Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[tobydawq]

I think he should just stop his career. But each to his own, and I guess he still earns a fair amount (fair as in quite a lot, not as in reasonable).

 

[repre]

Didnt seem to have any gas left at the end of the stage to sprint. Either that or he was too scared after yesterday when the guy in front of him started moving across slightly as he opened up his sprint. Either way, can't see him making Tour selection with Landa looking half decent

He was too scared as usual. Had free valley on the right side to sprint but couldn't help himself. Another embarrasing showing from him, especially with the remaining sprint field. Could be top-5 easily.

 

[wheresmybrakes]

He was too scared as usual. Had free valley on the right side to sprint but couldn't help himself. Another embarrasing showing from him, especially with the remaining sprint field. Could be top-5 easily.

Top 5! He couldn't beat my mother.

 

[ppanther92]

He was too scared as usual. Had free valley on the right side to sprint but couldn't help himself. Another embarrasing showing from him, especially with the remaining sprint field. Could be top-5 easily.

I really don't think that he is physically capable of being a top-10 sprinter anymore.

 

[repre]

I really don't think that he is physically capable of being a top-10 sprinter anymore.

Maybe, but i am more on the mental side of his woes...

 

[repre]

Top 5! He couldn't beat my mother.

Did you see quality of remaining sprinters? Even your grandma would beat them and Cav had proper position and free path for sprint.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Having listened to him on Geraint and Rowe's podcast, I think his poor form is not surprising. He's always relied on racing to get his fitness up more so than other pros, and if he's in that same situation at the Tour instead of a relatively small race for him, I think he goes for it. The bigger concern is he also didn't seem to have the legs.

I think not being selected for Tokyo 20 was also a major setback to his motivation.

I've maintained hope for a comeback given that he's looked decent on the track, but yesterday was a major red flag. Build for Giro/Vuelta stages, I think he could maybe still get a couple of stages there with some good prep, but those last 4 tour stages are looking increasingly out of reach

 

[therealthing]

Stone dead last and over 30 minutes down today. Nearly 6 minutes behind the 2nd last rider...

 

[SHAD0W93]

Stone dead last and over 30 minutes down today. Nearly 6 minutes behind the 2nd last rider...

But he finished

The struggles been real but I still have hope.

 

[Red Rick]

Not good though.

Really I hope he's in a mentally good place and it's all just physical.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Not good though.

Really I hope he's in a mentally good place and it's all just physical.

Especially since he came out that he was suffering with depression in I think 2018.

Found the article, https://www.cyclingnews.com/amp/news/mark-cavendish-ive-battled-quite-hard-with-depression/

 

[Breezy1985]

If he is intent on having another few years racing would he not be better to switch to being a lead out man and maybe take some of the pressure off. Surely he is done as a race winner and there's no shame admitting that

 

[spalco]

Not a chance for Cavendish once again in Wallonie. I always liked him, but what the hell's he still doing here? I don't really understand what he's thinking, or whatever sports director is willing to pay him.

 

[stonerider]

He's just milking it for a pay check now. He's got young kids to raise. He'll keep at it as long as they keep paying him.

 

[Red Rick]

Any contract offered to Cav should be minimal but with bonuses for wins, etc. I doubt the paycheck is that big

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

He was in great position, going into the final 1500m (after headbutting again, but whatever), and even before the actual sprint started, he had to let go because he couldn't follow the tempo. What is this?

 

[therealthing]

He can't even hold the speed to compete in a sprint. He's finished, and has been for 2 years now.

 

[skippo12]

He was in great position, going into the final 1500m (after headbutting again, but whatever), and even before the actual sprint started, he had to let go because he couldn't follow the tempo. What is this?

That´s not a mental problem. He just lacks the power. He is not scared and fights for a good position. Compare that to Greipel who is not willing to fit for position and starts most sprints from way behind but at least has the speed to make up some ground and finish inside the top 10.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think there's a couple reasons besides age because he has shown in his Instagram this year he was still motivated to train.

1. Having mono severally hampered his racing shape.
2. The crashes on top of the mono caused him to suffer more.
3. His severe lack of racing days since 2017 from the above points. We can talk all we want about everyone losing racing days but his is substantial.
4. Maybe mentally he's worried because he does have the family and he doesn't want to crash and injure himself with his poor form.
5. Maybe he is worried if he actually sprinted the results he would get. He talked about his depression and that he wants to prove everyone that doubted him wrong and that he can still compete. But deep down he has to know the last 3 years has not been in his favor. Maybe he has not come to terms with the position he is in as a rider now. Maybe he doesn't want to see that his shape right now isn't the Mark Cavendish of old. And maybe, he's afraid of what he actually is now and doesn't want to show it by actually sprinting so he can hold out hope that he can return to his old self.

It makes me sad, each day he races I look at procycling to see his result, each day hoping he performed better. I hope he can win again but realistically it will be very hard. No one else has brought the joy that he did when he won 4 stages in 2016 or his lone win in 2015. I was always rooting for him since 2009 and still will. But maybe it is time for Mark and I to let go of the Manx Missile and he retire so he can spend more time with his family.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Today was sad to watch, but a lot of positives too. He wasn't afraid to fight for position against Bouhanni, he just lacked the power to keep the pace. But that's not a surprise, given that he needs racing to build form, he's said multiple times that he's not good at training on the home trainer.

He's so tactically savvy at this point of his career, and if he is motivated next season, he should be able to win some of those small shitty races that he'd avoid earlier in his career. I still think at top form, he could nab a stage here or there in some bigger races if the stars align, but he's gotta consider whether thats worthwhile for him over spending long lost time with the family.

 

[therealthing]

Dropped from the peloton with 17km to go.

Finished.

 

[Jspear]

Dropped from the peloton with 17km to go.

Finished.

He’s been finished for a while.

 

[jaylew]

I was never a Cav fan but I'm a little sad for him. It would be best for a champion like him to have some sort of positive result before retiring but after 2 and half years since his last win I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[Bonimenier]

It's just getting sad at this point.

 

[benzwire]

Like a lot of you guys, I'm starting to feel sad for Cav. I'm sure age is catching up with him, along with his mental state (more risk averse due to family and previous crashes). To me, it looks like he's not even trying any more. That's the sad thing about this, he just seems to have lost his will to fight.
I am no fan of Cav, in fact when he was dominating, I really disliked him. He was so cocky, but he did have the goods to back it up. He is really one of the top sprinters of all time, but now he is a shell of his former self. I think he is doing damage to his legacy at this point. It would be sad for people to remember him as a has-been instead of the incredible sprinter that he was. He needs to get out now, while he still has some dignity left. At this rate, the peloton may end up letting him get one last win, like when they put in a special needs kid in a basketball game in the last seconds to score a basket. It's time to move on man...