Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Not bad for a bloke who's main skill is turning up when the rest of the field is crap.

6th Tour de France with 4x stage wins so 1 more than Eddy now.

 

[Vroome.exe]

A 'finished' Cav won more TdF stages this year for QuickStep than he did in 3 years for them while in his prime. And he called those 3 years as his best.

 

[oldcrank]

Really, really hope he rides a couple of sixes this fall ... maybe London with Morkov and Gent with Keisse ... or both with Keisse? It would be fantastic for the fans and his kids, but I'm not holding my breath. He would certainly need to be compensated as the GOAT TdF stage winner and I guess it still depends on the state of the 'rona epidemic.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Congrats to him, quite an achievement and it wasn't easy out there today. Guessing PL's next column will be slightly smug

 

[RedheadDane]

Really, really hope he rides a couple of sixes this fall ... maybe London with Morkov and Gent with Keisse ... or both with Keisse? It would be fantastic for the fans and his kids, but I'm not holding my breath. He would certainly need to be compensated as the GOAT TdF stage winner and I guess it still depends on the state of the 'rona epidemic.

He could also do the Copenhagen Six Three Day Event.

I hope he's doing the Tour of Denmark. If it's not on his schedule, I shall personally channel my inner BlueRoads, and bring him here!

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Are there still any holdouts for the “Cavendish is not the clear best sprinter of all time” position?

 

[SHAD0W93]

He could also do the Copenhagen Six Three Day Event.

I hope he's doing the Tour of Denmark. If it's not on his schedule, I shall personally channel my inner BlueRoads, and bring him here!

No the Vuelta hopefully!

 

[RedheadDane]

No the Vuelta hopefully!

But he's stated countless times that he loves Denmark!
However, he's going to the Grand Depart next year, with or without his bike!

 

[Netserk]

Are there still any holdouts for the “Cavendish is not the clear best sprinter of all time” position?

Why would there be fewer now than a week ago?

 

[Red Rick]

Are there still any holdouts for the “Cavendish is not the clear best sprinter of all time” position?

"But Cipollini"

Tbh if I have to dissect Giro sprinting fields from those days I can apply for medical examiner jobs right after.

 

[Leinster]

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.

A “climbing sprinter” was always an unlikely green jersey this year with so few middle-mountain stages, or intermediates after a couple of low-cat climbs. In the end, it’s going to the only top flight “pure sprinter” left in the race.

 

[Leinster]

A 'finished' Cav won more TdF stages this year for QuickStep than he did in 3 years for them while in his prime. And he called those 3 years as his best.

Tbf, those were the years where he had his toughest competition. Peak Kittel and Greipel and Sagan; almost all of his 2nd, 3rd and 4th places at the Tour are behind some combination of those 3.

Oh, and he crashed out on stage 1 of 2014.

 

[King Boonen]

A “climbing sprinter” was always an unlikely green jersey this year with so few middle-mountain stages, or intermediates after a couple of low-cat climbs. In the end, it’s going to the only top flight “pure sprinter” left in the race.

Pretty sure a climbing sprinter just won on Ven-two…

 

[Red Rick]

Pretty sure a climbing sprinter just won on Ven-two…

Nah that's just a dirt biker.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Are there still any holdouts for the “Cavendish is not the clear best sprinter of all time” position?

The problem is the continuum of sprinters into other types of rider. I think a good case can still be made for Freddy Maertens, but I also understand if you'd want to argue he isn't 'just' a sprinter, more a Peter Sagan or Paolo Bettini type.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Tbf, those were the years where he had his toughest competition. Peak Kittel and Greipel and Sagan; almost all of his 2nd, 3rd and 4th places at the Tour are behind some combination of those 3.

Oh, and he crashed out on stage 1 of 2014.

Agreed. Then 2013 had full Giro and if you believe him riding a new spare bike since his was damaged with a crank 2.5mm longer. 2014 crashed. 2015 he wasn’t in as good shape to last the 3 weeks so wasn’t good in Paris and Quickstep and he (especially him) were firing way earlier than needed in stage 2 and 5.

But he's stated countless times that he loves Denmark!
However, he's going to the Grand Depart next year, with or without his bike!

He can go to Denmark next year! Let him win more GT stages. Or heck go to Denmark for the first 3 stages and leave.

 

[RedheadDane]

He can go to Denmark next year! Let him win more GT stages.

Or... go to Denmark next year and win more GT stages.

 

[BigCoward]

if he wins and breaks record on final stage in Paris he should retire, best comeback and retirement ever. Nothing to prove to anyone.

 

[SHAD0W93]

The problem is the continuum of sprinters into other types of rider. I think a good case can still be made for Freddy Maertens, but I also understand if you'd want to argue he isn't 'just' a sprinter, more a Peter Sagan or Paolo Bettini type.

With Maertens than you could argue Sean Kelly. Pure sprinter though it’s him or Cipollini depending on how you rate things. Next would be Petacchi.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Or... go to Denmark next year and win more GT stages.

But he can’t get 7 Vuelta stage wins at Denmark. Or is Denmark about to become the 4th GT?


I think he will ride one last year instead of retiring at the end of the Tour. Hopefully it is successful. Maybe go back to Giro and Vuelta and let Jakobsen do the Tour.

 

[RedheadDane]

But he can’t get 7 Vuelta stage wins at Denmark. Or is Denmark about to become the 4th GT?

What does he need 7 Vuelta stage wins for?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

The problem is the continuum of sprinters into other types of rider. I think a good case can still be made for Freddy Maertens, but I also understand if you'd want to argue he isn't 'just' a sprinter, more a Peter Sagan or Paolo Bettini type.

Thats exactly it. If you want to argue about great cyclists, there’s a lot to be said for Maertens. But as a sprinter specifically I don’t think he’s really in the same division as Cavendish.

 

[SHAD0W93]

What does he need 7 Vuelta stage wins for?

To be the first rider with double digit GT wins!

 

[RedheadDane]

To be the first rider with double digit GT wins!

Pretty sure he only needs six Vuelta wins for that, so far. Or you don't consider 10 a double digit number?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Pretty sure he only needs six Vuelta wins for that, so far. Or you don't consider 10 a double digit number?

I don’t consider 9 a double digit number. Unless you’re counting the TTT.