Thor confirms BMC! Better for Cadel?

[Angliru]

What puzzles and slightly irritates me about the whole "Cadel was just lucky" discussion is, aside from how much I just disagree with it, how it's the result of a kind of amnesia what everyone here was saying before the Tour. Before the race the common wisdom (or whatever you want to call it) on these forums was that the Tour was going to be a two man race: Contador vs. Andy Schleck, and that the only real question was whether or not Alberto would be too tired after racing the Giro. No one--and I mean no one--took the idea that Menchov or Basso or Kloden or Bottle or Horner or--and especially not--Wiggans could hang with Schleck in the mountains at all seriously. Because in the last two Tours it was shown that they can't. What we saw in this Tour was that, except for one day, stage 18, Cadel had no problem staying with both Schlecks--and what happened that day was a matter of tactics, and by driving it at the end Cadel made sure that his time loss wasn't significant. Strangely, the result of Cadel's performance wasn't an acknowledgement of his excellence on these forums, but the opposite--a bunch of people convinced that if Cadel could stick with the Schlecks, then all the riders who crashed earlier in the race, who in the last two Tours Contador and Schleck dropped easily when the ground titled up, also would have. As a line of thinking this seems to me to be what they call in my hometown of Boston "tot'ly retahded."

Basso can't descend or TT: there's no way he can win the Tour clean.
Kloden, Menchov, Levi and Horner can't climb like Schleck and Evans.
Wiggins? Really?
I don't see how "luck" plays in here.

If I recall correctly there was always doubt among the majority as to Contador being able to do the double. Andy Schleck was the favorite, with the Tour being his to lose. Evans was thought of as making the podium and possibly able to take advantage of Andy Schleck's remarkable ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and that is pretty much what he and Leopard did with their questionable tactics early in the race. Contador was not the heavy favorite. Certainly many had hopes that he could complete the double but with such a challenging Giro parcours there were more doubters than believers. I for one felt he could have won but of course luck didn't fall his way.

As for the argument that Evans' team kept him out of harms way, that can't really be debatable but many a rider has made it through the Tour injury free without riding at the front. Sometimes the cards are just not in your favor. Look at Frank Schleck at last year's Tour. He was well ahead of virtually the entire field when his Tour ending crash occurred, cobbles or not. As someone mentioned, Armstrong admitted that he was lucky (We all knew it already so thanks for this tardy revelation LA!) to have made through 7 Tours with nary a crash or injury. 7 years of no injuries or major crashes to compromise his Tour ambitions. That is luck!

 

[JohnNordin]

My recollection was that Cadel was absolutely among the contenders prior to the Tour. He was even maybe the third candidate after AC and Andy, but certainly included in any list of 5 or 6 contenders for the title. Not the favorite, but serious. It's not as if he hadn't been up among the leaders before.

 

[hrotha]

Why are you guys trying to recollect anything when you could take a look at the relevant threads and polls in this very forum?

 

[Angliru]

Lets turn that thinking around for a second , maybe Cadel timed his build up to perfection not that Andy was off form.

Is it not a possibility that Cadel was in better form this year not cause the Schlecks were down on form. Just saying

If I recall correctly, Andy poo-poo'd any mention of Contador being less than his best in the 2010 Tour saying that everyone that is going for the win is at their best form. Maybe this statement was made to further bolster his misbegotten belief that he had bridged the talent gap with Contador in the mountains and lessened the gap in the ITT's. Either Pro Cycling or Cycle Sport America is where I read this quote.

So Andy saying this makes it fact. You don't arrive at the Tour at less than your best.

 

[Angliru]

Andy being dropped by a very tired Contador from the Giro on L'Alpe doesn't sound like topform to me to be honest, besides his Izoard attack none of his attacks were anything close to devastating.

Well it's not like Contador hadn't dropped him in the past, unless you're of the same belief as Andy that as of the 2010 Tour he had become Contador's equal in the mountains.

 

[Angliru]

From my experience ACF is no worse than some of the Contador and Schleck fans on here........maybe a bit more emotional but that's okay. Unlike some of the other posters he does not claim to know everything and usually does not get nasty. Just a tad protective about his boy and does not want to be brought down to ground after hitting the heights in July. I think he's still floating. Good luck to him.

What is your definition of nasty? Referring to a fellow poster as being "moronic", and that being in his opinion the norm for this poster, this isn't nasty? Referring to another as "idiotic"? Then we have the word that he uses more than any other that he obviously failed to bother to google the definition of: "hypoctrite". A word that if you peruse ACF's posts you would think that if anyone, he should surely know the meaning of the word but apparently does not. Dude isn't passing out flowers and spreading the love up in here if that's what your implying.

 

[Angliru]

Why are you guys trying to recollect anything when you could take a look at the relevant threads and polls in this very forum?

...because I'm at work and don't have the time. Plus I'm quite certain that if my recollection isn't clear and accurate someone that has the time to research the accuracy of my memory will definitely correct me very shortly.

 

[Walkman]

If I recall correctly there was always doubt among the majority as to Contador being able to do the double. Andy Schleck was the favorite, with the Tour being his to lose. Evans was thought of as making the podium and possibly able to take advantage of Andy Schleck's remarkable ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and that is pretty much what he and Leopard did with their questionable tactics early in the race. Contador was not the heavy favorite. Certainly many had hopes that he could complete the double but with such a challenging Giro parcours there were more doubters than believers. I for one felt he could have won but of course luck didn't fall his way.

I smell BS!

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=373

Add to that the avatar-bets thread...so no, you don't recall correctly.

 

[movingtarget]

What is your definition of nasty? Referring to a fellow poster as being "moronic", and that being in his opinion the norm for this poster, this isn't nasty? Referring to another as "idiotic"? Then we have the word that he uses more than any other that he obviously failed to bother to google the definition of: "hypoctrite". A word that if you peruse ACF's posts you would think that if anyone, he should surely know the meaning of the word but apparently does not. Dude isn't passing out flowers and spreading the love up in here if that's what your implying.

Okay he has his moments. We agree on that but other people on here go out of their way continuously to put others down and belittle people. I would not put him in that category. Just tread lightly around BMC and Evans issues !

 

[PCutter]

Why are you guys trying to recollect anything when you could take a look at the relevant threads and polls in this very forum?

Well, just to answer it, here was the pre tour poll...

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=14210

AC overwhelming favourite on CN forums at 115
AS liked by many with 44
Cadel 3rd with 11. 10 of whom may have been ACF.

Other top scorers were "One of The Shack" with 8, Basso with 7 and Gesink 5.

Thankfully the bookies were more generous and gave me 21-1 for Cadel (I think about 5th or 6th line of betting).

 

[auscyclefan94]

It's possible to have one's views changed by one person if said person is capable enough of conveying and sharing that knowledge in a respectful and well thoughtout manner. That of course is not the case in this circumstance.
I believe maybe Peloton let the moment get the best of him. ACF makes some positive contributions to the forum and it's primarily when in his need to defend Evans that he tends to let the excessive estrogen in his system get the best of him and he gets all catty and emotional.

Oh and I wish I was as peerfect as you because have never been biased or carried on like a moron. The sun must rise out of your arsehole and then set back down in it the next morning. Stop being such a self righteous git.

Is anyone going to teach Angliru to use the multiple quote function? Having to scroll post after post of his verbal diarrhoea is really doing my head in.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Is anyone going to teach Angliru to use the multiple quote function? Having to scroll post after post of his verbal diarrhoea is really doing my head in.

 

[Hammerhed]

Name calling

I'm not trying to interfere, but I have a real question. I read every article in cyclingnews and Velonews every day. I also watch every minute of all the bike races that I can find, and I would like to share my observations with other bike racing fans. I occassionally read some of the Forum and can see that it attracts many well-informed racing enthusiasts, but I wonder if all of the name calling is a normal thing. I'm not thin skinned, but I prefer not having some anonymous voice call me names because he can get away with it. So, my real and sincere and heartfelt question is do you guys, and do the site administrators, allow abusive and demeaning verbal behavior? Is it normal and customary for you guys to refer to one another as "morons" and "idiots" even if the person deserves it? Can you guys, and do you guys, tolerate opinions that you don't agree with, no matter how stupid they may be? Do you encourage or at least tolerate other views, or do you resort to schoolyard verbal abuse and bullying like with Angrilu?

 

[Tuarts]

Show me someone who can teach acf decorum and I'll show you a liar.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Show me someone who can teach acf decorum and I'll show you a liar.

yep, this

 

[auscyclefan94]

I'm not trying to interfere, but I have a real question. I read every article in cyclingnews and Velonews every day. I also watch every minute of all the bike races that I can find, and I would like to share my observations with other bike racing fans. I occassionally read some of the Forum and can see that it attracts many well-informed racing enthusiasts, but I wonder if all of the name calling is a normal thing. I'm not thin skinned, but I prefer not having some anonymous voice call me names because he can get away with it. So, my real and sincere and heartfelt question is do you guys, and do the site administrators, allow abusive and demeaning verbal behavior? Is it normal and customary for you guys to refer to one another as "morons" and "idiots" even if the person deserves it? Can you guys, and do you guys, tolerate opinions that you don't agree with, no matter how stupid they may be? Do you encourage or at least tolerate other views, or do you resort to schoolyard verbal abuse and bullying like with Angrilu?

Do the site administrators allow abusive and demeaning verbal behaviour?
They never have but it is sometimes hard to detect and they generally let a little of it fly.

Is it normal and customary for you guys to refer to one another as morons and idiots, even if the person deserves it?
Not normal, but if it is accurate to call someone a moron then I will. Sometimes I over react because of some pack mentality traits this forum has.

Can you guys and do you guys tolerate opinoins that you don't agree with no matter how stupid they may be?
Yes I can but sometimes I can not firstly because it is a forum so the point of it is to debate and discuss things and secondly I can tell when people don't logically think a certain way about a thing but just post it to **** someone like me off and then I am made to look like the bad guy all the time.

Do you encourage or at least tolerate other views, or do you resort to schoolyard verbal abuse and bullying like with Angrilu?
I do tolerate peoples views but I do not tolerate continual taunts by certain posters such as Angliru who act all self righteous and point blame continually.

 

[just some guy]

Do the site administrators allow abusive and demeaning verbal behaviour?
They never have but it is sometimes hard to detect and they generally let a little of it fly.

Is it normal and customary for you guys to refer to one another as morons and idiots, even if the person deserves it?
Not normal, but if it is accurate to call someone a moron then I will. Sometimes I over react because of some pack mentality traits this forum has.

Can you guys and do you guys tolerate opinoins that you don't agree with no matter how stupid they may be?
Yes I can but sometimes I can not firstly because it is a forum so the point of it is to debate and discuss things and secondly I can tell when people don't logically think a certain way about a thing but just post it to **** someone like me off and then I am made to look like the bad guy all the time.

Do you encourage or at least tolerate other views, or do you resort to schoolyard verbal abuse and bullying like with Angrilu?
I do tolerate peoples views but I do not tolerate continual taunts by certain posters such as Angliru who act all self righteous and point blame continually.

Get over yourself.

 

[Angliru]

Do the site administrators allow abusive and demeaning verbal behaviour?
They never have but it is sometimes hard to detect and they generally let a little of it fly.

Is it normal and customary for you guys to refer to one another as morons and idiots, even if the person deserves it?
Not normal, but if it is accurate to call someone a moron then I will. Sometimes I over react because of some pack mentality traits this forum has.

Can you guys and do you guys tolerate opinoins that you don't agree with no matter how stupid they may be?
Yes I can but sometimes I can not firstly because it is a forum so the point of it is to debate and discuss things and secondly I can tell when people don't logically think a certain way about a thing but just post it to **** someone like me off and then I am made to look like the bad guy all the time.

Do you encourage or at least tolerate other views, or do you resort to schoolyard verbal abuse and bullying like with Angrilu?
I do tolerate peoples views but I do not tolerate continual taunts by certain posters such as Angliru who act all self righteous and point blame continually.

Your problem is that you like to dish it out but you just can't take it. You don't hesitate to demean and disparage other forumites posts with insults but when the same is directed at you, your response is to send out private messages asking why oh why are we treating you in this manner, or to simpy play the innocent as if our memories are about as long as day is the short.
This is evidenced by your statement "then I am made to look like the bad guy all the time." You do this all by yourself. No one is twisting your arm to post what you put on here.

If my inability to master the multiple quote function bothers you, save yourself the trouble of perusing my "verbal direaha" and put me on ignore.
Apparently my posts hold no redeeming value to you so why do you bother reading them?

 

[Angliru]

Oh and I wish I was as peerfect as you because have never been biased or carried on like a moron. The sun must rise out of your arsehole and then set back down in it the next morning.

Keeps the tan lines even!

 

[Angliru]

Oh and I wish I was as peerfect as you because have never been biased or carried on like a moron. The sun must rise out of your arsehole and then set back down in it the next morning. Stop being such a self righteous git.

Keeps the tan lines even! The sun actually sets in the evening on my "arsehole", not the next morning. Someone needs to teach you a bit about astronomy.

 

[Fetisoff]

So, guys.... I heard that Thor Hushovd is joining the BMC Racing team. Any actual thoughts on that issue???

 

[jacko_69]

Keeps the tan lines even! The sun actually sets in the evening on my "arsehole", not the next morning. Someone needs to teach you a bit about astrology.

lol, u 2 crack me up. Would that be asstronomy instead of astrology? Sorry for perpetuating the off topic conversation...

 

[Angliru]

lol, u 2 crack me up. Would that be asstronomy instead of astrology? Sorry for perpetuating the off topic conversation...

Witty play on words and I stand corrected.

 

[movingtarget]

So, guys.... I heard that Thor Hushovd is joining the BMC Racing team. Any actual thoughts on that issue???

Oh yes, the God of Thunder.........I remember him. I think this thread was about him at some point. Great buy for BMC. I am sure he and Evans will work things out.

 

[Tuarts]

Enough of this silly talk. Cadel was the last rider mentioned in the thread title, this is all about him. Obviously.