What about Menchov at the TdF 2012

[maxmartin]

without "EXTRA HELP', Menchov is not going anywhere

 

[RHRH19861986]

I hope he´ll win the Tour, I fear he won´t...

If all goes as expected, Wiggins will do it, second Evans or Menchov...

 

[RHRH19861986]

without "EXTRA HELP', Menchov is not going anywhere

None of these guys rides without "extra help", and Menchov certainly doesn´t have any other medical treatment than his rivals.

 

[Afrank]

without "EXTRA HELP', Menchov is not going anywhere

None of these guys rides without "extra help", and Menchov certainly doesn´t have any other medical treatment than his rivals.

Keep it in the Clinic guys.

 

[RHRH19861986]

Keep it in the Clinic guys.

You´re right, I will do so.

 

[movingtarget]

Yes Cadel was the same age when he won. Age seems to affect some riders (like Basso) but not affect others (Evans, Wiggo). Though when Cadel won he had also won other races earlier in the season, and menchov so far hasn't done anything.

It might not necessarily be age. Menchov may be past his best as an athlete whether it's age or health or motivation. After Sastre won in 2008 he never regained the same sort of grand tour form. Menchov is always an enigma but if he fails in the Tour, say outside the top 5 without good reason like illness or crashes, he may be looking at retirement, Basso must also be getting close to that point. Evans and riders like Horner seem to defy the trend but Evans had a late start to grand tours as well. If Menchov really wants to win the Tour I am sure motivation won't be a problem and also no Contador to contend with to make things a bit easier.

 

[karlboss]

It might not necessarily be age. Menchov may be past his best as an athlete whether it's age or health or motivation. After Sastre won in 2008 he never regained the same sort of grand tour form. Menchov is always an enigma but if he fails in the Tour, say outside the top 5 without good reason like illness or crashes, he may be looking at retirement, Basso must also be getting close to that point. Evans and riders like Horner seem to defy the trend but Evans had a late start to grand tours as well. If Menchov really wants to win the Tour I am sure motivation won't be a problem and also no Contador to contend with to make things a bit easier.

Evans giro at 25? is that late? not early surely, but late?

 

[movingtarget]

Evans giro at 25? is that late? not early surely, but late?

But for the years after that before his first Tour ? I may have a defective memory but I think there was a gap of a few years between the Giro and his first Tour. Could be wrong.

 

[Marcus135]

But for the years after that before his first Tour ? I may have a defective memory but I think there was a gap of a few years between the Giro and his first Tour. Could be wrong.

Cadel first rode the tour in 2005 when he would have been 28. So that is a fairly late in the career of someone who will go on to with the Tour one day.

 

[Pentacycle]

Karsten Kroon:

Thor Hushovd:

Denis Menchov:

That's why I like those graphs in cqranking, you can somewhat tell that a rider is past his best. The same could go for Evans, since he's starting a downward trend in 2012. It doesn't prove anything, but it's one of the indicators of decreasing potential.

Cadel Evans:

 

[DenisMenchov]

Karsten Kroon:

Thor Hushovd:

Denis Menchov:

That's why I like those graphs in cqranking, you can somewhat tell that a rider is past his best. The same could go for Evans, since he's starting a downward trend in 2012. It doesn't prove anything, but it's one of the indicators of decreasing potential.

Cadel Evans:

But in both 2008 and 2010 Menchov was better than in 2009 and 2007 . Just he doesn't care about this CQ points.

 

[college]

He will be in in the top 100 but not in the top 10.

 

[Potomac]

With A. Schleck out and F. Schleck having done half a giro there's nobody in his path to victory.

 

[movingtarget]

With A. Schleck out and F. Schleck having done half a giro there's nobody in his path to victory.

Those two were never going to win because of the TTs. But a possible podium is looking better and better for VDB or Gesink. Still looks like Evans, Wiggans, and Menchov if the competitive version turns up.