Gent-Wevelgem 2012

[El Pistolero]

Yep. Can't find any primary source, but read this.

Thanks, learned two things today, Rojas is probably an idiot and secondly: Devolder actually has a Spanish fan

 

[hatcher]

Cav was taking his turns on the front in the chase group. Thought I'd point it out.

 

[hrotha]

Thanks, learned two things today, Rojas is probably an idiot and secondly: Devolder actually has a Spanish fan

Look what I found!
http://web.archive.org/web/20090301...deportistas/jose-joaquin-rojas_Biografia.html

"Personaje histórico: Franco"

He also likes "Brat Pitt", and "king boxing" is one of his favourite sports, but that info is still in his current website.

And Devolder rocks!

 

[Hawkwood]

Cav would be great in Desert races... long 220km stretches of straight roads with no hills to Las Vegas or such ...

Except he won this stage in 2009:

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/1900/etape_par_etape.html

click on the profile tab, there was a cat 2 climb about 16 kms from the finish.

 

[Lanark]

Except he won this stage in 2009:

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/1900/etape_par_etape.html

click on the profile tab, there was a cat 2 climb about 16 kms from the finish.

Cavendish has never been able to replicate his 2009 climbing legs however.

 

[Hawkwood]

Cavendish has never been able to replicate his 2009 climbing legs however.

Wonder what's different now? Has he upped his power by putting on muscle mass?

 

[Museeuw]

Except he won this stage in 2009:

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/1900/etape_par_etape.html

click on the profile tab, there was a cat 2 climb about 16 kms from the finish.

Just wonder how fast that climb was ridden?

 

[Richeypen]

Just wonder how fast that climb was ridden?

Very.

Lots of teams rode very hard at the front in attempt to lose Cav. Didnt succeed but got rid of most of his train. Two riders got away and nearly made it as there were few domestiques left to pull them back on the descent.

 

[Hikeabike]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lanark View Post
Cavendish has never been able to replicate his 2009 climbing legs however.


Wonder what's different now? Has he upped his power by putting on muscle mass?

Cav appears to struggle with his weight. As he is such a small guy compared to the other sprinters like Boonen, Greipel, Thor etc I wonder if he puts weight on to muscle with these and this in turn hampers his climbing ability?

 

[maltiv]

Cav appears to struggle with his weight. As he is such a small guy compared to the other sprinters like Boonen, Greipel, Thor etc I wonder if he puts weight on to muscle with these and this in turn hampers his climbing ability?

It's not as much about weight as it is about him simply having a very low VO2 max and capacity. Hushovd used to be huge back in the days, having enormous (relatively) upper-body muscles, but he was still a better climber then than Cav will ever be.

As for why he doesn't seem to be able to replicate his 2009 form, I have no idea. It's quite unusual to be at your best shape ever at 23 and then not only stagnate, but actually become worse between the age of 23-26.

 

[El Pistolero]

Look what I found!
http://web.archive.org/web/20090301...deportistas/jose-joaquin-rojas_Biografia.html

"Personaje histórico: Franco"

He also likes "Brat Pitt", and "king boxing" is one of his favourite sports, but that info is still in his current website.

And Devolder rocks!

Which king has his preference?

 

[bjbest]

Great video of "Wrecking Ball" Rojas on NOS (he goes sideways at about 3:00 min. into the video; also includes slap-happy EBH, and some actual race highlights): http://nos.nl/l/tcm:5-1230502/

Amazing that CN is still reporting that a Saxo Bank rider caused the crash.

 

[Caruut]

It's not as much about weight as it is about him simply having a very low VO2 max and capacity. Hushovd used to be huge back in the days, having enormous (relatively) upper-body muscles, but he was still a better climber then than Cav will ever be.

As for why he doesn't seem to be able to replicate his 2009 form, I have no idea. It's quite unusual to be at your best shape ever at 23 and then not only stagnate, but actually become worse between the age of 23-26.

It probably has something to do with the HTC team policy. Win as many races/stages as possible. Since Sky (rather oddly, since classics racing is barely even known of in the UK) seems to have a pretty good squad for the classics, I'd hoped they might try and adapt his physique for classics racing and go for more quality of wins rather than quantity. Still, this year he's got a pan-flat home Olympics - one would hardly expect him not to trying to optimise form and physique for that.

He's also not actually a particularly phenomenal athlete; obviously he puts me bang to rights, but compared to other riders who will go down as one of the best in history in their discipline, he's just not that great. I don't have them to hand, but I've seen plenty of statistics suggesting that in the the usual metrics used to measure cyclists, he's pretty average. He relies on team-mates, good positioning, good timing, and a decent aerodynamic profile.

 

[WindLessBreeze]

Boonen is back/Lizzy has never left

Women's podium: Great looking gals. I want a podium with Lizzy, Marianne, and the HiTech gal from Sweden next big race. As for the men's race, an all Radio*Shack squad led by the Swiss Power*House. When Radio*Shack aligns, the competition will feel the need to step in the head'; Sudor' will invade their scary bodies. Flujo^Vaginal will drop from our competitor's lycras. It's Natural. It's like if Lance was there himself. Montani3Semper/samurai3