Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[Broccolidwarf]

I don't understand why he'd come back if it was to not go to try and win GT stages if the miracle comeback happened.

It's always hard for competitors to quit, and especially so if you are a natural born winner

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Going to the Tour is more exhausting than the Vuelta though. Going to France makes most sense if he's racing all the way to Paris; in the Vuelta he could abandon before the mountains. And media/public pressure is a lot stronger, as well as the competition. Doesn't make sense (at least as he said, maybe half jokingly, without extra pay), especially since he didn't plan his season for it to begin with.

Mentally it's more exhausting, especially for Cavendish, that has to do press briefings every single day, about trying to break the record, and generally the Tour just has a lot more media than other races.

But in terms of the physical aspect, I think the Vuelta is far harder on a sprinter, both because of route characteristics and because it's the end of the season.

 

[tobydawq]

The other thing is, that an in-form Cavendish, even without winning stages, can very well be in contention for green, especially if Sagan and Colbrelli need to do a lot of work, because their GC guys are doing well.

Sagan will not be required to give up anything because of Kelderman.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

After his miserable last few years I would never have expected we'd even be here in 2021 debating the merits of Cavs win against that stacked field of sprinters in Belgium, or possibly going to the tour as DQS's sprinter. So well done to him for getting back to competitive form. After that final stage in Belgium I was thinking to myself if another sprinter had done that I'd probably be talking up his prospects in the Tour but with Cav it's just hard to forget the last few years. Now he's back to good form though it will be interesting to see if he gives the Tour one last go next year and where he is riding next year, if not Quickstep. As PL said in his column, "with the level he has now, he wants to continue for at least another year."

As for the Vuelta, seems that's for Jakobsen:

Lefevere: Taking Mark Cavendish to the Tour de France would have made Sam Bennett nervous

'Everyone on the team loves Mark' says Deceuninck-QuickStep boss

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[carolina]

Would like to see Cav and Jakobsen at the Vuelta. They seemed to get along really well during Tour of Turkey. Cav might help him with some moral support and even take some of the pressure of him to try the sprints.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Sagan will not be required to give up anything because of Kelderman.

Bookman will probably get another go, since he didn't complete the Giro, and Konrad did GC at Dauphine.

I'm not at all sure what Bora's targets are the Tour are, but I would not put it past them to have GC aspirations, especially if a couple of main contenders crash out early, as per usual.

Either way, all a moot point now.

 

[tobydawq]

Bookman will probably get another go, since he didn't complete the Giro, and Konrad did GC at Dauphine.

I'm not at all sure what Bora's targets are the Tour are, but I would not put it past them to have GC aspirations, especially if a couple of main contenders crash out early, as per usual.

Either way, all a moot point now.

Sure, but they never keep Sagan on a tight leash.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Sure, but they never keep Sagan on a tight leash.

Time will show - obviously the prerequisite is, that they have guys doing well on GC.

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think Cav should go to the Vuelta. I haven’t seen the profiles but wiki shows 8 flat stages. That’s more than enough for Cav to show he can compete and gain GT experience for next year with Fabio growing in confidence, getting a GT, and potentially going for sprints.

Lefevere: Taking Mark Cavendish to the Tour de France would have made Sam Bennett nervous

'Everyone on the team loves Mark' says Deceuninck-QuickStep boss

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[SHAD0W93]

Another thing is if Bennett doesn’t win anything at the Tour and Cav either continues to win at the Vuelta or other races he does, PL and management will be in a media storm.

 

[Broccolidwarf]

Confirmed:

Cavendish is going to the Tour instead of Bennett.

Fun times ahead

 

[SHAD0W93]

Confirmed:

Cavendish is going to the Tour instead of Bennett.

Fun times ahead

Don’t play……

 

[Pricey_sky]

It’s official

https://twitter.com/x/status/1406960399866597376

View: https://twitter.com/deceuninck_qst/status/1406960399866597376?s=21

 

[SHAD0W93]

It’s official

https://twitter.com/x/status/1406960399866597376

View: https://twitter.com/deceuninck_qst/status/1406960399866597376?s=21

Not even an article on Google for it yet as I immediately googled his name in the news.
This is crazy. You got this Cav!!!!
Phil with “The Manx Missile is Back!”, hopefully.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Brilliant, the circus has begun.

If he takes a stage i think Carlton is going to need CPR.

 

[Red Rick]

Dreams can't be buy.

 

[spalco]

Old man formerly known as "boy racer" returns! Fantastic!

 

[SHAD0W93]

If he wins a stage while I’m at work or school and I can’t watch it live, I might have a heart attack having to wait to be able to see it after. I already missed the 2016 first stage win.

 

[MartinGT]

Brilliant, the circus has begun.

If he takes a stage i think Carlton is going to need CPR.

I think I will too

 

[Pricey_sky]

Brilliant, the circus has begun.

If he takes a stage i think Carlton is going to need CPR.

Not just Carlton!

 

[SHAD0W93]

Not just Carlton!

Make sure everyone is with someone who is ACLS certified, knows how to do compressions, and potentially an AED!

 

[Axel Hangleck]

It didn't seem likely last autumn, and even earlier this year despite winning stages in Turkey. PL doesn't do sentimental choices when the biggest race of the season comes up. His performances in Tour of Belgium were as good as could be expected; competing and then beating top sprinters.

Yes, it's taken an injury, but he warrants selection.

 

[Vasilis]

Guess who's back, back again

 

[Ricco']

Guess who's back, back again

Cav's back, tell a friend

 

[wheresmybrakes]

Jeez, if Cav is back there's still time for my mother to make a comeback! Good luck to him.