Cancellara, ungraceful loser.

[roundabout]

Ugh, that's one wall of text. Formatting ftw.

 

[Flamin]

No, but Cancellara speaks Italian, and here's the original interview. So yeah.

So, you believe a journalist over Cancellara's word? Ok, that's your choice. I don't trust the (written) media. Anytime I SEE Canc talking, I hear and see a big sportsman. And many people seem to share that opinion.

 

[sublimit]

Nuyens was bang on form and looked to be sprinting well in his previous win and won the race. So Canc should do his homework and treasure his third place medal or whatever he gets and shut up.

If he wins P-R then fine come out with some stuff.

 

[zapata]

This talk about fair wins and deserved wins. It's all nonsense. The first one across the line wins. End of.

Cycling is sometimes described as chess on wheels. This is wrong. In chess you can see your opponents position.

Cycling is more like poker on wheels.

Some of you will have played hold em. And you will know that the best initial hand doesn't always win.

In poker terms, here's what happened in RVV

Hammond and Hunt put the blinds in.

Everyone knew Cancellara was chip leader, but Chavanel put in a big raise.

EBH and Boom called but a small re-raise put them out.

Then Boonen put in a big raise on the flop but then Cancellara puts in a big raise.

BMC pooled their resources to make a call. So a few others called as well.

On the turn Gilbert made a big raise on the bluff, but eveyone called it.

So only three were left in. Chavanel had been holding pocket kings all along and hit a third . Fabian had had a pair of aces, but on the turn had flopped two pair - full house possible. But then, on the river, then man that they should have got rid of but didn't, Nick Nuyens (holding jack 8 clubs), pulls a flush on the last card.

That's how poker works (sort of). That's how cycling works. In poker it's a 'bad beat' but that's the way it goes. Same with cycling. People remember wins, not how they were won.

great post. now, I really don't know poker, so I'm unsure I understand you, but the last, bolded sentence I 100% disagree with. statisticians who only look at the palmares might not care, but to me and to many like me, it certainly matters. I've seen hundreds and hundreds of races, and forgotten most of them; if i remember a race, it's precisely because of how it was won, not who won it.

 

[hrotha]

So, you believe a journalist over Cancellara's word? Ok, that's your choice. I don't trust the (written) media. Anytime I SEE Canc talking, I hear and see a big sportsman. And many people seem to share that opinion.

Yes, I believe the journalist as long as I don't have a reason not to. Anything else is shooting the messenger.

 

[La Pandera]

So, you believe a journalist over Cancellara's word? Ok, that's your choice. I don't trust the (written) media. Anytime I SEE Canc talking, I hear and see a big sportsman. And many people seem to share that opinion.

...and yet you tout the interview in the Belgian media???

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

The question is - does he consider JVS to be the real winner of PR?

 

[spalco]

The question is - does he consider JVS to be the real winner of PR?

Looked like it in the finish today. He hugged van Summeren while smiling and looked sincere about it (to me at least).

 

[Christian]

He actually gave a very graceful interview after the finish (as right after RVF as well) ... said he played poker and he lost, that's racing ...

“I knew it was going to be difficult for me to win,” noted Cancellara. “I knew everybody would be watching me, and I knew I would need to attack to win. I knew there really was no other way. I understand the tactics of Ballan and Hushovd, and I respect them”

“I only have two legs,” said Cancellara. “I did the maximum I could. I couldn’t do anything more. The winner here today is beautiful. He wasn’t someone expected. He maybe woke up this morning thinking I’m going to ride for my team. I’m going to help, and he won the race. I’m very happy for him.”

“To win is nice, but second place is also good. More than that would not have been possible today,” Cancellara said. “Later going or earlier going -- I couldn’t change the situation of the race. In the end, being on the podium of Paris-Roubaix is not bad. Favorites can not always win. I’m proud of my efforts. I know my team worked very hard. They do a great deal to contribute to my success.”

http://www.leopardtrek.lu/news/fabian-cancellara-second-paris-roubaix

What a disposable feminine hygene product and the bag that it comes in

 

[Flamin]

...and yet you tout the interview in the Belgian media???

Cancellara didn't deny anything about that interview in the Belgian media, did he? Do you get the difference?

 

[Cimber]

Ye Cancellara definately looks like he learned from his mistakes last week. Nygaard has probably been instructing him about how to deal with the press and what not to say.

 

[Jamsque]

Still a little bitter, are we spartacus? From the front page article:

Today, I lost, but the others lost a bit more than me.

I sincerely doubt that Hushovd lost a bit more than you, Fabian, since his team-mate won the damn thing.

 

[roundabout]

He has two cobblestones, Hushovd, Flecha and Ballan have zero collectively.

It's actually quite interesting to read Hushovd's comments where he thought that he could have won yesterday yet apart from sucking wheels (within right) he never looked like he could beat Cancellara had to head nor did his team car think so when the gap was down to 30 seconds

 

[El Pistolero]

Still a little bitter, are we spartacus? From the front page article:



I sincerely doubt that Hushovd lost a bit more than you, Fabian, since his team-mate won the damn thing.

I'm pretty sure Hushovd lost more than Cancellara.

World champion with 0 victories without any bad luck. The race he wants so badly, but will never win while Cancellara has won it 2 times already.

What's Tom Boonen with Devolder's 2 RVV victories? Nothing, but a stab in the back.

Oh, and Cancellara is second while Hushovd is 8th.

 

[L'arriviste]

If I had stopped for coffee, they would have done the same ... It's really too easy to hide behind their alibis like they are.

Not sure how he figures that. Ballan had Quinziato, Flecha had Hayman, Eisel had Bak and Hushovd's alibi won.

 

[Ferminal]

Still a little bitter, are we spartacus? From the front page article:



I sincerely doubt that Hushovd lost a bit more than you, Fabian, since his team-mate won the damn thing.

He is half true.

When people look back on Hushovd's career with zero monuments, they aren't going to be thinking "but his teammate won one in 2011".

Cancellara was the strongest in the race and finished second
Hushovd was the second strongest in the race and finished eigth

 

[Mambo95]

He is half true.

When people look back on Hushovd's career with zero monuments, they aren't going to be thinking "but his teammate won one in 2011".

That's better than being remembered as the man who chased down his own team-mate and then lost. (Something LeMond is still remembered for doing at the 1982 Worlds)

 

[spalco]

Still a little bitter, are we spartacus? From the front page article:



I sincerely doubt that Hushovd lost a bit more than you, Fabian, since his team-mate won the damn thing.

Yeah, I'm sure when his grandkids come up to him and ask him about his cycling career the first answer will be the great story about this one time where he helped a teammate win Paris-Roubaix. That's really something to be proud of when you're retired.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah, I'm sure when his grandkids come up to him and ask him about his cycling career the first answer will be the great story about this one time where he helped a teammate win Paris-Roubaix. That's really something to be proud of when you're retired.

But Grandpa, if you were so good, why did you never win that race yourself.
Well kids, I was too afraid this Swiss guy....

 

[Cimber]

When people look back on Hushovd's career with zero monuments, they aren't going to be thinking "but his teammate won one in 2011".

Even so you never ever ride against a team-mate (Boonen could learn from that btw). It was a ****ty position for Thor himself but he had to respect that he had a team-mate in the break who was feeling super. If he had helped to bridge the gap and then got dropped ppl would be over him like flies on a turd.

Oh and even without a monument Hushovds results during his carreer is something most riders could only dream for.

But Grandpa, if you were so good, why did you never win that race yourself.
Well kids, I was too afraid this Swiss guy....

Nope he would say: Well kids I had a team-mate out front who was having a super day, and I help him win by keeping the biggest favorite from catching him. Now, this is a good opportunity to tell u a little about loyalty and working as a team...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And all the other years then???

Oh yeah.

 

[Cimber]

And all the other years then???

Oh yeah.

Regarding all the other years: Well kids, those years I just wasnt the best guy out there but I did my best on got some nice results. Now, did I tell u about the time I won the WC....

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I have that race on video kids. You'll never see me, except on the final 200 meters

 

[Cimber]

I have that race on video kids. You'll never see me, except on the final 200 meters

The most important 200 meters in the race I might add. Now kids, in order to win races u need to finish the line 1st. I doesnt matter if u are in front 20km from the finish, what matters is that u are actually crossing the line 1st. And when u are a sprinter-type thats when u really have to make your impact.

 

[El Pistolero]

Haven't you guys heard? The race has been shortened by 3km and Gilbert is declared the winner now.