Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[Froome19]

... he knew he had the win ... and he almost certainly had more in the tank - he is not the best for nothing

I find it hard to believe he would take such a risk.. but maybe he would..

 

[180mmCrank]

We don't really know but its fun to speculate.

He had to go hard don't get me wrong but he didn't push out his bike for the line ... I think he knew he had the win. As a sprinter i think you just know you are going faster and you have a sense of if you are in front... he is pretty good at this

I think people are going to find it hard to beat him unless they really get their teams organized. I suspect teams will get better organized - they didnt seem that great today - it's early days and lots more sprint stages - I expect Greipal to take a couple of stages... but we will see.

T

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

@MarkCavendish
Absolutely lost for words to describe the honour I've just received from L'EQUIPE as the best sprinter in #TourdeFrance history. Thank you,

Story here

 

[El Pistolero]

They give him the award when he sucks?

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

If Cav stays with Sky he'll be doing the Tour of Poland next year so that Sky can get Swifty on the team.

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

They give him the award when he sucks?

But even then he is still doing better than Gilbert this year.

 

[El Pistolero]

But even then he is still doing better than Gilbert this year.

Phil was fourth, where was Cav? Isn't he supposed to be climbing better for the Olympics?

 

[Don't be late Pedro]

Phil was fourth, where was Cav? Isn't he supposed to be climbing better for the Olympics?

Saving his legs for a 4th successive win on the Champs-Elysees.

 

[Boardslide]

I hope he's only with them for this year for the Olympics as they have no idea, he was over the climb today just behind Greipel when Lotto sent Lars Bak back to pace him up to the front group and Sky wouldn't drop anyone back for Cav which would have given them a better chance than with Eddy. T

 

[Normandy]

They give him the award when he sucks?

+1 Good for a laugh

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I hope he's only with them for this year for the Olympics as they have no idea, he was over the climb today just behind Greipel when Lotto sent Lars Bak back to pace him up to the front group and Sky wouldn't drop anyone back for Cav which would have given them a better chance than with Eddy. T

Strange dynamics in the team it would look like.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Strange dynamics in the team it would look like.

I don't think so. Cav got his stage win and then made it clear his only objective was to see Brad take yellow in Paris. So far, job's a good 'un. Credit to Cav and Sky for making this work - it wasn't long ago that half of this forum were predicting ructions in the Sky camp during the Tour and how having Cav and Brad just wouldn't work. I've not heard many of those voices lately.

 

[Cimber]

Cav needs to be on a team build around him

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Cav needs to be on a team build around him

I think this year was always going to be fine. He and the team could justify things with the Olympics, which seems to be his next obsession, with the green jersey and the rainbow jersey in the bag.

Next year is when it might get a little difficult.

 

[ParfaitAmour]

Cav needs to be on a team build around him

He does, but I don't see any team making room for him TBH

 

[Tei6chai]

It's so funny seeing those who hate sprint teams, hated HTC, and basically hate Cav, pleading for sky to treat him better.

LOL

 

[Zam_Olyas]

He certainly have great teammates to help him win in the olympic, now it's upto him to tackle box hill. imo

 

[Apollonius]

He's going to get eaten up in the road race IMO.
He's lost weight specifically so he can tackle hills better yet his climbing has been absolutely abysmal (certainly no better than previous years, I'd even say worse because in a couple of Giro's he's shown he can manage some climbs OK) and his loss of size has really hurt is top end power and acceleration in the sprints. It's a double failure.
I suspect he'll return to his normal weight and form after the Olympics and learn a valuable lesson in the mean time.

 

[Apollonius]

He does, but I don't see any team making room for him TBH

I can't remember exactly which team it was (maybe Lotto??) but anyway a pro tour team offered him a contract worth double what he was offered with Sky alongside building the team around him and he turned it down to sign with Sky.

He's made a massive mistake in doing so but you're wrong in saying no team will offer him a custom team centred around him - I bet there are several non GC riding teams whom would simply love a rider whom can bring them 5+ stage victories in Le Tour every year.

 

[El Pistolero]

I can't remember exactly which team it was (maybe Lotto??) but anyway a pro tour team offered him a contract worth double what he was offered with Sky alongside building the team around him and he turned it down to sign with Sky.

He's made a massive mistake in doing so but you're wrong in saying no team will offer him a custom team centred around him - I bet there are several non GC riding teams whom would simply love a rider whom can bring them 5+ stage victories in Le Tour every year.

It was Omega-Pharma-Quick Step. I'm glad he declined. Their riders are too talented to be wasted on Cav.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

It was Omega-Pharma-Quick Step. I'm glad he declined. Their riders are too talented to be wasted on Cav.

Yes, they are having such a fabulous Tour without him. If it wasn't for Chavanel's failed attacks early on to try and steal the yellow jersey I wouldn't even know they were here.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't think so. Cav got his stage win and then made it clear his only objective was to see Brad take yellow in Paris. So far, job's a good 'un. Credit to Cav and Sky for making this work - it wasn't long ago that half of this forum were predicting ructions in the Sky camp during the Tour and how having Cav and Brad just wouldn't work. I've not heard many of those voices lately.

Yeah, because they were right lol. Cav has lost 4 sprints already and will not win green. His Tour has been a failure so far despite winning a stage. Sky proved they cannot make Cav + Wiggins(and Froome) work.

 

[El Pistolero]

Yes, they are having such a fabulous Tour without him. If it wasn't for Chavanel's failed attacks early on to try and steal the yellow jersey I wouldn't even know they were here.

Yet they already have 40 wins this season.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

It was Omega-Pharma-Quick Step. I'm glad he declined. Their riders are too talented to be wasted on Cav.

I don't know. Boonen could do a lot worse than lead out Cav. He's got to have something to do after the Classics have finished.

 

[Apollonius]

Yeah, because they were right lol. Cav has lost 4 sprints already and will not win green. His Tour has been a failure so far despite winning a stage. Sky proved they cannot make Cav + Wiggins(and Froome) work.

An on form Cav would be an asset to that team.........but the current Cavendish whom is riding with only the Olympics seemingly in mind I would find very disrespectful to a team like Quick Step.