that OG RR was his last race (despite what happened after that) and we all know PR will be Boonen's last race.

Is not Purito racing for the Bahrain team next year, he cancelled his retirement...I guess the money is to good.

 

[Bardamu]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

It really depends on what criteria you value the most- palmares or the way of winning. Undoubtedly, Fabian beat Tom when both were on their peak. If anything it suggests that Fabian's peak level on the cobbles is unrivalled in the last 15 years. Yet, Tom has won all important cobbles classics there is to win - multiple times - something Fabian hasn't.

Gent-Wevelgem has mostly been a sprint classic apart from some recent years, skills on the cobbles are not that important. One could also say that Boonen has zero victories in the semi gravel semi cobbled Strade Bianche.

When both of their palmares regarding cobbles is this impressive, I prefer to look at the battles they had against eachother. And then Spartacus clearly has been better than Boonen on cobbles.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

It really depends on what criteria you value the most- palmares or the way of winning. Undoubtedly, Fabian beat Tom when both were on their peak. If anything it suggests that Fabian's peak level on the cobbles is unrivalled in the last 15 years. Yet, Tom has won all important cobbles classics there is to win - multiple times - something Fabian hasn't.

Gent-Wevelgem has mostly been a sprint classic apart from some recent years, skills on the cobbles are not that important. One could also say that Boonen has zero victories in the semi gravel semi cobbled Strade Bianche.

When both of their palmares regarding cobbles is this impressive, I prefer to look at the battles they had against eachother. And then Spartacus clearly has been better than Boonen on cobbles.

If we include Strade Bianche, then it suddenly becomes a contest of who has the better classics palmares. With his performances in Milan San Remo in mind, Fabian and Boonen are a lot closer in terms of palmares.
But if we stick purely to cobble stone races, then it's a fact that Boonen has the better palmares. Essentially it's only in Ronde Van Vlaanderen, that Boonen does not have more wins than Fabian.

Having said that it can be argued that Fabian should have won more cobbled classics than he did. He has his own tactics and a lot of bad luck to blame for that. For instance, Fabian missed out on a monument win in 2011 and 2012. Considering how 'good' or 'strong' he was in those years that seems almost unbelievable.

 

[Flamin]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

It really depends on what criteria you value the most- palmares or the way of winning. Undoubtedly, Fabian beat Tom when both were on their peak. If anything it suggests that Fabian's peak level on the cobbles is unrivalled in the last 15 years. Yet, Tom has won all important cobbles classics there is to win - multiple times - something Fabian hasn't.

Nope, Tommeke didn't win Omloop yet.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re: Re:

Best TT'er and Cobbled racer of his generation, and was willing to be one of the best domestiques in the GT's. So long Spartacus!

Not a big fan of his personality though, he seems a bit arrogant.

First yes, second no, but anyway one of the very best riders of the last 15-20 years. He will certainly be remembered as one of the legends of the sport

In prime he trashed any other rider in their prime on the cobbles.

It really depends on what criteria you value the most- palmares or the way of winning. Undoubtedly, Fabian beat Tom when both were on their peak. If anything it suggests that Fabian's peak level on the cobbles is unrivalled in the last 15 years. Yet, Tom has won all important cobbles classics there is to win - multiple times - something Fabian hasn't.

Nope, Tommeke didn't win Omloop yet.

I realized that after I wrote the comment. Now that I think of it, it's incredible that he's never won that race. Came very close in 2012, IIRC.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

E3 2014 - the chase.
https://youtu.be/Z9GkNLaGjy0?t=3503

 

[Cance > TheRest]

http://www.treksegafredo.com/sites/...ution_swiss_feature_fabian_cancellara_web.pdf

Nice interview with Fabian in Revolution Magazine about his motivations, the Rio TT gold, past classics battles and his future prospects.