Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[King Of The Wolds]

If, and a big if Merlier goes to Quick-Step, could he replace him at Alpecin? Though they already have sprinters like Philipsen.

He'd have the ready made train, if not the golden ticket to the Tour and the Specialised bike.

 

[carolina]

Canyon wouldn't let that happen. MVdP is to valuable.

 

[jmdirt]

If, and a big if Merlier goes to Quick-Step, could he replace him at Alpecin? Though they already have sprinters like Philipsen.

Really can't see that.
EF-Easy Pot needs to figure this out.
If he stays wit the big S: Bora, Cofidis, L39ION

 

[Ricco']

I've counted five countries for Cipollini, but I may have missed one. He's also won two GT stages which started in the Netherlands, but finished somewhere else.

Giro: Italy, Germany, Luxembourg
Tour: France
Vuelta: Spain

Robbie McEwen has six.

Giro: Italy, France, Belgium
Tour: France, Luxembourg, England, Belgium, Germany

Greipel is also on six.

Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium.

Contador was a gifted stage to Rujano away of also having won in 6 different countries.

 

[spalco]

Must be a candidate for shortest ever distance ridden in a MSR

And still one of the hardest and most memorable!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Contador was a gifted stage to Rujano away of also having won in 6 different countries.

Though he would officially have lost it afterwards anyway.

Also I can't seem to find more than four, which is officially only three.

 

[tobydawq]

Though he would officially have lost it afterwards anyway.

Also I can't seem to find more than four, which is officially only three.

True, Verbier is the only foreign stage he won.

 

[Netserk]

If you count Bola del Mundo, Nibali is on 5 (plus he won in France in the Giro). Valverde only at 4.

 

[Ricco']

Though he would officially have lost it afterwards anyway.

Also I can't seem to find more than four, which is officially only three.

I have France, Italy and Spain, as expected, and then Switzerland (Verbier) and Andorra (Arcalis).

 

[roundabout]

Arcalis?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Does Patrick Lefevere’s recent sprinter rhetoric spell the end for Mark Cavendish at Quick-Step?

Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl boss is playing the waiting game in the transfer market and time is on his side.

www.velonews.com

Lefevere says it’s disrespectful to discuss his status with the team while he is racing. Then if Merlier comes it isn’t possible to have three world class sprinters so Cav would be out. Which if he wants to ride Tour, he’d probably need a different team.

 

[jmdirt]

I'll start with the disclaimer that 'answers' are always subject to the question(s) asked, and in an international sport like cycling things can be blurred due to language/translation.

Brian Holm saying that Cav "blew" his chance to break EM's record makes Brian seen like a dude who doesn't understand bike racing, or a guy who is jealous of the rider he is talking about. He doesn't sound like a good team DS, but if you listen to his boss Patti spew, then he fits right in.

 

[danielovichdk2]

One could argue that Mark and Brian has such a close relationship that this is both a reminder to Mark from Brian, that he has to be sharp to get selected for the tour.

And I do think it's also an internal joke between them

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It's not really a surprise seeing teams put the boot into riders who have left, but QS seem to be more adept than most at having a go at riders who are still on their team.

 

[noob]

While I absolutely don't see this as journalism by any stretch of the word I thought it was a good podcast.

 

[SHAD0W93]

While I absolutely don't see this as journalism by any stretch of the word I thought it was a good podcast.

More a self reflect that lets him voice what was going on and how he was feeling.

 

[75Driver]

Cav not being in the Tour is a shame. I haven't followed this season results much but didn't he just win a sprint stage? If he just won a stage doesn't it show he's still got enough motor to win a Tour stage? I'm all up for the conspiracy theories. How bout the organizers don't want him breaking the record? Think they put pressure on the team to leave Cav off?

 

[SHAD0W93]

Cav not being in the Tour is a shame. I haven't followed this season results much but didn't he just win a sprint stage? If he just won a stage doesn't it show he's still got enough motor to win a Tour stage? I'm all up for the conspiracy theories. How bout the organizers don't want him breaking the record? Think they put pressure on the team to leave Cav off?

He’s just an older rider while the team has a young rider that has won the most this year to build around. It is as easy as that.

 

[Jacques (7 ch)]

Lefevere being a tease … What could be better for his sponsors than a Cav victory salute which makes the front page of every newspaper in Europe (if not more)

Cav certainly had some form at the Giro. Jacobsen may well be the better/ stronger rider but QS, especially without Alaphilippe, don’t have much else to ride for - or do they?

 

[postmanhat]

I hope you're right. Breaking Merck's record would be a huge story, possibly the biggest of the Tour if it becomes as predictable as it threatens to be. Whereas no one will remember Jakobsen winning a sprint stage, about an hour after it happened.

 

[Extinction]

He’s just an older rider while the team has a young rider that has won the most this year to build around. It is as easy as that.

"Nothing" is ever just that, if It were that simple, Froome would not be going to the Tour.

 

[SHAD0W93]

"Nothing" is ever just that, if It were that simple, Froome would not be going to the Tour.

Cav is also not getting paid the same amount as Froome with the team not having much to build around for their future. Cav could absolutely win in the first week but he doesn’t seem to have the endurance anymore as the race goes on. But they have many quality riders to pick from. Full Quickstep roster rider per rider > Israel.

 

[samhocking]

He was on the podium in Paris last year and won Green and finished Giro, so endurance isn't an issue imo. Nobody knowns how Jakobsen's endurance is, he's never race Le Tour yet, or how he'll cope with the pressure, but, I think it's correct he should be given the opportunity as on paper, he's had a slight better spring, even though I think Cavendinsh the more-likely winner and bigger story for the sport itself.

 

[75Driver]

He was on the podium in Paris last year and won Green and finished Giro, so endurance isn't an issue imo. Nobody knowns how Jakobsen's endurance is, he's never race Le Tour yet, or how he'll cope with the pressure, but, I think it's correct he should be given the opportunity as on paper, he's had a slight better spring, even though I think Cavendinsh the more-likely winner and bigger story for the sport itself.

You'd think the sponsors would be wanting the media attention surrounding Cav. I still dont get this decision when you've got an all-time great who can still win stagers sitting on the sidelines. I'm still hoping something changes and he gets put in at the last minute. If thats even possible?

 

[SHAD0W93]

He was on the podium in Paris last year and won Green and finished Giro, so endurance isn't an issue imo. Nobody knowns how Jakobsen's endurance is, he's never race Le Tour yet, or how he'll cope with the pressure, but, I think it's correct he should be given the opportunity as on paper, he's had a slight better spring, even though I think Cavendinsh the more-likely winner and bigger story for the sport itself.

Not endurance that he won’t finish the race. Endurance that he will be competitive at the end. Obviously last year he got boxed in and they didn’t compete in any other one since week 2. But he’s older and with the Giro, Demare was getting the better of him. I’d love for him to go and it would be HUGE press if he won(which I think he can) but there is the blow back on Jakobsen that he could become miffed.