How patriotic are cycling fans?

[Ninety5rpm]

Results so far:

I and my favorite rider are both from Australia. 6
I'm Austrialian but my favorite is not. 3
I and my favorite rider are both from the UK. 6
I'm from the UK but my favorite is not. 3
I and my favorite rider are both from the U.S.A. 3
I'm from the USA but my favorite is not. 21
I'm non-UK European; favorite is from same country. 7
I'm non-UK European; favorite isn't from same country 12
I'm from other; favorite is from same country. 3
I'm from other; favorite is not from same country. 7

So, the Australians and Brits are 2:1 biased in favor of their homeboyz, while everyone else is not at all so biased, with the yanks standing out in particular in this regard (21 out of 24 claim a non-American fave).

You could say that that's expected since the sport is dominated by non-Americans, but there are more American pro cyclists than there are British and Aussie pro cyclists. The Cadel fanboyz are the most peculiar to me. I mean, what is there to like at all about that chap, much less have him be your favorite?

Sheesh, even Americans are anti-American these days.

 

[craig1985]

Results so far:



So, the Australians and Brits are 2:1 biased in favor of their homeboyz, while everyone else is not at all so biased, with the yanks standing out in particular in this regard (21 out of 24 claim a non-American fave).

You could say that that's expected since the sport is dominated by non-Americans, but there are more American pro cyclists than there are British and Aussie pro cyclists. The Cadel fanboyz are the most peculiar to me. I mean, what is there to like at all about that chap, much less have him be your favorite?

Sheesh, even Americans are anti-American these days.

That he is Australian, finished on the podium of the TdF, the Vuelta, and a is a World Champion?

 

[Ninety5rpm]

That he is Australian, finished on the podium of the TdF, the Vuelta, and a is a World Champion?

So he happens to be the Australian pro cyclist with the best results.
But why do you like him?

What little personality he seems to have, there seems to be little if anything attractive about it. Am I missing something? I mean, he makes relatively mundane personalities like Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer look deep, funny, dynamic and entertaining.

 

[powderpuff]

So he happens to be the Australian pro cyclist with the best results.
But why do you like him?

What little personality he seems to have, there seems to be little if anything attractive about it. Am I missing something? I mean, he makes relatively mundane personalities like Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer look deep, funny, dynamic and entertaining.

What you are missing; is you don't know the real Cadel.

You know the Cadel who is put forward to you in the media.

He is not in your face but once he gets to know you and vice versa you won't find a nicer bloke. A dry sense of humour but he just likes doing the normal things like most aussie guys, BBQ's, surfing,cars and the cricket; he just happens to be a pretty damn good bike rider at the same time that puts 100% percent in everytime he gets on a bike and expects those around him do to the same. Show him respect and he will return the favour, but he won't ask for respect, he will just go about his business.

 

[Ninety5rpm]

What you are missing; is you don't know the real Cadel.

You know the Cadel who is put forward to you in the media.

He is not in your face but once he gets to know you and vice versa you won't find a nicer bloke. A dry sense of humour but he just likes doing the normal things like most aussie guys, BBQ's, surfing,cars and the cricket; he just happens to be a pretty damn good bike rider at the same time that puts 100% percent in everytime he gets on a bike and expects those around him do to the same. Show him respect and he will return the favour, but he won't ask for respect, he will just go about his business.

In other words, zzzzzzzzzzz....

 

[powderpuff]

In other words, zzzzzzzzzzz....

Whatever... You won't ever like him and he doesn't care who you are or what you think.

 

[ridley]

I always liked Salvatore Commesso - a real rebel !!!

 

[biker jk]

In other words, zzzzzzzzzzz....

Yep, you're putting me to sleep again with your soporific comments on Cadel Evans.

 

[auscyclefan94]

What you are missing; is you don't know the real Cadel.

You know the Cadel who is put forward to you in the media.

He is not in your face but once he gets to know you and vice versa you won't find a nicer bloke. A dry sense of humour but he just likes doing the normal things like most aussie guys, BBQ's, surfing,cars and the cricket; he just happens to be a pretty damn good bike rider at the same time that puts 100% percent in everytime he gets on a bike and expects those around him do to the same. Show him respect and he will return the favour, but he won't ask for respect, he will just go about his business.

+1

Have any of you seen him at the charity rides which not many pros support at all? he gives a lot of his time to the general public. michael Tomolaris last year wrote an article slamming evans that he was not riding the tdu. even though he was not riding the race he still supported it and gave his time to the fans. Cadel owes nothing to the cycling fans of australia as he has given us plenty of entertainment and made the tour more public to the average australian. SBS owe evans for a lot as they would not have many people watching their coverage without him. From an australian perspective, many thought it was boring and that comes down to the fact of evans having a bad tour.

 

[biker jk]

So he happens to be the Australian pro cyclist with the best results.
But why do you like him?

What little personality he seems to have, there seems to be little if anything attractive about it. Am I missing something? I mean, he makes relatively mundane personalities like Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer look deep, funny, dynamic and entertaining.

Cadel Evans does have a sense of humour.

 

[Anonymous]

My current 4 fav's in the peleton are all GC riders, and all four of these guys are the only four that have actually stated the words "I can win the Tour" (or at least the only ones ive seen quoted as such)

Cadel Evans
Lance Armstrong
Alberto Contador
Andy Schleck

Most other GC contenders pissfart around the question and say they will aim for a top 5 or whatever, trying to play it cool. But i like guys who say the words "I CAN"... There's a certain arrogance about it, and i've always enjoyed watching arrogant sportsmen. Rather see someone say they can win, and then lose, than see someone saying they can top 5 and then top 5.

Out of the 4, Evans is the favourite, most likely due to the Aussie connection. Im sure if I was from US, Spain or Lux, my favourite would be from the country I'm from, which I do find a little weird (i mean seriously, why do we have this natural way of supporting our own country?)

Even tho those 4 are my fav's, i have to say there is not a single rider in the peleton that I do not like. I like watching them all, and love the sport. Hated Vino for a while in 2007 but got over it and enjoy him now.

 

[craig1985]

So he happens to be the Australian pro cyclist with the best results.
But why do you like him?

What little personality he seems to have, there seems to be little if anything attractive about it. Am I missing something? I mean, he makes relatively mundane personalities like Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer look deep, funny, dynamic and entertaining.

Hang on I have never said I was a Cadel Evans fan, I was putting up reasons why others might like him. As I can't speak for the other posters, I was merely speculating as to why that maybe the case.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Cadel Evans does have a sense of humour.

Yeah, that is every bit as funny as the Finger Bang Hat.

 

[Awolpe]

1 Lance Armstrong!!
2 USA
3 South Africa
4 no

Just curious...

1) Who is your most favorite rider?
2) What country is he from?
3) What country are you from?
4) Are the answers to (2) and (3) the same?

Answer the poll, too, please.

 

[Kristian]

1) Who is your most favorite rider? EBH, Arvesen and Hushovd.
2) What country is he from? Norway
3) What country are you from? Norway
4) Are the answers to (2) and (3) the same? Yes

 

[elapid]

I am Australian. I appreciate watching good performances regardless of the nationality of the rider, but my preferences are for the tough *******s of the peloton (and hence usually the cobbled spring classics). So my favourites in no particular order are:

1. Jens Voigt
2. Stuart O'Grady
3. Robbie McEwen
4. Tom Boonen
5. Juan Antonio Flecha

I also like Thor Hushovd, Heinrich Haussler, Johan Vansummeren and David Arroyo for the same reasons.

In answer to the OP:
1. Robbie McEwen
2. Australia
3. Australia
4. Yes

 

[Galic Ho]

Whatever... You won't ever like him and he doesn't care who you are or what you think.

I thought you said he was a nice guy. That doesn't fit the profile. Go ask Gesink how nice Cadel is, or the reporter he headbutted? Has he gotten over Tomalaris touching his shoulder yet?

In other words, zzzzzzzzzzz....

Not exactly but pretty close. He comes across as a tool. The other aussies supporting him do so for the following reasons.

1. They're patriotic
2. Patriotism expressed externally on a specific high performer from their chosen sport
3. Chosen sport is cycling and Cadel is the biggest rider from 2005 onwards

McEwen use to look like he was going to sleep at press conferences with Evans. I dare say he doesn't like him. Most aussies would have smacked him one for half of his brazen selfish remarks.

Ninety5rpm ignore Powderpuff, apparently knows Cadel, so all you will get their is bias. I don't need to explain the others, we've all seen it before, Cadel is the dead horse they flog.

A better question for the aussies would be, is your favourite rider an aussie who isn't named Cadel Evans?

 

[Galic Ho]

+1

Have any of you seen him at the charity rides which not many pros support at all? he gives a lot of his time to the general public. michael Tomolaris last year wrote an article slamming evans that he was not riding the tdu. even though he was not riding the race he still supported it and gave his time to the fans. Cadel owes nothing to the cycling fans of australia as he has given us plenty of entertainment and made the tour more public to the average australian. SBS owe evans for a lot as they would not have many people watching their coverage without him. From an australian perspective, many thought it was boring and that comes down to the fact of evans having a bad tour.

No that comes down to SBS, Tomalaris and his goofball comments and the Lance love in by Sherwen and Liggett. Evans having a bad tour didn't make it boring, it just made for another person to laugh at. Just kidding on the last bit.

 

[Angliru]

Hang on I have never said I was a Cadel Evans fan, I was putting up reasons why others might like him. As I can't speak for the other posters, I was merely speculating as to why that maybe the case.

Me thinks he doth protest too much!! C'mon Craig, its alright to admit your admiration for Cadel.

 

[guilder]

I'm from the USA but my favorite is not. = Translation: You could care less about this poll with the exception of the opportunity to pose as an American who doesn't like American anything in general, and specifically, America's current cycling hero.

Could it be the majority are closet LA fans? 36? Looks like it.
I'm Austrialian but my favorite is not.= 5
I'm from the UK but my favorite is not.= 5
I and my favorite rider are both from the U.S.A.= 5
I'm non-UK European; favorite isn't from same country= 12
I'm from other; favorite is not from same country.= 9

 

[auscyclefan94]

I thought you said he was a nice guy. That doesn't fit the profile. Go ask Gesink how nice Cadel is, or the reporter he headbutted? Has he gotten over Tomalaris touching his shoulder yet?

Not exactly but pretty close. He comes across as a tool. The other aussies supporting him do so for the following reasons.

1. They're patriotic
2. Patriotism expressed externally on a specific high performer from their chosen sport
3. Chosen sport is cycling and Cadel is the biggest rider from 2005 onwards

McEwen use to look like he was going to sleep at press conferences with Evans. I dare say he doesn't like him. Most aussies would have smacked him one for half of his brazen selfish remarks.

Ninety5rpm ignore Powderpuff, apparently knows Cadel, so all you will get their is bias. I don't need to explain the others, we've all seen it before, Cadel is the dead horse they flog.

A better question for the aussies would be, is your favourite rider an aussie who isn't named Cadel Evans?

A few inaccuracies to your post;
1. So nobody on here as ever cracked the shytes and made a mistake before like the gesink incident. Apologies were made after the stage.
2. he didn't headbutt a reporter but you can see with the camera angle that the camera man was in his way trying to get through.
3. If you have had a bad crash in the pyrenness, finshed the stage, started the next stage, rode over the tourmalet and hautacam, suffered all kinds of pain from soreness and injury and rode into the yellow jersey you definetly don't want to be touched in an area where you have bruises as it would hurt. he has broken it 7 times.
4. I, and many aussies support him because he is a nice guy. He is not afraid to show some emotion or fire in the belly which adds to the sport. You may not like him but reading his book you may get a better understanding of him.
5. I very much doubt mcewen doesn't like evans, he was the rider which reccomended cadel to lotto. Still good friends.

I don't know how Powderpuff can be bias if he knows cadel. he should be more qualified to judge as he actually knows the real cadel.

Their was an australian poll during 2007 or 2008 and i think the most popular australian athlete was evans. Nothing to do with Patriotism but people actually like him.

 

[powderpuff]

I thought you said he was a nice guy. That doesn't fit the profile. Go ask Gesink how nice Cadel is, or the reporter he headbutted? Has he gotten over Tomalaris touching his shoulder yet?

Gee one comment towards Gesink's riding and you make like its the end of the world. Headbutting, come on... he put his head down; no blood no foul, go support lawn bowls if you don't want confrontation.

He comes across as a tool.

So do you, go talk to the guy when you are at a race he will give you the time, just ask the people who went on his Kinglake ride and were at Amy's ride last weekend.

Ninety5rpm ignore Powderpuff, apparently knows Cadel, so all you will get their is bias.

What I actually might know what I am talking about.

 

[powderpuff]

Me thinks he doth protest too much!! C'mon Craig, its alright to admit your admiration for Cadel.

Yeh, Angliru, we know even you secretly admire his achievements too.

 

[Bike Boy]

1. Lance Armstrong
2. USA
3. Denmark
4. No

I tend to admire the sporting greats. Like in Tennis where I find Roger Federer's talent mesmerizing.
As im only 23 years old i didn't experience legends like Bartali and Anquetil. Of course Merckx is the biggest legend. but based on what I have been reading, I am very sad that I did not experience Bartali and Anquetil.
No matter how much I Read I will never be able to understand how it was, so for me it is very important to appreciate the legends of today.
Obviously it's not our own decision what part of history we get to experience so i'm quite frankly very pleased that I have the opportunity to experience the most succesfull rider of all time (in terms of the tour de france).

 

[Thorum]

Nuyens, who is also from Belgium. As am I