Cavendish-Greipel Showdown

[Old School]

I'm looking for Tom Boonen to redeem himself...eventhough I've lost ALL confidence in him...I guess he's getting old.

 

[Thee_chisa]

the thing is about second tier sprinters is that in cycling there tends to be a dominant sprinter and then the others (who are not second tier but great racers in their own right).

i remember cippo & petacchi, recently dominating the sprinters, good riders too, it seems that in the sprinting world there is often a king who gets to the top for about 3-5 years and puts everyone else in his shadow

 

[royalpig180]

To say it's their biggest decision is quite an editorial reach - they're obviously going to take Cavendish, the biggest decision will come somewhere in the other 8 spots.

I agree. Cavendish has built his whole season around the TdF, while Greipel obviously built his around early season races and then the Giro. Too bad things didn't work out for him there very well...

Maybe Greipel will ride the Vuelta again this year and then bail on Columbia so he can ride the tour next year?

 

[BroDeal]

So who does HTC take to the TdF? Cav's form is crap. He has few race days. The peloton hates him. Greipal has a dozen wins. But if Cav is left home then he will throw a monumental hissy fit that will make his immaturity so far this season look as cool as Shaft.

 

[CPAvelo]

So who does HTC take to the TdF? Cav's form is crap. He has few race days. The peloton hates him. Greipal has a dozen wins. But if Cav is left home then he will throw a monumental hissy fit that will make his immaturity so far this season look as cool as Shaft.

That has got to be a tough call for HTC since Cav's bid for a green jersey victory will be extremely difficult even if his form arrives in time. He has made so many enemies in the peloton that I expect he and HTC will get no help. It seems to me HTC needs to prepare for a future without Cav. But will they?

 

[Jamsque]

His form didn't look that bad at the Tour de Suisse, and Greipel just got beaten by Graeme Brown (among others) at the Elektrotoer, although granted he did have to chase back on after a puncture.

HTC were always going to take Cav to the Tour and leave Greipel behind. They have bet the farm on Cav, for better or for worse.

You are right that they need to prepare for a future without him though, because you know Sky is going to be desperate to sign him the moment his contract is up.

 

[Cobblestones]

They should take both and have two trains fighting it out on the road! Think what a great tactic that would be! It would confuse the hell out of every other sprinter team. So if they can't beat them straight, maybe they can create enough confusion to get the green somehow in the end.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Not seeing a lot of faith in Tom Boonen here. He could win as well I really hope he does. Canca or Gilbert would be nice too though

 

[Cobblestones]

So who does HTC take to the TdF? Cav's form is crap. He has few race days. The peloton hates him. Greipal has a dozen wins. But if Cav is left home then he will throw a monumental hissy fit that will make his immaturity so far this season look as cool as Shaft.

You were right. HTC brought the wrong guy. Probably Cav drops out of the TdF before the Tour of Austria is finished.

 

[The Hitch]

Seems like a good day to bring this one back