Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[King Boonen]

I think the record of 34 really puts a tiny part of what Merckx did into perspective. The best sprinter of the era hasn't even been able to match his number of wins in the Tour. This is while he was winning 5 Tours, the Maillot Pois, the green jersey...just...staggering what he did, really.

I don’t think it’s really a good comparison. A lot of EMs wins were TTs and racing was different then. No one thinks Cav is as accomplished a cyclist as Merckx, but it’s pretty remarkable a modern day sprinter could get close to that record.

 

[Red Rick]

I don’t think it’s really a good comparison. A lot of EMs wins were TTs and racing was different then. No one thinks Cav is as accomplished a cyclist as Merckx, but it’s pretty remarkable a modern day sprinter could get close to that record.

Yeah winning a horde of stages in one GT was more common then than it is now.

 

[Amazinmets87]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cav gets to 34 and stops because he respects cycling and the greats of the sport, but records are there to be broken and if he were to equal or even surpass it, then given what he has been through the last few years and the different generations of sprinters he has been up against through his career, it would be a remarkable achievement and I reckon Eddy Merckx would be the first to congratulate him.

I can't imagine sponsors would be thrilled if a rider stopped competing for wins mid-GT.

 

[perico]

I think today is a fitting end to the argument over who is the greatest sprinter.

I was not a Cavendish fan, but over the years he grew on me, partly because he has been written off time and time again. I remember at one point, everyone thought Kittel would dominate over him, but as great as Kittel was, Cavendish kept winning until all of a sudden, he didn’t. He was washed up. 36 year old sprinters just don’t dominate like Cav did today. Yeah Ewan is out, but I doubt he would’ve beaten Cav today. That was seriously impressive.

 

[Wvv]

Go Manx Express! Really curious of he's able to come close to a win.

Hats off. Awesome story.

 

[dgodave]

I never understood this view of Cav as entitled. I will never forget the interview after his 2011 World Champs win. He not only talked about the 7 other guys on the team. He thanked all of the riders who had busted their nuts chasing the points all season to get GB 8 riders in the race. He’s always been a humble guy thankful for those around him.

Yeah I think I can appreciate this in hindsight. But at the time there were some appearances where he seemed just really....whiny. May have been pure chance that I saw those instead of others. Thats a problem re famous people. It easy to develop an impression on partial information.

 

[Manx Felipe]

I can't imagine sponsors would be thrilled if a rider stopped competing for wins mid-GT.

Obviously not, but then I'm not saying he's going to win 5 stages this year either.

 

[BigMatBeeston]

Cav's job is winning bike races. He is very good at it. Arguably the best ever in terms of road races.

Problem?

Not for me.

Hugely entertaining, relented, dedicated and very very fast.

 

[BigMatBeeston]

Cav's job is winning bike races. He is very good at it. Arguably the best ever in terms of road races.

Problem?

Not for me.

Hugely entertaining, talented, dedicated and very very fast.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Obviously not, but then I'm not saying he's going to win 5 stages this year either.

5 stages and green.

Bob and Phil had almost no emotion when Cav won. Bob yelled “Cavendish” when he was coming out of the slipstream of Philipsen and Paul yelled his name after he crossed the line. Compared to Kirby.

 

[PremierAndrew]

LET'S *** GOOOO

What an incredible comeback. Two years ago, he barely had it in him to get out of the saddle and put power on the pedals after a 200km flat stage. From there to this??

Whatever happens between now and the end of the tour, let's just enjoy the ride and celebrate one of the greats of the sport

 

[PremierAndrew]

You know what, I was trying not to get too excited, but today was one of Cav's most impressive wins

Even in his best years, he was a slow starter at the tour. He'd miss out on a few opportunities and then fire away.

Today he won the first stage where he was in the peloton for a sprint.

He surfed the wheels, didn't get a perfect leadout

Got blocked during his sprint and had to kick again

Won on an uphill sprint. Cav's biggest advantage is his aero profile whilst sprinting, his power/power-to-weight isn't as high as a lot of other sprinters. Uphill sprint is a big disadvantage to Cav

Won by a bike length over everyone else still in contention

There's so much that was impressive about today. He blew everyone out of the water

 

[red_flanders]

I don’t think it’s really a good comparison. A lot of EMs wins were TTs and racing was different then. No one thinks Cav is as accomplished a cyclist as Merckx, but it’s pretty remarkable a modern day sprinter could get close to that record.

Not really a comparison in the way you suggest. Just puts Merckx in perspective since it's much easier or at least more common for sprinters to rack up huge win totals. That Merckx did it in TT's, sprints, mountain stages, random stages where he went bananas...his records are truly incredible.

Cav's accomplishment is great. There's no part of me that thinks they are comparable, that's my point.

 

[red_flanders]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cav gets to 34 and stops because he respects cycling and the greats of the sport, but records are there to be broken and if he were to equal or even surpass it, then given what he has been through the last few years and the different generations of sprinters he has been up against through his career, it would be a remarkable achievement and I reckon Eddy Merckx would be the first to congratulate him.

There's no part of me or my post that wants to diminish what Cav has done. It's a great win and a great story. I'm happy for him. Just another perspective on it. Merckx was on another planet. I don't know if people today (to anyone reading this, not you) really appreciate how dominant he was. He won EVERYTHING, all the time. People freaking hated him then. Can you imagine that kind of dominance now? Amazing.

 

[red_flanders]

I think today is a fitting end to the argument over who is the greatest sprinter.

I was not a Cavendish fan, but over the years he grew on me, partly because he has been written off time and time again. I remember at one point, everyone thought Kittel would dominate over him, but as great as Kittel was, Cavendish kept winning until all of a sudden, he didn’t. He was washed up. 36 year old sprinters just don’t dominate like Cav did today. Yeah Ewan is out, but I doubt he would’ve beaten Cav today. That was seriously impressive.

We should remember how many Tours Cippolini didn't get invited to because...French teams, apparently.

 

[DanielSong39]

Time to rip up Cavendish's contract
A brand new one is forthcoming, say for 3M Euros
Even at that price I can't imagine Quick-Step not getting value from the contract
At a minimum he deserves a 7 figure bonus for that win

 

[SHAD0W93]

We should remember how many Tours Cippolini didn't get invited to because...French teams, apparently.

Or because he wouldn’t finish them?

 

[red_flanders]

Or because he wouldn’t finish them?

There's a concern that hasn't aged well. Not inviting him was...provincial. The guy was half the show.

 

[SHAD0W93]

There's a concern that hasn't aged well. Not inviting him was...provincial. The guy was half the show.

No doubt he was a show, could have been a theater major.
From 92-99 he missed one Tour start. 89-91 maybe he would have raced if his team was invited. I’m sure if he didn’t abandon every one he would have gone between 00-03.

 

[Cookster15]

There's no part of me or my post that wants to diminish what Cav has done. It's a great win and a great story. I'm happy for him. Just another perspective on it. Merckx was on another planet. I don't know if people today (to anyone reading this, not you) really appreciate how dominant he was. He won EVERYTHING, all the time. People freaking hated him then. Can you imagine that kind of dominance now? Amazing.

Yeh, he was a little before my time but anyone who checks his record on Wiki will see Merckx was definitely on another planet. The only GC type riders around today who can sprint and climb are WvA and to a lessor extent Valverde (only out sprints other climbers and GC riders).

But I am really happy for Cav! With professional sports there are always hater fans but real champions don’t let that crap bother them. Cavendish is a true champion.

 

[oldcrank]

Regardless of how beautiful this latest win is, can it compare to Cav's historic fourth consecutive win on the Champs in 2012 while wearing the Rainbows and being led out by Sir Brad in Yellow? A question for the ages, I guess.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Regardless of how beautiful this latest win is, can it compare to Cav's historic fourth consecutive win on the Champs in 2012 while wearing the Rainbows and being led out by Sir Brad in Yellow? A question for the ages, I guess.

09, 11, and 12 Champs, 16 stage 1, and this are definitely the most beautiful and biggest wins/stories.
A brilliant 1 2 for a dominant Tour by so much there should have been a time gap. Finally winning green jersey in 2011. 2012 as you said. On Normandy beating the Germans when he was written off. Now this, in No Mans Land for 4 years and completely written off.

 

[DanielSong39]

Cavendish was robbed of a time gap in 2009 Champs, he won that thing by 20 meters

 

[SHAD0W93]

Mark Cavendish’s Tour de France rivals bow their heads in defeat

'The most experienced and the strongest rider in the sport won this sprint' says Philipsen

www.cyclingnews.com

““I didn't expect to have so much trouble beating Cavendsh,” Philipsen said with respect but belief in his own ability. “

As Cavendish has already beat him and Merlier.

 

[spalco]

I reckon Eddy Merckx would be the first to congratulate him.

I doubt that, lol. Maybe i misjudge Merckx, but i think that's one record that's meaningful to him and i doubt he's a fan of Cavendish.