Cavendish 'Abused' by HTC

[The Hitch]

I give you Sky and thats it. Even then I still say no. Sky have openly stated there goal is to win the Tour in 5 years. Quickstep are pulling stumps end of 2011 so they cant hire him. BMC no chance. What's Cadel going to do when his team a riding for Cav? They also just have the budget to keep Cadel, George and Phinney. No money for Cav on a 4 year deal.

Still think I'm right. The guy is not worth the investment. Hell of a stage winner but zero ROI. I doubt any Italian or French teams want a loud mouth Brit on there teams. They won't even understand him with that accent.

Cadels never had a team.

And here is Cav speaking Italian

 

[thehog]

I do not understand the hate for Cavendish.. the guy is awesome,he has a mouth and ego but thats par for the course with sprinters. When it comes right down to it Cavendish is a winner pure and simple. His 2 finger salute to the journalists was pure outrageousness and well deserved by the journalists.
He is a class act and a person I would hang out with, he is comfortable in his own skin and has self-worth.

I'm with, you. Even with your strange, placement of commas. The guy is an interesting character. Awesome stage winner. Prolific in fact. But he's nothing new. Guys like Cipo have been knocking off 3-5 stage wins per GT for years. They have limited value. I mean Petecchi once won 9 stages in the Giro and this years green jersey but we don't hold him up to the sky as god. He's big in Italy and that's it. Cav is much loved in the UK but has limited interest in Europe. Most Europeans wouldn't even know who he is. French Teenage girls are staring at pictures of Chavanel not Cav. He's no Lance. He's doesn't have global appeal therefore doesn't get megastar salary.

 

[ingsve]

1) Sky. They have the pursuiters and the money. Sure, Brailsford would have to do the fastest U turn in the West but a Brit that wins on Sky. That's a big carrot not to chase. Depends on how big Brailsford's nuts are.

I think it usually sounds like Cav has something against Sky and Brailsford still. Even as recently as in front of the commonwealth games he talked about how important it is to represent ones country no matter what the conditions are and basically directed a veiled kick at the Sky riders that chose not to go to India because of the condtions there.

So I think it's also Cav who would need a change of heart before something like that could happen.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm with, you. Even with your strange, placement of commas. The guy is an interesting character. Awesome stage winner. Prolific in fact. But he's nothing new. Guys like Cipo have been knocking off 3-5 stage wins per GT for years. They have limited value. I mean Petecchi once won 9 stages in the Giro and this years green jersey but we don't hold him up to the sky as god. He's big in Italy and that's it. Cav is much loved in the UK but has limited interest in Europe. Most Europeans wouldn't even no who he is. French Teenage girls are staring at pictures of Chaveneel no Cav. He's no Lance. He's doesn't have global appeal therefore doesn't get megastar salary.

Cav has no love in the UK. None of the things he does even make the news. Even the green jersey at the Vuelta didnt get any coverage in the papers.

As he has said many times he is far more famous in Europe than he is in the UK.

 

[thehog]

Cadels never had a team.

And here is Cav speaking Italian

So Cadel got no team so what makes you think they'll build one for Cav after buying out Cadel? Where will this money come from? do you thing Cav would ride own his own with no team? I mean he's "abused" at HTC with 7 guys riding for him!!!!!

 

[LugHugger]

So Cadel got no team so what makes you think they'll build one for Cav after buying out Cadel? Where will this money come from? do you thing Cav would ride own his own with no team? I mean he's "abused" at HTC with 7 guys riding for him!!!!!

What? With Messiah Phinney on the team? I'm guessing the amount that BMC had to pay to get his signature gives them carte blanche to whip him to the front of every stage - up, down or sideways. He can lead Cavendish out on his own.

 

[Night Rider]

Cav has a problem. He's useless as one rider. He needs a full team built around him. Sure many teams could buy him but unless they are willing to dedicated 6 other top line pursuit riders he's nothing. He can't win classics. He's only real shot are GT stages. No team is going to forsake a GC chance to sacrifice 6 riders for Cav. Not even the French teams. Today's Commenwealth road race is an example if Cav on his own. He can't even beat 3rd ranked colonial riders. It's HTC or bust.

Let me start on a positive note, I admire Cav for actually turning up to Delhi to do the race when he didn’t really need to, lesser riders than him shunned the chance to race for their country citing some dodgy excuses. I can now say I admire one quality in the man.

Otherwise I would agree with most of your post ,it was gold watching Cav get worked over by Davis and a nearly 40 year old McCauley, they completely broke him.

Sky would pick him up, that’s about it. Oh wait, maybe Omega Pharma-Lotto .... joking.

 

[thehog]

Cav has no love in the UK. None of the things he does even make the news. Even the green jersey at the Vuelta didnt get any coverage in the papers.

As he has said many times he is far more famous in Europe than he is in the UK.

You're reaching.

He's not Tom Bonnen. He's not Cancellara. Those guys are are rock stars in Europe thus get paid rockstar wages. Look - he's good and he wins a good stage. But he's not abused by his team & he's not worth as much as he thinks he is.

 

[El Pistolero]

I'll step in and have a go. Just for the hell of it because I think this is just the opening shot in getting a contract bump. See what you think....Cav to one of these teams after his contract expires for the start of 2012:

1) Sky. They have the pursuiters and the money. Sure, Brailsford would have to do the fastest U turn in the West but a Brit that wins on Sky. That's a big carrot not to chase. Depends on how big Brailsford's nuts are.
2) BMC. They have the budget to put the team together. They have a decent enough lead out as it stands now and Phinney to come.
3) Quickstep/OPL combination. Between them, they have the rouleurs. If and when they combine at the end of next year, dump Tom and his Hollywood salary to bring in Cavendish. Rob Peter to pay Paul.

How did I do?

Why would a Belgian team dump Boonen for someone like Cavendish? Trust me when I say a win in the ronde van Vlaanderen is more important than 5 stage wins at the Tour.

 

[thehog]

Why would a Belgian team dump Boonen for someone like Cavendish? Trust me when I say a win in the ronde van Vlaanderen is more important than 5 stage wins at the Tour.

Agreed. In addition Vlaanderen won by a Belgium is 5000 times bigger than 5 Tour stages.

 

[LugHugger]

Why would a Belgian team dump Boonen for someone like Cavendish? Trust me when I say a win in the ronde van Vlaanderen is more important than 5 stage wins at the Tour.

Because Lefevre and Tommeke's relationship seems a bit rocky, because they are losing one team sponsor and Tommeke needs some results and because in the current economic climate Cavendish won't cost as much as Boonen. And he wins. And because it's Sunday night, work tomorrow and it's fun to stir it up now and again.

 

[LugHugger]

Agreed. In addition Vlaanderen won by a Belgium is 5000 times bigger than 5 Tour stages.

But not as big as the GvA Trophy or Superprestige

 

[Mambo95]

French Teenage girls are staring at pictures of Chavanel not Cav.

French teenage girls are starring at pictures of Robert Pattinson, not cyclists.

Cavendish is one of the biggest names in cycling. Only Cancellara, Andy Schleck (has his own team), Contador (tarnished) and Boonen (declining) are in the same league.

The two currencies of cycling are wins and publicity, and he gets both by the barrel load. HTC (company, not team), absolutely love him.

If he's not one of the five best paid riders, then he should complain, and there would be a queue of teams ready to rectify the situation.

 

[Curls_21]

In the UK Brad Wiggins and Sir Chris Hoy were the biggest names in cycling, however Mark Cavendish I reckon has now taken over that torch since this years TdF.

The biggest annoyance however is the way the British media make it sound like he should win every race.

However if he isn't racing for HTC in 2012 I will eat a plate of broad beans

 

[Jamsque]

The only ONLY thing that will get Cav over with the British public and make him a household name is winning the 2012 Olympics road race. No number of TDF stages or points jerseys (or even rainbow jerseys) is going to do it.

 

[thehog]

The only ONLY thing that will get Cav over with the British public and make him a household name is winning the 2012 Olympics road race. No number of TDF stages or points jerseys (or even rainbow jerseys) is going to do it.

Agreed. Similar to Australia an Olympic gold medal is worth more than any other event.

 

[Mambo95]

The only ONLY thing that will get Cav over with the British public and make him a household name is winning the 2012 Olympics road race.

The Olympics isn't the only thing. There's Strictly Come Dancing, too.

(And he's good at that, too).

 

[The Hitch]

Agreed. Similar to Australia an Olympic gold medal is worth more than any other event.

Your reaching.

A second ago you said Cav was loved in the UK. Now you say only a gold medal will do it. Make up your mind.

For the record an olympic gold medal is not worth more than any other event. The football premier league (1st division), championship (2nd division), league 1 (3rd division), league 2 (4th division) are all worth way way more. The UK childrens football cup is worth more. The UK corrections system football league is worth more. Being the runner up in any of the above mentioned leagues is worth more. Football is, with the exception of rugby once every 4 years, the only sport that matters.

On a more serious note, the olympic gold is not actually worth that much. How many Gold medal olympians from the last olympics can the avaerage Briton name. Maybe half will be able to name Chris Hoy because he got knigted (shows what a messed up country it is when thats what you get knighthoods for). A few will name Addlington. Otherwise they wont be able to give you a name. there were something like 20 GOld medals won by the UK, won by about 15 athletes. I doubt many of those athletes had more than 2 minutes of fame. On the other hand ask them to name 5 liverpool players from 3 decades ago and 90% of the population will list you the whole team.

In 2012 the number of UK winners will be even higher. Im not sure if Cav will get such big publicity, if on the same day UK get 2 other golds. And even if he did, that publicity will disapear the next day. Especially since anyone watching the 2012 race will just see a proccession around London for 200k before the Cav sprint 300m from the end.

I think Cavs best bet is next year to win his 5 tdf stages and the Green jersey. THen win the worlds. This bbc sports personality thing means a lot to people for some reason. Usually Cav wouldnt have a chance because the bbc dont like giving the award to any sport not covered by the bbc. But last year he got nominated for his 6 tdf wins alone. Next year they can nominate him for the 6 tdf wins, make him a favourite because of the green jersey, and have him pushed over the edge by the worlds and most importantly, the lack of British talent around to challenge him.

From then on the 2 inch articles he gets in the press will be 4 inch articles. When he wins a tdf stage it will get a brief mention in the news. ITV might move the occasional tdf highlights from itv 4 to itv 1.

And for a year, any time Britain sees Cav in the press they will see the rainbow jersey and his popularity will go up because, whatever the sport, he is the world champion.

He does this and he will get what he deserves. Unfortunately if Cavs 2011 season is anything less than that, an olympic gold medal will not make up for his lost chance.

 

[euanli]

Cav isn't anywhere near a sporting star in the UK. Paula Radcliffe is one, he isn't. She is one because she repeatedly beat the best in the world and broke records and then shat her pants in the middle of the race.

For Cav to be a sporting star in the UK he would need to win the Tour and the Olympics, win on the track and the Worlds road race. The brown his white shorts to provide tabloid ridicule. Way things work here.

 

[Curls_21]

I saw an article today stating that Cavendish has said that the Olympics mean nothing to him; does anyone know where this came from and has this been taken out of context by the paper in question (the Metro for info)

Knowing the course and the fact it is on home territory he has to be one of the favourites for the gold; especially if Team GB (AKA Team Sky) sort out there lead out train. Just seemed like an odd thing to say and presume the comment was made in comparision to racing for the IoM.

 

[thehog]

I saw an article today stating that Cavendish has said that the Olympics mean nothing to him; does anyone know where this came from and has this been taken out of context by the paper in question (the Metro for info)

Knowing the course and the fact it is on home territory he has to be one of the favourites for the gold; especially if Team GB (AKA Team Sky) sort out there lead out train. Just seemed like an odd thing to say and presume the comment was made in comparision to racing for the IoM.

Don’t worry next week will tell us the world is against him and he’s being abused by God. Cav will never be happy. Just ask Melissa.

 

[The Hitch]

I saw an article today stating that Cavendish has said that the Olympics mean nothing to him; does anyone know where this came from and has this been taken out of context by the paper in question (the Metro for info)

Knowing the course and the fact it is on home territory he has to be one of the favourites for the gold; especially if Team GB (AKA Team Sky) sort out there lead out train. Just seemed like an odd thing to say and presume the comment was made in comparision to racing for the IoM.

Cav doesnt say the olympics mean nothing to him, Millar does. He says this because his previous drug problems make it problematic for him to go.

Cav on the otherhand says " I had 6 ammateurs as teammates, and they all rode as proffesionals, but i let them down". Quite a nice thing to say imo.

 

[abbaskip]

I think the Cav bagging is well over done. The guy, at the same stage in his career, has the best record of any sprinter I care to remember.

However, as for the contract negotiations. He is signed with HTC for another full season. Why should they extend early (now) and pay him next year at a much higher rate than he is already contracted at.

If he was so confident of becoming a superstar, why did he sign such a long contract previously when he wasn't worth as much money? It's the way contracts work...The risks are signing a short one, and then flopping in later years (and making less in your next contract), or signing a long one, then being stuck on a lower rate if you become better. It's business.