Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

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Apr 10, 2011
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I love Cav, but is it really that hard to see why many hate him? I guess most people must have not followed cycling between 2008-2011 when Cav was completely dominant and acted as a complete *** in most interviews and towards many riders.
 
May 9, 2014
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His comments on Greipel back in the day would be one example, and he wasn't exactly the safest sprinter in the peloton to compete against in the past either. Can definitely understand why people dislike him
 
Mar 15, 2016
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Kwibus said:
PremierAndrew said:
SlickMongoose said:
How can you hate this?

Surely you can see why people would hate him even if you are a Cav fan? :p

Surely people hate too fast. Try dislike, everybody is hating these days.....
Agreed. The word "hate" is totally out of place. I've just always found it difficult to warm to him, despite enjoying his fantastic achievements.
But he's not a war criminal, for pity's sake - even if he did deliberately set out to court controversy and provoke.
Thankfully he seems to have mellowed a little in recent years.
 
Mar 10, 2009
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Zinoviev Letter said:
An amazing return to form. Chapeau.

Is it Olympic motivation that brought him back to this level? Or just the realization that he was in danger of getting drummed out of the sport before he had begun to decline?

Either way, it's great to see him in such form. This may be the most interesting green jersey competition since Hushovd's long-range raid.
 
May 9, 2014
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mr. tibbs said:
Zinoviev Letter said:
An amazing return to form. Chapeau.

Is it Olympic motivation that brought him back to this level? Or just the realization that he was in danger of getting drummed out of the sport before he had begun to decline?

Either way, it's great to see him in such form. This may be the most interesting green jersey competition since Hushovd's long-range raid.

There's no doubt he would have been super motivated for 2013 and 2014 too with the yellow jersey on offer.

I initially wondered whether Cav's return to success is being helped by a decline in Kittel, but Kittel's performances at the Giro suggest otherwise.
 
Apr 29, 2012
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PremierAndrew said:
Is it Olympic motivation that brought him back to this level? Or just the realization that he was in danger of getting drummed out of the sport before he had begun to decline?

Either way, it's great to see him in such form. This may be the most interesting green jersey competition since Hushovd's long-range raid.

There's no doubt he would have been super motivated for 2013 and 2014 too with the yellow jersey on offer.

I initially wondered whether Cav's return to success is being helped by a decline in Kittel, but Kittel's performances at the Giro suggest otherwise.

These first 2 pure sprint stages have had pretty technical run ins which eliminates the advantage of Etixx and Kittel who have the best train, plays more into Cav's hands with the likes of Renshaw and Eddie who are dab hands at putting the 3 man train in the right spot to give Cav every chance to win the stage. Kittel was left nowhere by his train today and indeed didn't even feature in the sprint. Sagan and Cav are decent enough freelancers if need be, and Lotto did a good job putting Greipel in a great spot even if he did have to go a bit too early.

When's the first non technical sprint finish, that will probably show things in a different light!
 
Sep 17, 2014
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My theory is that the track training has helped his sprint, and that he usually does a bit too much mountain training before the tour. He might pay for it later, mind - Let's see whether he makes it over the mountains this year.

Also, there's something not quite right about that Etixx train. It looks great on paper but never quite delivers.
 
Apr 29, 2012
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SlickMongoose said:
Also, there's something not quite right about that Etixx train. It looks great on paper but never quite delivers.

Agreed, it never really seemed to do Cav any favours last season, just seemed to make a mess of most of the leadouts, on the front for far too long, getting swamped at the business end of things and failing to deliver him in the best position for the last few hundred metres.
 
Jan 15, 2013
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mr. tibbs said:
Zinoviev Letter said:
An amazing return to form. Chapeau.

Is it Olympic motivation that brought him back to this level? Or just the realization that he was in danger of getting drummed out of the sport before he had begun to decline?

Either way, it's great to see him in such form. This may be the most interesting green jersey competition since Hushovd's long-range raid.

Wasn't there talk he'd bail before the end to be fresh for the Olympics?
 
Apr 29, 2012
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vedrafjord said:
Wasn't there talk he'd bail before the end to be fresh for the Olympics?

Yes, this was supposed to be the plan, it's hard to see it happening if he's wearing Green or in with a good chance of winning it in Paris though!
 
May 9, 2014
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vedrafjord said:
mr. tibbs said:
Zinoviev Letter said:
An amazing return to form. Chapeau.

Is it Olympic motivation that brought him back to this level? Or just the realization that he was in danger of getting drummed out of the sport before he had begun to decline?

Either way, it's great to see him in such form. This may be the most interesting green jersey competition since Hushovd's long-range raid.

Wasn't there talk he'd bail before the end to be fresh for the Olympics?

He's said he's going to stay til the end, and there's absolutely no reason to even put up a half-arsed attempt at intermediate sprints if you're not planning on staying til the end