Cav takes tabloid heat for failed GB tactics

[Caruut]

Federer has said some stupid things in his time. When he had just beaten Roddick in the Wimbledon final in '09 he started going on about how he knew how Roddick felt, because he had the same in the final against Nadal the previous year. In no way is missing out on title #5 comparable to losing probably your last major chance to win a grand slam.

 

[Boeing]

to further that when has brainsford ever had a plan b

 

[blutto]

...big ooops...

 

[Random Direction]

I got bashed in the race thread for saying that the result could be a national embarresment for GB. There were two options at the time, one clinic related and one not. The latter won out - that part of the issue was Cav inserting foot into mouth wasn't predicted though . That many km in a three man TTT was astounding. The pie in face when they couldn't catch the break was great - hubris defeated.

And therefore the media all over it.

 

[BroDeal]

 

[joe_papp]

...there was still no need for Cav to throw in that cheap shot at O'Grady. It was utterly disrespectful.

He has no respect and I don't buy into this tosh that it is this edge is what makes him so competitive and successful. You never see Roger Federer behaving like this pup and spoilt brat and he is as successful as any sportman you can name.

Isn't Cavendish's brother in jail for trafficking large quantities of narcotics? (vs. moderate quantities of anti-anemia medicine)

The same home/family that raised one raised the other...just saying that it's hardly surprising that one brother is an uncouth boor when the other an imprisoned drug-dealer.

 

[BroDeal]

Isn't Cavendish's brother in jail for trafficking large quantities of narcotics? (vs. moderate quantities of anti-anemia medicine)

The same home/family that raised one raised the other...just saying that it's hardly surprising that one brother is an uncouth boor when the other an imprisoned drug-dealer.

Speaking from personal experience I presume.

 

[ElChingon]

Isn't Cavendish's brother in jail for trafficking large quantities of narcotics? (vs. moderate quantities of anti-anemia medicine)

The same home/family that raised one raised the other...just saying that it's hardly surprising that one brother is an uncouth boor when the other an imprisoned drug-dealer.

Link? ....

 

[msjett]

I think the press are too harsh at times, but what do you expect when you say you are going to win, tell everyone how you will win it and don't.

I am having de ja vu moment I seem to remember in 2008 there was a lot of hype about Wiggo and Cav being favourites to win the madison in Bejing games? and back then they came up empty handed...I don't know what made people think it would be so different on the road....

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

I am having de ja vu moment I seem to remember in 2008 there was a lot of hype about Wiggo and Cav being favourites to win the madison in Bejing games? and back then they came up empty handed...I don't know what made people think it would be so different on the road....

Well, Wiggins came back with two gold medals and broke the world record twice so not exactly empty handed in his case...

 

[ultimobici]

Isn't Cavendish's brother in jail for trafficking large quantities of narcotics? (vs. moderate quantities of anti-anemia medicine)

The same home/family that raised one raised the other...just saying that it's hardly surprising that one brother is an uncouth boor when the other an imprisoned drug-dealer.

I think you're probably the last person to be making assumptions about others and drugs, mate.

 

[the asian]

Serves him right. Such a arrogant person. How can he whine about other teams when their GB team, along with the Germans were the most cowardly,negative and boring.

 

[woodie]

Isn't Cavendish's brother in jail for trafficking large quantities of narcotics? (vs. moderate quantities of anti-anemia medicine)

The same home/family that raised one raised the other...just saying that it's hardly surprising that one brother is an uncouth boor when the other an imprisoned drug-dealer.

I hardly see how that's relevant, whats amazing is that Cav didn't get dragged in that world if his brother did, considering how close they were (according to his book.)

In saying that, I was disappointed to read his comments about the other teams especially the Aussie team. GB told everyone what they were going to do, the Aussie team, along with a lot of other teams, decided to mix it up and make GB work for it like they said they would.

 

[ingsve]

I'm not sure Team GBs tactic was the worst thing, what was worse was their execution of it. They should never have let a 12 man break go in the first place, a 3-4 rider break should have been all they should have accepted. Then they shouldn't have let another almost 20 riders get away to join them. They needed to follow the favourites when they went and just hope that Cav could also follow or that it would settle down a bit so he could catch up again if he got dropped going over the top.

 

[spalco]

Serves him right. Such a arrogant person. How can he whine about other teams when their GB team, along with the Germans were the most cowardly,negative and boring.

GB's tactics sucked, but cowardly they were not. If anything they were overconfident too bold.

I'm not sure Team GBs tactic was the worst thing, what was worse was their execution of it. They should never have let a 12 man break go in the first place, a 3-4 rider break should have been all they should have accepted. Then they shouldn't have let another almost 20 riders get away to join them. They needed to follow the favourites when they went and just hope that Cav could also follow or that it would settle down a bit so he could catch up again if he got dropped going over the top.

Yeah, that second break was the crucial point. Letting a break including Cancellara, Vino, Chavanel and many others like them go, was the crucial mistake.

Or maybe they just didn't have the legs to prevent it. In fact it could be said Team GB simply missed the "selection" of the race. They tried, but they were not good enough.

 

[Kwibus]

"Why should the rest of the peloton help deliver a bunched, sprint finish which would have all but guaranteed a gold for Cavendish," he wrote. "The British had a Plan A and only a Plan A. Nobody seriously believed they would need any other. When the gauntlet was thrown down, though, the simplicity and transparency of their tactics were brutally exposed, leaving Cavendish frustrated and helpless."

This is the only piece that makes sense.
Other stuff is all rubbish.

 

[42x16ss]

GB's tactics sucked, but cowardly they were not. If anything they were overconfident too bold.



Yeah, that second break was the crucial point. Letting a break including Cancellara, Vino, Chavanel and many others like them go, was the crucial mistake.

Or maybe they just didn't have the legs to prevent it. In fact it could be said Team GB simply missed the "selection" of the race. They tried, but they were not good enough.

They couldn't have prevented it, too many strong riders were attacking. GB just needed to accept the possibility of a race that was too hard to control with 5 men. If Millar and/or Stannard got into that break and let the Italians, Spanish, US and Swiss bury themselves like they did they would have had a much better chance of a medal. Germany and Australia were never going to chase on and Sagan missed the break so Millar would have had a real chance.

 

[msjett]

Well, Wiggins came back with two gold medals and broke the world record twice so not exactly empty handed in his case...

Yep he did, he may not leave this Olympics empty handed either.

 

[Cancellator]

As was suggested before, the GB tactic might have worked if they gave the other sprinters' teams - Germany, Australia - the impression that Cav is not at 100% somehow. Then Greipel, Goss and maybe others would delude themselves into thinking they will take gold and start doing serious pulls at the front.

As it happened, everyone knew that a sprint finish = 99% chance of Cav winning. Why would anyone be surprised that the sprint didn't happen?

 

[The Sheep]

Yep he did, he may not leave this Olympics empty handed either.

It was wiggins' plan all along

 

[El Pistolero]

He did better than normal for him. Besides one win at San Remo he has done nothing worthwhile in the classics really.

 

[auscyclefan94]

The 'embarrassing 28 riders' part shows how little these journalists know about Cycling. It seems that when people watch the Olympic Road Race, the 'novice fan know-it-all' effect is multiplied by 1000 in comparison to the Tour.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Our boys have built up enough credit recenly to be completely immune from criticism for at least a couple of years. Simple as that.

And really, what were the Aussies doing? Did they really think that O'Grady had a better chance of a medal in a break against a load of the world's best Classics riders than Goss did against Cav, Greipel and Sagan in a messy sprint?

 

[spalco]

Our boys have built up enough credit recenly to be completely immune from criticism for at least a couple of years. Simple as that.

And really, what were the Aussies doing? Did they really think that O'Grady had a better chance of a medal in a break against a load of the world's best Classics riders than Goss did against Cav, Greipel and Sagan in a messy sprint?

No probably not, but I kind of understand them. You don't chase down your own man, especially one as accomplished as O'Grady. He got into the break - he deserves his chance.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

No probably not, but I kind of understand them. You don't chase down your own man, especially one as accomplished as O'Grady. He got into the break - he deserves his chance.

You chase your own man if it gives you a better chance, which it clearly did in this case.