Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[SHAD0W93]

Regardless if he is able to finish the Tour, what are the odds of him returning to the Vuelta with Fabio? I don’t know the route but according to PCS and Wiki there is a total of 8 flat stages and 6 of them in the first week. That gives him time to potentially add to his GT stage count and Fabio gets a GT in his legs. All he needs is 7 for double digits….

Unless things completely 180 I doubt PL will let Bennett ride anything this year.

 

[SHAD0W93]

There is a grey wolf thing for the Green jersey, I think

Yes! But I was thinking of the flower bouquet.

Redirect Notice

 

[TMP402]

Needs two of three remaining.

 

[sir fly]

Surely he won't regret passing on today, will he?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Surely he won't regret passing on today, will he?

Depends on how tired he was honestly. I figured 10 and 12 would go to break and the other 3 he can contest. I think Quickstep should still ride tomorrow in case he doesn’t make the time limit.

 

[jmdirt]

Depends on how tired he was honestly. I figured 10 and 12 would go to break and the other 3 he can contest. I think Quickstep should still ride tomorrow in case he doesn’t make the time limit.

^This, I bet he was too tired to even think about putting the boys on the front (who were also pretty tired).

 

[sir fly]

Depends on how tired he was honestly. I figured 10 and 12 would go to break and the other 3 he can contest. I think Quickstep should still ride tomorrow in case he doesn’t make the time limit.

Although there's the Green jersey too, his main objective must be the record.
They're experienced enough to know if/when he has the legs.

 

[jmdirt]

Nice gesture by Cav to give a shout out to GOAT M Vos!

 

[SHAD0W93]

Breakaway denies Cavendish a chance to equal Tour de France stage record in Nîmes

‘I was actually happy to have a bit of recovery’ says points classification leader

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Think they've got to pick their battles at this point, with various sprinters abandoning and Cav cleaning up I guess there will be even less help controlling the break on flat stages going forward. And if he felt tired and Ala fancied it it probably made sense to take today off.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Think they've got to pick their battles at this point, with various sprinters abandoning and Cav cleaning up I guess there will be even less help controlling the break on flat stages going forward. And if he felt tired and Ala fancied it it probably made sense to take today off.

If Ala had gotten the stage and intermediate win he’d be second in points and I’d say a good backup in case of OTL but no cigar. I can see like how Quickstep did in 2013 Giro on the 4th stage Cav won. Started the day not going for a sprint and saying screw it and going for it.

 

[will-10]

Surely he won't regret passing on today, will he?

After that wild start the break was bound to be a very strong one. I think the way Quickstep raced, they knew it wasn't gonna be a sprint today from v.early on

 

[jmdirt]

Congrats! and Congrats!

 

[ppanther92]

He is so dominant that the "climbing" sprinters (Matthews and Colbrelli) don't even stand a chance for Green. Although Colbrelli is also too weak in the mass sprints.

 

[MartinGT]

Take a bow you legend

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Congratulations! Nice to witness history bring written. Especially since noone anticipated this just a month ago.

 

[sir fly]

Would've been really dull should have that jostling with Sagan ('17) ended his Tour winning streak.
Epic comeback.

Congrats.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Yes!!!!
With 2 more chances and to equal his most wins record. Nasty sprint like stage 4 but pulled it off. In a Tour sprint finish I think that’s the most tired he has been since 2011 stage 5 and that was on an uphill.

 

[Netserk]

I think it'll happen in Paris. >50 % that the break will take stage 19.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I think it'll happen in Paris. >50 % that the break will take stage 19.

Wouldn't that just be better? I mean, I'm conflicted over it regardless, because it's like, the guy with the record is somebody who has only ever won one type of stage (Aubenas '09 notwithstanding) rather than somebody who could win in every type of stage at all times, but at the same time being able to hold the record while only being able to contest 1/3 of the stages entered is arguably more impressive as an achievement, even if the vast majority of the stages won are transient, forgettable affairs, only remembered as part of the statistics they account for, i.e. the number of wins. If he breaks the record in a nondescript, nothing transitional stage, it's remarkable but it's not really a 'moment' per se. However, if he breaks the record on the Champs Elysées, as a final conclusion to the Tour in front of the Paris crowd and in the informal 'Sprinters' World Championships', that's going to be infinitely more memorable and iconic, and probably the greatest Champs moment since Vino, and will instantly become one of the most legendary Champs Elysées stages of all time, along with Hinault and Zoetemelk in '79, Lemond and Fignon in '89, Abdou's crash and Vino's solo.

 

[BlueRoads]

Wouldn't that just be better? I mean, I'm conflicted over it regardless, because it's like, the guy with the record is somebody who has only ever won one type of stage (Aubenas '09 notwithstanding) rather than somebody who could win in every type of stage at all times, but at the same time being able to hold the record while only being able to contest 1/3 of the stages entered is arguably more impressive as an achievement, even if the vast majority of the stages won are transient, forgettable affairs, only remembered as part of the statistics they account for, i.e. the number of wins. If he breaks the record in a nondescript, nothing transitional stage, it's remarkable but it's not really a 'moment' per se. However, if he breaks the record on the Champs Elysées, as a final conclusion to the Tour in front of the Paris crowd and in the informal 'Sprinters' World Championships', that's going to be infinitely more memorable and iconic, and probably the greatest Champs moment since Vino, and will instantly become one of the most legendary Champs Elysées stages of all time, along with Hinault and Zoetemelk in '79, Lemond and Fignon in '89, Abdou's crash and Vino's solo.

Didn't I already leak the document that showed that this Tour is pre-scripted? So of course he's going to do it in Paris.

 

[RedheadDane]

Didn't I already leak the document that showed that this Tour is pre-scripted? So of course he's going to do it in Paris.

When did that happen?
BTW, where do you get all those insider-stories from? You seem to post quite a few of those...

 

[SHAD0W93]

When did that happen?
BTW, where do you get all those insider-stories from? You seem to post quite a few of those...

Why do you think she “kidnaps” the riders. They’re the ones with the script.

 

[SHAD0W93]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1413530479324811265

View: https://twitter.com/roadcc/status/1413530479324811265?s=20

Definitely a more mature answer and one I don’t think 2009-2011 Cavendish would have made.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Definitely a more mature answer and one I don’t think 2009-2011 Cavendish would have made.

2009-11 Cavendish would have thought not just breaking but demolishing the record was a likelihood, whereas 2021 Cavendish has been through the mill several times, has had to learn all the tricks of the trade to keep on top when you've been usurped as the fastest man in the field, and has been offered an opportunity in the twilight of his career that most people - seemingly himself included - thought was beyond him, and is just relieved and thankful.

A bit like how many of us - myself included - thought Cadel Evans had wasted his best opportunity to win the Tour in 2008, and that his late career revitalisation of his tactical book had come too late for what was left of his legs, and then when he was unexpectedly handed a golden opportunity in 2011 he was like a different man.