King Cadel Thread

[Angliru]

Definetly would of won 2008 (w/o crashes) and likely he would of won 2007 (Evans)

2007??? Don't get too carried away in your euphoria now!

 

[Zoncolan]

2007??? Don't get too carried away in your euphoria now!

Well, it was really close.
Had Rasmussen been thrown out earlier, and not pulled AC up the climbs, he might well have.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, it was really close.
Had Rasmussen been thrown out earlier, and not pulled AC up the climbs, he might well have.

There was nobody saying Cadel couldn't follow Rasmussen now was there

Rasmussen's performance at the Tour never got "deleted". He kept his stage win for example.

 

[kurtinsc]

There was nobody saying Cadel couldn't follow Rasmussen now was there

Rasmussen's performance at the Tour never got "deleted". He kept his stage win for example.

Well, Cadel was unable to.

The question is if Contador would have had enough time to win if he didn't have Rasmussen there to work with. It's a valid question... I have no clue. Perhaps Contador would have launched his own attack and gained more time... or perhaps he would have finished with the next group back and lost the Tour.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, Cadel was unable to.

The question is if Contador would have had enough time to win if he didn't have Rasmussen there to work with. It's a valid question... I have no clue. Perhaps Contador would have launched his own attack and gained more time... or perhaps he would have finished with the next group back and lost the Tour.

Would Cadel then have won the Tour in 2007 if Contador didn't got a flat tire at Tignes and Briancon on decisive moments?

Cadel would have never ever won that Tour. It's not only Cadel who has bad luck at GTs you know, it's just that he's the only one using it as an excuse. And his fans of course.

 

[The Ripper]

Trying to predict past races when plugging in a bunch if this did or did not happen scenarios is pretty much crystal ball work. Obviously, Evans did not win 2007. End of story.

 

[Angliru]

Well, Cadel was unable to.

The question is if Contador would have had enough time to win if he didn't have Rasmussen there to work with. It's a valid question... I have no clue. Perhaps Contador would have launched his own attack and gained more time... or perhaps he would have finished with the next group back and lost the Tour.

Contador has reigned in his attacking impulses since that time to a certain extent due in part to Bruyneel's coaching. Back then he would've attacked without restraint, likely with either Bruyneel or whoever was in team's car yelling in his earpiece or him riding with it hanging from his collar to avoid the noise! Contador would've definitely attacked and often.

 

[Angliru]

Well, it was really close.
Had Rasmussen been thrown out earlier, and not pulled AC up the climbs, he might well have.

I recall them attacking each other up the climbs, not Rassmussen pulling AC up them. Is my recollection incorrect?

 

[El Pistolero]

Contador has reigned in his attacking impulses since that time to a certain extent due in part to Bruyneel's coaching. Back then he would've attacked without restraint, likely with either Bruyneel or whoever was in team's car yelling in his earpiece or him riding with it hanging from his collar to avoid the noise! Contador would've definitely attacked and often.

In 2007 he attacked a lot though. Even with more then 40km to go. If anything, he was dragging Rasmussen up those mountains with his constant accelerations and not the other way around.

 

[K-0tic]

Trying to predict past races when plugging in a bunch if this did or did not happen scenarios is pretty much crystal ball work. Obviously, Evans did not win 2007. End of story.

Exactly , there are always things which go wrong and things which work out perfectly. Last year there was the bad luck for Schleck for example and this year it is something different. Complaining about Rasmussen who carried Contador is pretty weak , I mean if Rabobank didn't pull out Rasmussen, he would have won. And so we can continue the arguing.

 

[ManInFull]

In 2007 he attacked a lot though. Even with more then 40km to go. If anything, he was dragging Rasmussen up those mountains with his constant accelerations and not the other way around.

He certainly attacked a lot that year. I loved the last stage in which The Chicken participated. AC and LL attacked (or am I mistaken) and The Chicken responded to every attack and eventually dropped both of them. What a memorable stage.

 

[Angliru]

Exactly , there are always things which go wrong and things which work out perfectly. Last year there was the bad luck for Schleck for example and this year it is something different. Complaining about Rasmussen who carried Contador is pretty weak , I mean if Rabobank didn't pull out Rasmussen, he would have won. And so we can continue the arguing.

Whose complaining? There is apparently a difference of opinion on the circumstances as they happened in the 2007 Tour specifically the aggressions in the mountains between Contador and Rassmussen. Some here like to remember it as Rassmussen "pulling" Contador up the mountains and others remember it as Contador and Rassmussen exchanging attacks back and forth. Part of the dispute is would Contador have attacked if Rassmussen not been in the race and knowing Contador's style of riding I can't imagine it being a question that needs asking. What is really in question is would he have gained enough time in the mountains to have beaten Evans? If it's going to be argued that Evans would've won then it also could be argued the same for Leipheimer since he was only seconds behind Evans in the final gc.

Your insistence that Rassmussen "carried" Contador is no more valid a statement than those saying Evans could've won or Contador still would've pulled it out. Don't get all holier than thou on us when you yourself are playing the same game.

 

[Mshengu]

Then it happens...

Cadel wins Five Tours de France and joins a select group of Tour de France legends like Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Jacques, and Armstrong!!!

 

[Captain Kirk]

Then it happens...

Cadel wins Five Tours de France and joins a select group of Tour de France legends like Merckx, Hinault, Indurain, Jacques, and Armstrong!!!

What about he does a Merckx and wins ALL 3 jerseys in one Tour

 

[rata de sentina]

Some here like to remember it as Rassmussen "pulling" Contador up the mountains and others remember it as Contador and Rassmussen exchanging attacks back and forth.

I'm not a big fan of these woulda, coulda, shoulda kind of arguments but my recollection is a bit more of the former than the latter although the effect is essentially the same. Whatever the circumstances I am sure we can agree that the race dynamic would have been a lot different because everyone else was clearly a step below AC and the chicken. What we can say is that 2007 was completely stuffed up because of the cheatin' chicken.

 

[Dermie]

What about he does a Merckx and wins ALL 3 jerseys in one Tour

I believe he already is in a bit of an exclusive club with the TDF victory & a World Championship under his belt.
And I wonder how exclusive is the TDF, World Champ, 2 times UCI mtn bike world cup winner is.
Forget all the woulda & couldas.