Cancellara

[JimmyFingers]

Am I in the wrong forum? You seem to be talking about cycling

 

[Netserk]

This we can agree about.

RvV: Canc > Boonen

PR: Canc < Boonen

At least after his magic transition at the home soil WC.

 

[Netserk]

Am I in the wrong forum? You seem to be talking about cycling

Better talk some dope then

What do you (everyone) think happened to Canc that changed him from pre Mendrisio to post Mendrisio?

I know he also was a beast in Beijing.

 

[The Hitch]

This we can agree about.

RvV: Canc > Boonen

PR: Canc < Boonen

At least after his magic transition at the home soil WC.

I see it differently.

2010.01 > X: ........ Boonen > Canc
2010.01< X: ........ Canc > Boonen

 

[Netserk]

In a Ronde '10 scenario (just Boonen and Canc alone in the front and working together), I don't think Canc would be able to drop Boonen in P-R.

 

[JimmyFingers]

Favourite quote from Harmon today: 'the only way you can beat Sagan....is to kill him' as Canc smashed him on the Paterberg

 

[Lanark]

Personally I think that Cancellara is slightly stronger on the hills and cobbles, but Boonen has a much better sprint, which balances them out in my opinion.

 

[El Pistolero]

Canc lost cos everyone rode against him, but fair enough, not the same as having a teammate up front so, 4-3 Boonen.

That's how Boonen lost Roubaix in 2007 and he crashed in the Ronde 2007.

 

[Netserk]

Personally I think that Cancellara is slightly stronger on the hills and cobbles, but Boonen has a much better sprint, which balances them out in my opinion.

IMO Canc is stronger on the flat, but not stronger on the cobbles. I actually think Boonen is just slightly stronger on cobbles than Canc, but Canc is stronger on the hills and asphalt.

 

[The Hitch]

I know he also was a beast in Beijing.

Not really. Only won the gold by 30 secs or something.

Catching 3 men and beating 3rd place by 3 minutes + dragging Larsson to the silver. Thats beast mode.

 

[roundabout]

It wasn't a favorable route so that's why it was only 30 seconds

 

[Netserk]

Not really. Only won the gold by 30 secs or something.

Catching 3 men and beating 3rd place by 3 minutes + dragging Larsson to the silver. Thats beast mode.

I meant in the Road Race.

But he really did transform with Mendrisio. Before that he was weak on the bergs. After that he was the strongest.

 

[fruit bars with eyes]

Favourite quote from Harmon today: 'the only way you can beat Sagan....is to kill him' as Canc smashed him on the Paterberg

Harmon is a grade A idiot- he actually said "the only way to beat Sagan..... is literally to kill him" - which was at least laughable- unlike his inability to pronounce paterberg all day

 

[The Hitch]

I meant in the Road Race.

I know but the races are 3 or 4 days apart so its the same form.

 

[thehog]

Harmon is a grade A idiot- he actually said "the only way to beat Sagan..... is literally to kill him" - which was at least laughable- unlike his inability to pronounce paterberg all day

Then he said "stick the knife in".

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Harmon is a grade A idiot- he actually said "the only way to beat Sagan..... is literally to kill him" - which was at least laughable- unlike his inability to pronounce paterberg all day

Well the guy on SBS was talking about how Sagan is unbeatable while they played video of the sprint in MSR.

 

[the delgados]

Favourite quote from Harmon today: 'the only way you can beat Sagan....is to kill him' as Canc smashed him on the Paterberg

You forgot to include the word 'literal.'
Harmon excitedly stated the only way to beat Sagan is "to literally kill him."
Given the circumstances, I found the statement a little odd.
Take it easy, Harmon, it's just a bike race.

 

[del1962]

You forgot to include the word 'literal.'
Harmon excitedly stated the only way to beat Sagan is "to literally kill him."
Given the circumstances, I found the statement a little odd.
Take it easy, Harmon, it's just a bike race.

Kill him on the climbs was the context, never heard of metaphors, anyway Luigi (according to Tyler) was strong today.

 

[iZnoGouD]

As long as he doesn't win Ronde or Roubaix more times than Tommeke, I'm happy

But I do think he will last longer than 1 year. (is that this year, or next year?)

cycling is endurance sport, in endurance sports you peak late and can hold it long
if he has the motivation he will be able to be very close to this level until he is like 38 or even later, his explosiveness will probably fade a bit as the years go bye but not that much

 

[fruit bars with eyes]

Kill him on the climbs was the context, never heard of metaphors, anyway Luigi (according to Tyler) was strong today.

lol metaphors, the opposite of 'the only way to beat him is literally to kill him' which is, er, not a metaphor , whatever the context

 

[cycling1776]

IMO, if there was ever a "protected rider", Cancellara would be it. Voigt would be a close second. Both have been around forever, know how to behave themselves, and don't ask for too much. They are satisfied with their position in the cycling world and are both immensely popular. The UCI would shoot themselves in the foot to implicate them with anything.

 

[Cancellator]

cycling is endurance sport, in endurance sports you peak late and can hold it long
if he has the motivation he will be able to be very close to this level until he is like 38 or even later, his explosiveness will probably fade a bit as the years go bye but not that much

However, Cancellara said that he will definitely not be riding a bike for a living when he's 38, and I respect him for that. Going out while you're still on top is better than tarnishing your legend for some extra money ( and yes, I understand that athletes on a lower payroll can't take this choice so easily).

Anyway, even though he's my favourite rider, I'm not deluding myself into thinking that he always was 100% clean. His connections with people such as Riis (which, by the way, I don't understand why is allowed to have such a proeminent role in cycling after what he did as a rider and manager) don't help his case.

However, there are some things that really go in his favour. Namely, he always had great talent, winning the Junior world TT champs twice for example (1998, 1999, a long time ago). Also, I don't think doping gives you as big an advantage in classics as it does in GTs (even Tyler said so in his book I think). Last but not least, he never had any miraculous transformations, such as suddenly becoming a great climber while improving his TT... Actually we can see how his TT has worsened in the last few years (or perhaps he's not trying as hard).

 

[ANCrider]

However, there are some things that really go in his favour. Namely, he always had great talent, winning the Junior world TT champs twice for example (1998, 1999, a long time ago). Also, I don't think doping gives you as big an advantage in classics as it does in GTs (even Tyler said so in his book I think).

Seemed to work ok for Gilbert

Last but not least, he never had any miraculous transformations, such as suddenly becoming a great climber while improving his TT... Actually we can see how his TT has worsened in the last few years (or perhaps he's not trying as hard).

Didn't particularly figure in Classics until more than half way through his career, then suddenly started winning loads.....must be the amazing mercurial effect of signing for CSC.

 

[peterst6906]

Didn't particularly figure in Classics until more than half way through his career, then suddenly started winning loads.....must be the amazing mercurial effect of signing for CSC.

Really? He finished 4th in Paris-Roubaix as a 23 y/o, followed it up with 8th at 24 after a flat at a crucial point in the race and won it the following year. He was one of the lesser pre-race favourites when he came 8th as a 24 y/o.

When he came 4th, he was in his 3rd year as a pro. That doesn't really support your statement.

 

[hrotha]

Huh? He was 4th in Roubaix at 23 you know...
edit: ninja'd