Teams & Riders Mark Cavendish Discussion Thread

[rickshaw]

Remember when...

I seem to remember when Cav dismissed the wins of other sprinters because they were in second / third rate races....

NOW when he wins his "first GC" in a bush league race like Ster ZLM Toer (not one of the high points of the season) he crows, "... this is my first GC win and I'm really, really happy with it,". Sure you are Cav, but its just a cr4ap nothing race! Get over yourself.

All class, all the time.

oh, and "Bob Stapleton and his joyless, soulless evil." Soulless evil? WTF kind of idiotic remark is that?
Bob is not "soulless evil".
THIS

is soulless evil

 

[asdfgh101]

A GC win is a bucket list thing.

My personal thoughts on Cav's climbing: There is a distinct mental element

His 2009 MSR win was 'whilst picking his nose'. I've always understood this to mean he rode the race with no great aspirations of winning and thus was under very little pressure.

Contrast that to this year where he placed immense pressure on himself as the team leader and had made it known that winning MSR in the WC was one of his dreams.

Obviously the parcours and the speed of the racing are important as is Cav's physical form. Hopefully after his flat performance at MSR he has worked out how to remain focused and notruin his chance through nervous energy.

 

[b.broadhurst]

Is Stage 1 of TDF still too steep for Cav even though he's lost 4kg? and How much more is he planning on losing?

 

[dlwssonic]

Is Stage 1 of TDF still too steep for Cav even though he's lost 4kg? and How much more is he planning on losing?

Come on, obviously stage 1 is too hard for him.

 

[c&cfan]

Come on, obviously stage 1 is too hard for him.

just like boonen is no cancellara..
just like "c'mon ,, boonen cannot make it"

 

[dlwssonic]

just like boonen is no cancellara..
just like "c'mon ,, boonen cannot make it"

lol... If you go see that thread again, there were many other people who made the same mistake of doubting boonen
If you really think cav can win a stage ending on a 2.4 km climb, then do so as you wish.
There are many puncheurs out there going for the win, this isn't ster ZLM.

 

[Panda Claws]

I would not underestimate Cavendish on the first stage. I do not think he'll win, but he'll certainly show the other sprinters what they'll have to deal with in London.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I would not underestimate Cavendish on the first stage. I do not think he'll win, but he'll certainly show the other sprinters what they'll have to deal with in London.

He'll have to work for Eddie on Stage 1, who's better suited to that finish.

 

[Gloin22]

He'll have to work for Eddie on Stage 1, who's better suited to that finish.

Are you sure ?

I am not after ZLM.

 

[jens_attacks]

cav will win the first stage hands down.just my humble, not out of the ordinary prediction

 

[maxmartin]

the lineup is very obvious for me that he will abandon early(two weeks maybe) to concentrate to prepare for the olympics (probably the only chance in his life time)

 

[greenedge]

I think on stage 1 Team Sky should not be working for Cav but to retain a bit of a lead over Cadel and others who might attack.
I would consider stage 1 ( from what it seems ) to be as hard as stage 4 last year.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

the lineup is very obvious for me that he will abandon early(two weeks maybe) to concentrate to prepare for the olympics (probably the only chance in his life time)

Depends what they do with the route in Rio. Could you imagine how awesome a route finishing up to Vista Chinesa or Cristo Redentor would be? Just the views from the finish:

 

[maxmartin]

Depends what they do with the route in Rio. Could you imagine how awesome a route finishing up to Vista Chinesa or Cristo Redentor would be? Just the views from the finish:

that would be awesome, that is why I am saying this olympics probably is the only chance in Cav's life time, and Cav knows that and that is why he is willing to give away his chips in the tour, there is always tour next year for him to chase green

 

[jens_attacks]

or....

imagine the finish at the top of the favela

i won't advise alberto to make his winning gesture there lol

 

[roundabout]

I am imagining a criterium by the seaside.

 

[zigmeister]

Imagine the thread staying on topic.

 

[rickshaw]

Imagine the thread staying on topic.

wow what a concept! really think it could work?

 

[K-0tic]

I think on stage 1 Team Sky should not be working for Cav but to retain a bit of a lead over Cadel and others who might attack.
I would consider stage 1 ( from what it seems ) to be as hard as stage 4 last year.

Maybe Boasson Hagen?

Stages 2,4 and 5 look good for Cav in week 1, but then they have to wait until stage 13 again for another opportunity.

 

[El Pistolero]

Does this make Lars Boom the best uphill sprinter the world has ever seen?

 

[Red Rick]

What a hero, beating his former teammate coming from an almost beaten position

 

[Froome19]

What a hero, beating his former teammate coming from an almost beaten position

He proved today he is the best positioner of the sprinters and that can account for a lot when sprinting just asky Greipel.

Greipel though got his tactics spot on asides from failing in acknowledging Cav until it was too late.

Still his pace does seem a bit on the slow side as was expected, as coming from behind Greipel like that he should have been able to beat him by much more than he in fact he did.

 

[Frosty]

He proved today he is the best positioner of the sprinters and that can account for a lot when sprinting just asky Greipel.

Greipel though got his tactics spot on asides from failing in acknowledging Cav until it was too late.

Still his pace does seem a bit on the slow side as was expected, as coming from behind Greipel like that he should have been able to beat him by much more than he in fact he did.

Maybe seemed a bit slow given he was coming out of Greipel's slipstream but he would have had to work harder in the run-in to the finish?

 

[180mmCrank]

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

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

I don't think he was holding anything in reserve. He's never shown a penchant for winning by tiny margins when it could have been wider before.

Clearly the reserve was spent at 700m to go when he moved forward. I presume it would have looked much more comfortable if he was on Griepels wheel the whole time.