posted Aug 29, 2008

linking wow... thinking wow... Talk about missing the punch line!

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posted Aug 29, 2008

27 pro road wins (and counting) in first two seasons is more or less unheard of.
doing much better this year than last.
11 wins last year in 2nd tier races
16 so far this, with 6 coming from 2 grand tours.
any takers on 20+ wins next season?

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posted Aug 29, 2008

Make that 17 so far this year.........

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posted Sep 1, 2008

That said, in hindsight, Wiggins should not have been the partner for Cav given his program ahead of the Olympic race but the results elsewhere underline that the management got it right overall.
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Getting it right overall doesnt excuse a vry poor decision that probably cost us another set of medals. Whether teh race is tactical or not, the fact is that physically Wiggins wasnt in form capable to win it, end of story.

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I am well aware that SOME sprinters, like Chippolini in the past, have been happy to win flat stages and not finish the big tours, but there are plenty of others, such as Zabel, who do make the effort.
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You're missing the point. The nature of team road racing is that there are at least five different type of rider:

General Classification winners
Climbers
Points riders
Sprinters
Team players

Zabel is a points rider, not a pure sprinter. In days gone by they were oen and th same but increasingly now that is not the case. Teams are seeing that including pure sprinters for the first week can net them wins as these guys are better at sprinting than the likes of Zabel. It is a perfctly legitimate tactic.

As for it being an insult to the Tour, well if that was an issue for the tour then they should do somethign about it. They could always include the first mountain stages from day 3-6 if they wanted to. Instead they choose to keep the camera (and hence sponsor) friendly sprints for the entire week in the knowledge that this will happen. Thus for me they support the practice, so how is it disrespectful?

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posted Sep 1, 2008

On a bit of a tangent to this, is their a reason why Cav did not compete in the individual sprint in the olympics, would he have a chance against hoy? surley if anyone would then Cav would?

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posted Sep 1, 2008

Does anyone else here think that Mark chavvingdick needs to grow up and get some instruction on how to present himself to sponsors.

I've sat on my typing hands for long enough now, but yesterdays tour of ireland coverage was enough.

Yes, he's fast and its great that a Brit can win, but he needs torealise he can't just take the smooth, he has to take the rough with it and speak to the media and fans when he loses too.
To just climb off and not attempt even one climb on the Cork finishing circuit yesterday just speaks volumes about what he still has left to achieve in this sport. To do it whilst carrying the green points jersay as well, shows what little respect this boy has for matters beyond his own ego.

So, fine Chav, go and ride in America, they may not know you out there and might think you're a great sprinter, but you still only get 2/10 from me at the moment!

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posted Sep 1, 2008

On a bit of a tangent to this, is their a reason why Cav did not compete in the individual sprint in the olympics, would he have a chance against hoy? surley if anyone would then Cav would?

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Nah, Cav doesn't have the power to match Hoy or most of the top track sprinters over the short distances, I can't understand him not being in the Road Race though, put Thomas in there to lead him out and watch the fireworks.

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posted Sep 1, 2008

Beijing wasn't Cav's course - too much climbing. He suffered on even the category threes and fours in the Tour de France. However, the course in London 2012 might be a different 'ball game'. (excuse the mixed metaphor!)

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posted Sep 2, 2008

Cav may not be the most media friendly cyclist but at least he does give interviews. What I like about cycling are the different characters and type of racers in the sport. Robert Millar wasn't always media friendly but still remains Britain's best tour rider in my book.
Cycling is also a team sport and it is not only his decision what races to race and when to pull out. I recall his team director saying that he decided to pull him out of the TdF because he was tired and had already achieved a lot and I don't think that had anything to do with the Olympics coming up. It's an international team with an American boss, I believe, and they made that decision and this one for him to compete in America rather Britain.

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posted Sep 2, 2008

Crikey what a load of nonsense, Wiggo a soft trackie!! - Mmm remind me how far he rode solo out the front of stages in last years TdF?

I thought this thread was about how Cav seems a bit of a spoilt wally - 'Bitter'!! The Madison is a lottery made harer by being makred men as he and Wiggins were. On top of this all this talk about the management getting it wrong, not only are the number of events limited in a track event so are the number fo riders you are allowed which is why you have to play a bit of a balancing act. It worked at the Worlds and there was no reason why it should not have worked at the olympics.
I felt the result helps to highlight what an acheivement it was to win in the other events it was just as liekly we wold be pipped in another three or four.

Back to the point - Cav should learn to take the rough with the smooth and have a bit more graciousness, he'll be likened to Evans soon!

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