Conta & Evans early form...

Publicus · Mar 15, 2010

isayic said:
Contador wasn't defeated by Valverde when riding the Dauphine last year. Alberto was simply not interested to win the race. He helped Valverde to defeat Evans by his own free will. -- Contador wanted to win the Tour and not the Dauphine after he came back from a break after winning the Tour of Basque Country.

If by help you mean he did what he said he was going to do (hold Cadel's wheel all week) then he most certainly did. Cadel lost becaus Cadel was waiting for AC or someone else to chase down Valverde at Ventoux. If he hadn't waited and jumped on Valverde's wheel he would have won the Dauphine last year. So can we stop with the AC helped Valverde bit?

flicker · Mar 15, 2010

I cannot compare them. Contador has more natural ability then Evans and of course is the best. Al is also younger. That being, they have different goals for the season and thus once again cannot be compared.

It seems Contador wins effortlessly while Cadel must work and use tactics to win.

Oldman · Mar 15, 2010

flicker said:
I cannot compare them. Contador has more natural ability then Evans and of course is the best. Al is also younger. That being, they have different goals for the season and thus once again cannot be compared.

It seems Contador wins effortlessly while Cadel must work and use tactics to win.

Contador displays exceptional punch when he attacks and others really work to bring him back, whereas Evans seems to rely on a tough pace to soften folks up. Still, Evans put himself up front with the Sprinters on many of the narrow finishes; which is tactically better than most seem to expect.
Much was made by LA's press machine about Contador's questionable tactical savvy; any Twittering today?

ravens · Mar 15, 2010

Ripper said:
Wow, a lot of people dislike Evans on this forum.

He's got a bit of a Levi personality. Only more given to odd emotional outbursts.

auscyclefan94 · Mar 15, 2010

blaxland said:
Like the new avatar auscyclefan94................go team BMC.

Thanks, impressed by the way the team rode.

Colm.Murphy said:
seeing Evans attack, at all, in any format, shows something.

Despite his new stripes, Evans is perhaps one of the most overrated racers in quite a long time. IMHO

Publicus said:
If by help you mean he did what he said he was going to do (hold Cadel's wheel all week) then he most certainly did. Cadel lost becaus Cadel was waiting for AC or someone else to chase down Valverde at Ventoux. If he hadn't waited and jumped on Valverde's wheel he would have won the Dauphine last year. So can we stop with the AC helped Valverde bit?

Their becomes a time and point when I can't take such bs.
Come on publicus, admit AC helped valverde. Valverde even acknowledged him after the main climb of the last stage. yes evans should of jumped on valverde but AC and AV tag teamed.End of story. If you or Angliru want to have a heated arguement about it then it's GAME ON!

auscyclefan94 · Mar 15, 2010

karlboss said:
how is evans over rated, he is touted the unviversal contender and he universally contends. He's only be the favourite at the tour once 2008. Look at his palmares every year, he ranks very high. Using cq quotient 3rd last year, 4th in 2008, 1st in 2007...the only way you could over rate him is think that he is contador.

However on topic, contador is the only one showing dangerous form for me. Thus far he has picked where he will take time and taken it, setting up 2 overall wins. Evans...sure he attacked but he is 4th on gc behind a team mate of contador. Many others are riding well, but there appears to be a clear gap between contador and everyone else again. I would think coming in to a grand tour, almost any gt with everyone entering (hypothetical) we'd all rate contador 1st, and there'd be heated argument about 2nd. Schleck and armstrong yet to show anything, but they only seem to do well in targetted races.

Good start to the season i think. Great to see sagan showing there is more than just one next big thing.

nearly said:
in that case i would struggle to find (m)any less overrated riders (and that is before you filter out the enhanced ones!

bravo!!!!!!!

blaxland · Mar 15, 2010

auscyclefan94 said:
bravo!!!!!!!

+1 Auscyclesfan94 and Karlboss...........Are any of you guys going to Geelong in September?

St. Elia · Mar 15, 2010

You know people on this forum drive me crazy!!! who over rates? People on this forum that's who!! it's pretty easy to be critical of what a cyclist does or doesn't do from behind a computer. How is evens over rated? He is a contender for any of the grand tours and has show this to be true. He is not Contador nor is he Lance. I don't think anyone is saying he is, but he is a very good /excellent cyclist, and this is what pi$$ me off, that people on this forum need to give these guys more respect. He is a world champ and a GT contender.

BroDeal · Mar 15, 2010

I think we need to all chip in and fly ACF94 to Switzerland to kidnap Evans' dog. We can then send him a message, "Win the Giro or the dog gets it." That'll put the fight into him.

blaxland · Mar 15, 2010

BroDeal said:
I think we need to all chip in and fly ACF94 to Switzerland to kidnap Evans' dog. We can then send him a message, "Win the Giro or the dog gets it." That'll put the fight into him.

HaHaHaHa that might actually work Brodeal?

auscyclefan94 · Mar 15, 2010

blaxland said:
+1 Auscyclesfan94 and Karlboss...........Are any of you guys going to Geelong in September?

yes, sure am!!! can't wait.

St. Elia said:
You know people on this forum drive me crazy!!! who over rates? People on this forum that's who!! it's pretty easy to be critical of what a cyclist does or doesn't do from behind a computer. How is evens over rated? He is a contender for any of the grand tours and has show this to be true. He is not Contador nor is he Lance. I don't think anyone is saying he is, but he is a very good /excellent cyclist, and this is what pi$$ me off, that people on this forum need to give these guys more respect. He is a world champ and a GT contender.

AMEN! Give the guy a break. He cops it far bit in comparison to others.

BroDeal said:
I think we need to all chip in and fly ACF94 to Switzerland to kidnap Evans' dog. We can then send him a message, "Win the Giro or the dog gets it." That'll put the fight into him.

possibly going to germany in january so maybe for next year!

Enjoying St Elia, blaxland, karlboss' and nearley's comments.

Always have enjoyed your work Bro!

karlboss · Mar 15, 2010

blaxland said:
+1 Auscyclesfan94 and Karlboss...........Are any of you guys going to Geelong in September?

Have no idea, what country I'll be in come september.

Did Contador help Valverde...no doubt. Watch the tapes, Evans attacks, and Contador doesn't counter or accelerate with him, he accelerates slowly with Valverde on his wheel. Were time gaps different I'm not sure he'd have done the same. I'm not saying Contador stole the victory from Evans, Evans lost on Ventoux. Though had Evans chased I have no doubt Contador would have won something else last year.

El Oso · Mar 15, 2010

IMO the only reason why Evans is "overrated" as a GT contender is because either his team or the Mavic "neutral" support screwed him on his best opportunities. If Lotto was a good team he has support in the mountains and CSC doesn't wear Evans down before the last time trial in the 08 Tour and he has a chance. I won't go into last year's TTT because I don't think he had a chance against Contador even without the TTT, Contador's just too explosive.

I think Saxo will try to do the same thing in this year's Tour as they did in 08 to Evans, isolate Contador and then alternate attacks between the Schlecks. It could work with only one long flat TT. If Caise had any tactical sense they should have won P-N. Lulu and Valv.Piti needed to alternate attacks and they did nothing close to what they needed to do to crack Contador.

P.S. It was good to see Evans attack today. Those last 2k were fun to watch. I'm starting to think he's turned over a new leaf and willing to ride more aggressively.

auscyclefan94 · Mar 15, 2010

El Oso said:
IMO the only reason why Evans is "overrated" as a GT contender is because either his team or the Mavic "neutral" support screwed him on his best opportunities. If Lotto was a good team he has support in the mountains and CSC doesn't wear Evans down before the last time trial in the 08 Tour and he has a chance. I won't go into last year's TTT because I don't think he had a chance against Contador even without the TTT, Contador's just too explosive.

I think Saxo will try to do the same thing in this year's Tour as they did in 08 to Evans, isolate Contador and then alternate attacks between the Schlecks. It could work with only one long flat TT. If Caise had any tactical sense they should have won P-N. Lulu and Valv.Piti needed to alternate attacks and they did nothing close to what they needed to do to crack Contador.

P.S. It was good to see Evans attack today. Those last 2k were fun to watch. I'm starting to think he's turned over a new leaf and willing to ride more aggressively.

With 2008, saxo had sastre in there as well and they nearly l and should of lost it even with thier alternate attacking plan. Evans had a bad day in the tt. Evans is also not as explosive as someone like AC so is not going to lose as much on the climbs.
teams are going to have to attack and work contador over early.

Nick777 · Mar 15, 2010

blaxland said:
+1 Auscyclesfan94 and Karlboss...........Are any of you guys going to Geelong in September?

I will be there...

tgsgirl · Mar 15, 2010

Colm.Murphy said:
Despite his new stripes, Evans is perhaps one of the most overrated racers in quite a long time. IMHO

I can't stand the man, but world champ, 3rd & 4th at the Vuelta, 2nd & 5th at Flèche, 2x 2nd & 4th at the Tour, 7th & 5th at LBL ... you probably won't fine a whole lot of people in the peloton with that palmares.

Four Winds · Mar 15, 2010

Surely Contadors biggest reason for winning PN was to send a message to a certain one time team mate. He had a bit of a monkey on his back after letting it slip last year. This year there can be no tweets along the lines of "great rider, but inexperienced..."

theswordsman · Mar 15, 2010

Four Winds said:
Surely Contadors biggest reason for winning PN was to send a message to a certain one time team mate. He had a bit of a monkey on his back after letting it slip last year. This year there can be no tweets along the lines of "great rider, but inexperienced..."

I honestly don't think Contador gives Armstrong a thought. After days of focus on Valverde, Sanchez, et al, today he tweeted that he's happy to just go out and walk his dog. When he thinks cycling again, he'll think about the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. If he ever felt the need to send a message to LA, I think it was delivered personally on the podium in Paris in July.

There is no rivalry, because Armstrong can't beat him no matter what Versus tells people

Nearly · Mar 15, 2010

blaxland said:
+1 Auscyclesfan94 and Karlboss...........Are any of you guys going to Geelong in September?

I'm nearly there already - Beach Rd warrior

Angliru · Mar 15, 2010

Nearly said:
As for tactics - yes you can question them but when you lack that kick your choices are limited. Evans similarly lit up the queen stage of the Tour Down Under this year through an attack which just failed to drag him (or LLS and Valverde who double teamed him and ultimately beat him) into the lead. Deja vu but bad tactics?

If one can sight examples to the contrary I'd love to see them but up until maybe a year and a half ago Evans was far from an aggressive rider. I can remember only once prior to that time span when he actually took the initiative to attack and this was in pursuit of the eventual winning break in I believe L-B-L (can't remember what year). Otherwise thru true diligence and devotion to his MO he had earned the reputation of wheelsucker extraordinaire along with his doppelganger in America Levi Leipheimer. LL was the leading practioner of this technique and Evans gladly followed in his footsteps such that I began referring him as the Down Under Levi Leipheimer.

Of course he has since altered his approach to racing and has begun to take more risks. He would often use the excuse that he couldn't climb with his competitors, which he could for the most part. His climbing talents are/were no less than Menchov's and Leipheimer's and he has the advantage of being able to hold his form for a longer period of time than most and thus avoid suffering the occasional "bad day" in the mountains that often plagues many of his competitors. As the years have passed he's seemed to have become more confident in his abilities and more willng to take risks to achieve victory.

Perhaps his late start to road cycling after his early career success in mountain biking would explain the early hesitance on his part and the cautious, conservative riding style. The Evans that we're seeing in the past year or so is not the conservative take-no-risks one that we saw before.

Angliru · Mar 15, 2010

Publicus said:
If by help you mean he did what he said he was going to do (hold Cadel's wheel all week) then he most certainly did. Cadel lost becaus Cadel was waiting for AC or someone else to chase down Valverde at Ventoux. If he hadn't waited and jumped on Valverde's wheel he would have won the Dauphine last year. So can we stop with the AC helped Valverde bit?

Exactly. The Dauphine was lost at that moment when Valverde attacked and Evans didn't respond thus giving up any hope of winning. All of this double teamed bs is simply an excuse for his waiting for others to assist him in answering Valverde's winning attack. He didn't necessarily have to jump on Valverde's wheel but doing something other than looking around for help that wasn't coming, something like making an effort to do what he and LL often say they have to do versus the "superior climbers"--limit their losses--could have been the difference between a Dauphine win and just another also ran.

Timmy-loves-Rabo · Mar 15, 2010

auscyclefan94 said:
yes, sure am!!! can't wait.

i was hoping to get some accommodation in geelong, but it's practically all booked... will have to drive (it's like an hour max... but still

)

powderpuff · Mar 15, 2010

Angliru said:
If one can sight examples to the contrary I'd love to see them but up until maybe a year and a half ago Evans was far from an aggressive rider.

Here are just a few to keep you interested. Could not be bothered getting everything he just seemed to do it so often.(Thx BC

Angliru · Mar 15, 2010

karlboss said:
Have no idea, what country I'll be in come september.

Did Contador help Valverde...no doubt. Watch the tapes, Evans attacks, and Contador doesn't counter or accelerate with him, he accelerates slowly with Valverde on his wheel. Were time gaps different I'm not sure he'd have done the same. I'm not saying Contador stole the victory from Evans, Evans lost on Ventoux. Though had Evans chased I have no doubt Contador would have won something else last year.

An attack is usually something that one does to catch their opponent(s) unawares and by surprise. Each and every one of Evans' "attacks" were from the very front of the peloton. He was sitting on the front, jumped out of his saddle and began fighting with his bike. Contador being on his wheel and having the well known fastest acceleration in the mountains in the pro ranks, of course gets to Evans rear wheel before Valverde. Valverde, not taken by surprise since the element of surprise is not a factor due to Evans' decision to launch his efforts while his opponents are already on his wheel.

If you take into account the number of times he "attacked" (upwards of 10 or more according to Valverde), that energy would've been better served earlier in the race immediately responding to Valverde's Ventoux attack.

I commend him for his effort just not for his execution of this effort.

franciep10 · Mar 15, 2010

tgsgirl said:
I can't stand the man, but world champ, 3rd & 4th at the Vuelta, 2nd & 5th at Flèche, 2x 2nd & 4th at the Tour, 7th & 5th at LBL ... you probably won't fine a whole lot of people in the peloton with that palmares.

This post is exactly my problem with Evans, his major palmares are one win an d 2nd places and even a 7th place in lbl as an acheivment. That's why he's over rated in my book. Somebody called valverde over rated well valverde has won all of Evans Major podiums except for the tour.

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Conta & Evans early form...

Publicus

flicker

Oldman

ravens

auscyclefan94

auscyclefan94

blaxland

St. Elia

BroDeal

blaxland

auscyclefan94

karlboss

El Oso

auscyclefan94

Nick777

tgsgirl

Four Winds

theswordsman

Nearly

Angliru

Angliru

Timmy-loves-Rabo

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Angliru

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