There is no way Cancellera is Clean!

[polpolpol]

“I’m very happy: there were fifty of them behind a gladiator,” Cancellara continued. “It was a spectacle and a double satisfaction: I lost by trying to win, the others rode only to make me lose. And in the end the one who was always in the wheels won. Congratulations to Nuyens, but for me [winning] like that has no value.”

Although his hopes of winning the Flanders-Roubaix double for the second successive year have been dashed, Cancellara believes that he is the favourite to collect his third Hell of the North on Sunday.

“In Flanders I was the only one of the big riders in front, and so I would say I am still the number one favourite,” he said. “I am the only man in the world who can make an attack like the one in Flanders, or in Roubaix in 2010. Everybody knows that if I’m at 100 percent they have to fasten their seatbelts, like on an aeroplane.”

Spoken like a man with something to hide???? Something a 'protected rider would say? His ego is as big as his motor (and not an electric one either!) but these comments do not speak to me of a man who is worried about testing positive.

Bring on PR I say and I hope he kick some serious *** and leaves the wheel suckers grovelling in the mud!

My fantasy finish would be a breakaway of Fab, Gilbert, Boonen and Hushovd and then let the best man win! Whoever wins I hope they do it from the front and not by sitting on for 40km.

To give him a bit of credit, the interview went on:

“I always look to help my sport,” Cancellara said. “But even I can’t solve the problems that are there now, and I am among the top riders. They are related to politics, money and the show of power. Alone against all of this, I can only lose. Unfortunately the ‘mafia’ exists everywhere, and I’ve understood that speaking too much is not profitable.”

If mafia = omerta, well said.

 

[La Vie Claire]

Spoken like a man with something to hide???? Something a 'protected rider would say? His ego is as big as his motor (and not an electric one either!) but these comments do not speak to me of a man who is worried about testing positive.

Bring on PR I say and I hope he kick some serious *** and leaves the wheel suckers grovelling in the mud!

My fantasy finish would be a breakaway of Fab, Gilbert, Boonen and Hushovd and then let the best man win! Whoever wins I hope they do it from the front and not by sitting on for 40km.

So Chinny is an arrogant d-bag. That makes him clean?

And what if Hushovd proves the weakest of your fantasy group? Should he just sit out the sprint and let the other have a go at it? Or maybe some here are confusing a road race with a time trial.

 

[Escarabajo]

Cancellara was also critical of the current anti-doping system, and suggested that too many different agencies were testing riders and that cyclists were tested more often than other athletes.

“It would be important to have better balance,” he said. “If I continue like this, I’ll break my record of 58 controls in 2009.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-warns-rivals-to-fasten-seatbelts-ahead-of-paris-roubaix

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-only-slightly-slower-on-muur-in-2011-tour-of-flanders
Insert clever pun about Gilbert having an engine up his bum here.

 

[Ferminal]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-only-slightly-slower-on-muur-in-2011-tour-of-flanders
Insert clever pun about Gilbert having an engine up his bum here.

Hardly a surprise for anyone who has seen Gilbert's uphill accelerations over the last year.

 

[Willy_Voet]

Hardly a surprise for anyone who has seen Gilbert's uphill accelerations over the last year.

He's a witch, burn him!

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

Hardly a surprise for anyone who has seen Gilbert's uphill accelerations over the last year.

It was less about the fact that Gilbert performed so well and rather about the fact that despite being caught on the Muur, Cancellara was not slower here compared to last year.
Which means his performance on the Muur itself was the same this year as it was last year, hence making it somewhat "less superhuman".

 

[Ferminal]

It was less about the fact that Gilbert performed so well and rather about the fact that despite being caught on the Muur, Cancellara was not slower here compared to last year.
Which means his performance on the Muur itself was the same this year as it was last year, hence making it somewhat "less superhuman".

Yeh, how much time did Cancellara have on Boonen at the top of the Muur last year? I seem to forget.... maybe 10-20s?

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

I don't know. Could be. The big gap came because of his performance on the flat. Boonen lost contact on the hill and once the gap was made, it was all over.

 

[roundabout]

-Gilbert 2011 2'09''
-Ballan 2011 2'10''
-Cancellara 2010 2'12''
-Cancellara 2011 2'19''
-Boonen 2010 2'24''

-Museeuw 1995 2'19''
-Bartoli 1996 2'21''
-Ballan 2007' 2'26''

It's difficult to compare, but superficially we're back to beating the times for the EPO era.

 

[Chef_Vodnik]

Oh, wow... I was unaware of the figures of past editions... Are there any figures of the Pre-EPO era, just for comparisons sake? I know it does not work as a perfect match, but it would be cool to see.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

“I’m very happy: there were fifty of them behind a gladiator,” Cancellara continued. “It was a spectacle and a double satisfaction: I lost by trying to win, the others rode only to make me lose. And in the end the one who was always in the wheels won. Congratulations to Nuyens, but for me [winning] like that has no value.”

Although his hopes of winning the Flanders-Roubaix double for the second successive year have been dashed, Cancellara believes that he is the favourite to collect his third Hell of the North on Sunday.

“In Flanders I was the only one of the big riders in front, and so I would say I am still the number one favourite,” he said. “I am the only man in the world who can make an attack like the one in Flanders, or in Roubaix in 2010. Everybody knows that if I’m at 100 percent they have to fasten their seatbelts, like on an aeroplane.”

Spoken like a man with something to hide???? Something a 'protected rider would say? His ego is as big as his motor (and not an electric one either!) but these comments do not speak to me of a man who is worried about testing positive.

Bring on PR I say and I hope he kick some serious *** and leaves the wheel suckers grovelling in the mud!

My fantasy finish would be a breakaway of Fab, Gilbert, Boonen and Hushovd and then let the best man win! Whoever wins I hope they do it from the front and not by sitting on for 40km.

The ability to kill it in the classics is a specific a physiological skill. Canc (clean or not) has that.

His take on the latter part of the race is enlightening and clear. He was racing to win. Those who were talking about Canc throwing the race should read his quotes.

Maybe those casting the evil-eye never actually raced. That would explain their take on the finish...

And to any youngsters actually reading this forum: ALWAYS race to win. You can be sure your peloton is full of people who race to 'not lose'. Go for the win.

 

[hrotha]

His take on the latter part of the race is enlightening and clear. He was racing to win. Those who were talking about Canc throwing the race should read his quotes.

Maybe those casting the evil-eye never actually raced. That would explain their take on the finish...

That's pure hogwash. Pointless "hey look at me I raced" elitism of the worst kind. Unless you know Cancellara personally, your insights regarding this particular topic aren't more valuable than anyone else's, and sorry but there's a history of people not wanting to win for fear of the antidoping tests. Not saying that's what happened, but it's within the realm of possibility, it's happened before, and nothing Cancellara says is proof of anything.

 

[roundabout]

Cancellara threw the race out of fear that he will be tested?

Ok, now i've read everything and i really mean everything.

And yes, i've read the words "realm of possibility". It's time one should decide whether he's protected or can actually test positive.

 

[hrotha]

Cancellara threw the race out of fear that he will be tested?

Ok, now i've read everything and i really mean everything.

And yes, i've read the words "realm of possibility". It's time one should decide whether he's protected or can actually test positive.

You read "realm of possibility", but apparently not the "not saying that's what happened". Actually I don't believe even for a second that's what happened, but I don't appreciate the elitist attitude and the "no could never happen I know because I race" bit.

 

[roundabout]

Yes, but it kinda reminds me of "no offence, but " followed by something offensive.

 

[JMBeaushrimp]

Sort of like "with all due respect..."

Hrotha - my comments were to the posters who argued it was 'obvious' that he threw the race.

Anyone could see he had Boonen-led charge coming up his *ss, and was stuck with riders who weren't willing to intiate.

If you find me elitist and a d*ck, I'm sorry. With all due respect, you're a ******...

 

[R.0.t.O]

Anyone looking at that and suggesting Canc threw it in the final stages needs to say how it would have looked different to them if he HADN'T thrown it. A relatively poor sprinter up against two other tired guys, with a very good sprinter coming back from behind. In that situation you just have to go and if the two other tired guys beat you then that's life.

 

[Mrs John Murphy]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancellara-warns-rivals-to-fasten-seatbelts-ahead-of-paris-roubaix

Anyone would think he has something to hide.

 

[Hitchey]

That's pure hogwash. Pointless "hey look at me I raced" elitism of the worst kind. Unless you know Cancellara personally, your insights regarding this particular topic aren't more valuable than anyone else's, and sorry but there's a history of people not wanting to win for fear of the antidoping tests. Not saying that's what happened, but it's within the realm of possibility, it's happened before, and nothing Cancellara says is proof of anything.

"Maybe those casting the evil-eye never actually raced"

Out of THAT comment? Elitist? Ouch,Is someone a little sensitive today? -but the "elitism" response is a common response in defense from people who have not raced when presented with the point that sometimes it is difficult if not impossible to understand what transpires in a race without some racing experience.
To even suggest that Fabian threw the race away after how the race went down, is in my opinion, clearly demonstrative of someone who either watched the race on a 10 inch screen from 40 feet away or needs a little help in racing 101.

Regarding the sore loser comments, I respect the fact that some here believe a race is just that, a "race", and it matters not how one did it, but that their name will be on the results. There are all kinds of attitudes in a field. As others have mentioned, results and respect are two very different things though.
My problem with that mentality is that if that winner wants to continue to race, then he will be known as that sort of rider and others, even others not on the same team, will race against them and "take" them out of contention to win again or take them out of breaks. Whereas if you're known to be a racer that contributes or has perhaps a more noble attitude, you get help in certain situations that just might net you a win down the road or keep a podium placing against bad odds. There's always a race tomorrow, or next week... and people don't forget such things.

 

[La Pandera]

"Maybe those casting the evil-eye never actually raced"

Out of THAT comment? Elitist? Ouch,Is someone a little sensitive today? -but the "elitism" response is a common response in defense from people who have not raced when presented with the point that sometimes it is difficult if not impossible to understand what transpires in a race without some racing experience.
To even suggest that Fabian threw the race away after how the race went down, is in my opinion, clearly demonstrative of someone who either watched the race on a 10 inch screen from 40 feet away or needs a little help in racing 101.

Regarding the sore loser comments, I respect the fact that some here believe a race is just that, a "race", and it matters not how one did it, but that their name will be on the results. There are all kinds of attitudes in a field. As others have mentioned, results and respect are two very different things though.
My problem with that mentality is that if that winner wants to continue to race, then he will be known as that sort of rider and others, even others not on the same team, will race against them and "take" them out of contention to win again or take them out of breaks. Whereas if you're known to be a racer that contributes or has perhaps a more noble attitude, you get help in certain situations that just might net you a win down the road or keep a podium placing against bad odds. There's always a race tomorrow, or next week... and people don't forget such things.

I'm not completely familiar with Nuyens' race history nor with his "reputation" amongst his peers but I would think that based on the scenario that you've created above, there is no way Nuyens would have been allowed to get into the position to win the race if in fact such a negative rep existed. From responses that have appeared in the media regarding the outcome of the race, I can't say that I've seen any negative statements directed at Nuyens "tactics", with the exception of Cancellara's unsportsman like statements. I can't see how his victory can be interpreted as anything other than opportunistic. Cancellara was focused on where Boonen was and started his sprint too soon to avoid losing to Boonen (paraphrasing his words) and consequently lost to both Chavanel and Nuyens. Nuyens was confident that he could beat Cancellara in the sprint but wasn't that certain about Chavanel.

 

[davestoller]

Cancellara threw the race out of fear that he will be tested?

Ok, now i've read everything and i really mean everything.

And yes, i've read the words "realm of possibility". It's time one should decide whether he's protected or can actually test positive.

Thats what masters racers do LOLZ when it is announced that the podium will be tested or random testing at the finish line

lots of DNFs lots of folks leaving the start line

Canc is just as likely to be tested between races as he is after the race...

He complains everyone was out to beat him, he was out not to lose to Boonen, so it shows Boonen that Canc knows he will always be beaten in a sprint so in Paris ROubaix Boonen should just sit on

 

[Polyarmour]

25 pages of speculation based on absolutely no evidence. Wow

 

[Benotti69]

25 pages of speculation based on absolutely no evidence. Wow

Marion Jones never tested positive and there was no evidence of her doping apart from her performances

 

[webvan]

Cancellara doesn't strike me as the most obvious candidate for "unbelievable" performances, like say the uniballer, Hamilton, Landis, Riis, Contador, etc...having said that we'll never know for sure, unless he tests positive for something.