Thor confirms BMC! Better for Cadel?

[Havetts]

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

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.

 

[BM1979]

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.

So this is the biggest race of the year , a lot of riders build for this race but cause Cadel won EVERY rider was off form or crashed.Cmon that is so far fetched it's not funny.

Go read all the stage threads saying how strong Basso looked during first two weeks , how Alberto was getting stronger by the day , how the Schlecks were toying with Cadel. How Cadel was going to have his **** handed to him in the Mountains.

What theory sounds more reasonable.

1 One very talented rider timed his form to perfection this year and was the strongest and won

or

2. EVERY RIDER who specifically targeted this race was off form or crashed and thats the reason Cadel won.

Andy even said he felt stronger this year but what does he know. He said he was more satisfied this year cause he was beaten by the strongest rider , he believed last year he was as strong as Contador.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

So this is the biggest race of the year , a lot of riders build for this race but cause Cadel won EVERY rider was off form or crashed.

Name the riders who were on form and did not crash.

 

[BM1979]

Name the riders who were on form and did not crash.

I cant tell you that but you cant tell me they were not either, What theory sounds more reasonable to you

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

I cant tell you that but you cant tell me they were not either, What theory sounds more reasonable to you

You are the one with the crack brained theory. You should be able to defend it. You say that it is unreasonable to say that Evans' rivals were off form or crashed. Then it should be easy for you to name the ones who were on form and did not crash. Give us some names.

 

[Tuarts]

Cadel rode everyone bar a w****s***ing F.Schleck (who had every right to do so) off his wheel on the Galibier and gained back over 2 minutes to Andy. That's good enough for me to think he climbed worthy enough to win the Tour.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

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.

no way was schleck as good as he was in the last two editions. He screwed up with his prep somewhere. I don't think he is dedicated enough as a cyclist. But whatever.

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

no way was schleck as good as he was in the last two editions. He screwed up with his prep somewhere. I don't think he is dedicated enough as a cyclist. But whatever.

I have said that Andy's move to a team Schleck vanity project was a bad move. There is no one to crack the whip and force him to not drink the night away while at other races.

 

[Oldman]

Cadel rode everyone bar a w****s***ing F.Schleck (who had every right to do so) off his wheel on the Galibier and gained back over 2 minutes to Andy. That's good enough for me to think he climbed worthy enough to win the Tour.

It was the moment that could have been forseen and he was prepared for it. I didn't see any panic in how he conducted that stage or most others and that's how you win a Tour this tight.
Will Thor help him achieve that again...yep.

 

[Maxiton]

Well, because the Schlecks were with 2 even with not 100% fitness they could've beaten Evans.

They only tried one stage though, and that worked.

You need to confuse Evans to win. The Schlecks made it a straightforward race, in the end merely setting the pace for Evans.

They didn't have the fitness or the tactics.

Well, I guess Evans was double lucky then

If he took time away from the celebrations to read some of these comments, he would be confused. He thought he won the Tour de France. In reality he just showed up at the race and had it handed to him when the rest of the GC was struck by lightning. Talk about luck!

(Lightning comes in the rainbow colors of the world champion. Who knew?)

So this is the biggest race of the year , a lot of riders build for this race but cause Cadel won EVERY rider was off form or crashed.Cmon that is so far fetched it's not funny.

Go read all the stage threads saying how strong Basso looked during first two weeks , how Alberto was getting stronger by the day , how the Schlecks were toying with Cadel. How Cadel was going to have his **** handed to him in the Mountains.

What theory sounds more reasonable.

1 One very talented rider timed his form to perfection this year and was the strongest and won

or

2. EVERY RIDER who specifically targeted this race was off form or crashed and thats the reason Cadel won.

Andy even said he felt stronger this year but what does he know. He said he was more satisfied this year cause he was beaten by the strongest rider, he believed last year he was as strong as Contador.

Game, set, and match.

 

[BM1979]

You are the one with the crack brained theory. You should be able to defend it. You say that it is unreasonable to say that Evans' rivals were off form or crashed. Then it should be easy for you to name the ones who were on form and did not crash. Give us some names.

See you refuse to admit that was a possibility of what could have happened, I am just discussing a subject ,I dont claim to know exactly what happened like you do.

Andy Schleck said he was stronger this year but I suppose you know him better than he does. Not riding the right tactical race does not mean you have bad form

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

See you refuse to admit that was a possibility of what could have happened, I am just discussing a subject ,I dont claim to know exactly what happened like you do.

You cannot even defend your opinion. Still waiting for you to name the riders who were on form and did not crash.

Andy Schleck said he was stronger this year but I suppose you know him better than he does.

What did you expect him to say before the race? "My form is not good and I will not be able to attack like I usually do in the mountains"? In early 2010 Lance's people were saying that he was hitting the same power levels as he did in 2005. We all saw how that worked out. The proof is in how Andy actually raced. He and the rest of the top ten could barely drop Voeckler. Heck, Voeckler would have been in with a shot at the podium if he would not have gotten drunk basking in the limelight and wasted his strength during a stupid solo pursuit of Contador.

 

[Runitout]

You cannot even defend your opinion. Still waiting for you to name the riders who were on form and did not crash.



What did you expect him to say before the race? "My form is not good and I will not be able to attack like I usually do in the mountains"? In early 2010 Lance's people were saying that he was hitting the same power levels as he did in 2005. We all saw how that worked out. The proof is in how Andy actually raced. He and the rest of the top ten could barely drop Voeckler. Heck, Voeckler would have been in with a shot at the podium if he would not have gotten drunk basking in the limelight and wasted his strength during a stupid solo pursuit of Contador.

Pretty sure just about everyone crashed, including Evans. It's a poor excuse; Evans could then whinge about 2008 or 2010 (I'm sure he does); Armstrong could whinge about 2010; etc etc.

Some crashes can't be avoided, but you don't use them to denigrate your opponents unless you have no class at all.

To invoke Voeckler, or whoever is beside the point. One could make similar claims about VandeVelde or Rumsas or Kohl or whoever the next flash in the pan is.

The strongest rider for three weeks wins the race. If you crash, or misjudge your preparation, you don't deserve the win and someone else does.

 

[just some guy]

What Cadel actually said re Thor - never said he didn´t want Thor said he didn´t want a sprinter ( which Tor is not ) but Thor brings a lot of Positives to the team for the Tor

last 3/4 of the video - http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/video/505669/Exclusive:-Cadel-Evans

 

[Angliru]

Hushov just signed the contract & Evans is already "cutting him off" from the teams's Tour? Is that wise at all? even if Thor is a 100% focused on P-R , the classics and the Olympics- I think Evan's comments are just wrong-not because he isn't entitled to do so, but because is too soon make that kind of demand-considering that every Pro cyclist-no matter what is his schedule- The Tour is the most important race in the World & is the most desirable to participate in-so I think is a bit precipitated to make such suggestion-it's like already setting a wall for him from the start-not so good at all....

+1
Obviously who BMC signs is a bit beyond Evans' complete sphere of influence, so IMO it's best to take the politically correct position when dealing with the media in discussions on this topic. To start this union off on a negative note when it can be avoided is never a good thing. While his Tour win obviously lifts him in stature to a rare level, it doesn't put him at a level that he can dictate how his team is shaped. Certainly he has input but at this point, even with his Tour win, he apparently is still but a large and significant piece of the BMC puzzle. He isn't the sun that their planets revolve around otherwise the big signing would've been a strong lieutenant for Evans in the mountains, not a elite level cobbled classics rider with sprinter sensibilities who has yet to win a major classic or monument, with the exception of the WC road race (of which technically the WCRR is neither).

 

[just some guy]

+1
Obviously who BMC signs is a bit beyond Evans' complete sphere of influence, so IMO it's best to take the politically correct position when dealing with the media in discussions on this topic. To start this union off on a negative note when it can be avoided is never a good thing. While his Tour win obviously lifts him in stature to a rare level, it doesn't put him at a level that he can dictate how his team is shaped. Certainly he has input but at this point, even with his Tour win, he apparently is still but a large and significant piece of the BMC puzzle. He isn't the sun that their planets revolve around otherwise the big signing would've been a strong lieutenant for Evans in the mountains, not a elite level cobbled classics rider with sprinter sensibilities who has yet to win a major classic or monument, with the exception of the WC road race (of which technically the WCRR is neither).

What Cadel actually said re Thor - never said he didn´t want Thor said he didn´t want a sprinter ( which Tor is not ) but Thor brings a lot of Positives to the team for the Tor

last 3/4 of the video - http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/video/505669/Exclusive:-Cadel-Evans

watch what he says the media made this mess, Jimbo wanted to sign a sprinter to get wins take the pressure off Evans. Evans says in a round about way he does not want a sprinter in the Tour team for his defense - but Thor is a great signing, can go alone, can TTT can help Evans.

 

[Angliru]

It is my opinion about things, like you have one about issues. I don't see the problem.

So opinions are fine and acceptable, but only if they are youropinions and not Mellow Vellow's of which you referred to as "moronic"? Double standards are becoming your trademark.

 

[Angliru]

I love some posters on here. Before the tour they were like "He has no chance". He passed every single test even when very few of the so called 'experts thought he could. Now that he has won and beaten Andy Schleck who was the main challeneger o AC in the past few years and those same knockers are saying he got lucky...Idiots! Now those same haters are looking to find some sort of thing to criticise him for.

Awwww! How do you like them apples?

Even when your hero wins you still whine! What is it going to take for you to take your thumb out of your mouth and man-up?

 

[Angliru]

For goodness sakes, he DID get lucky!!!

He got lucky that Menchov didn't get an invite.
He got lucky that Contador wanted to do the Giro.
He got lucky that Contador and Sanchez lost time to crashes.
He got lucky that Wiggins, Van Den Broeck, Kloden, Horner, Vino, etc. all crashed out.
He got lucky that Gesink and Basso were severely affected by crashes.
He got lucky that he DIDN'T crash.
He got lucky that the only other men left standing couldn't time trial if their life depended on it.

In other words, he got lucky!! You have to have luck to win the Tour, you can't just have skill.

But even with all that, he still came out a deserved winner. No one is denying that!!!! But to slam posters who correctly note that he had more than a fair bit of luck and question their intelligence is just childish and ignoring the facts.

(It is however true that the Cadel comments about Thor probably read too much into it, however, myself included. )

+10000 Some things never change. Thumbsuckers of the world unite!

 

[Angliru]

My point, which you seem to be working hard to not understand, is that Evans didn't crash because he used his team to keep him out of trouble. He used his team (the whole "cycling is a team sport" thing--remember?). His not crashing had nothing to do with luck. Again, and for the last time: Cadel's victory was the result of very intelligent racing with a team build around him. He didn't make any mistakes. You could call that luck, but you'd be wrong.

Also: to repeat an often used phrase hereabouts: did you actually watch the race? Evans was second to no one in the mountains. He conserved his energy, but he covered attack after attack and made a few decisive ones himself. He was very strategic in where he used his energy, but when he did, he always did what was needed for the moment. Bottle, Horner and Kloden wouldn't have been the slightest problem for him, or Menchov. And don't get me started with Gesink or Wiggo He certainly handled the Schlecks, and I haven't heard anyone here say that any of those riders are at the level of Andy. The only person who could have beaten Cadel this year would have been a rested, uninjured Contador. We might get to see that next year--and then, for reasons that belong in another part of the forum, we might not.

I think its only fair to say that the points can be argued both ways and we all can and will only speculate on what could've been if so many gc guys hadn't crashed out. Of course the complexion of the race would've changed just by nature of there being more teams with similar agendas.

As far as the Schleck's are concerned, their focus was so strongly on Contador even with his early deficit, that they were paralyzed. Once they realized that Contador was but a shadow of himself, the Pyrenees had passed, as had their opportunity to put necessary time into Evans.

 

[Angliru]

Amen to that. I have followed Evans for years, before he turned to road racing and I am truly embarrassed to have ACF as a fellow Evans fan.

Oh my...it appears that even your fellow Evans fans find fault with the consistency of your inconsistencies. Are they simply haters of you (by your definition) or turncoats who don't follow your blind fellowship to the altar of Cadel? Surely they simply must be lacking the devotion that you possess, that explains why they are at odds with your attitude!

 

[Angliru]

+1
ACF is certainly not making Evans any favors, I was never a big Evans fan, but always respected him, that's gone now, thanks to ACF.

I would never let anything ACF says sway my opinion one way or the other and neither should you or anyone. Evans is a great champion and deserves his Tour win. What he doesn't deserve is someone's manic, obsessive to the point of stalking man-love that ACF has. Surely he wouldn't support such, to use ACF's own word, "moronic" behaviour in support of his Tour win.

 

[El Pistolero]

To a good general luck is important - Livy

Let's talk about Thor the Wheelsucker now shall we?

 

[Angliru]

You change your views on a riders because of one person on an internet forum? That's stupid beyond reason, if you alter your view on something because of some obscure poster you'll never actually meet then you have more problems than you care to admit. There's an ignore button for a reason, use that rather than having an negative opinion.

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.

 

[movingtarget]

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.

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.