Cavendish Is Past His Prime

[foo on patrol]

Why are people continually making excuse for him? The bloke is past his prime and should have stood by his own words on retiring at the end of 2022.

https://www.globalcyclingnetwork.com/ra ... t-uae-tour

Foo

[MichaelB]

Agree. He got close to the Merckx record, but that’s it.

Like Froomedog, he was great, but now needs to enjoy family life.

[ironhanglider]

Of course he is past his prime. Even he would admit that.

However he still believes that he can win races, and I suspect that he will. In the meantime Astana is learning how to be at the pointy end of a flat stage, which will serve them well in the future. I expect that there is some kid in the wings who will step up to take over the sprinter role in the next 12 months.

If winning was all about Watts and drag coefficients, then there would be no reason to race. People would just submit their numbers to the officials and the result could be declared. The beauty of the sport is that the race doesn't always go to the fastest.

Cheers,

Cameron

[find_bruce]

When was his prime? Looking at his TdF results, that was probably 2009-2011 when he won 5 or 6 stages each tour & won the green jersey by 50 points & was twice a close 2nd.

On that basis he's at least 13 years past his prime & time is tough on sprinters. That said 10 years past his prime he won 4 stages & his 2nd green jersey.

He was well back in the UAE, but most importantly Astana still believes he can win stages - don't think Froome's team think he can even compete for a win & he only remains because they were stupid enough to sign a contract.

[warthog1]

Of course he is past his prime. Even he would admit that.

However he still believes that he can win races, and I suspect that he will. In the meantime Astana is learning how to be at the pointy end of a flat stage, which will serve them well in the future. I expect that there is some kid in the wings who will step up to take over the sprinter role in the next 12 months.

If winning was all about Watts and drag coefficients, then there would be no reason to race. People would just submit their numbers to the officials and the result could be declared. The beauty of the sport is that the race doesn't always go to the fastest.

Cheers,

Cameron

Good post

[MichaelB]

Of course he is past his prime. Even he would admit that.

However he still believes that he can win races, and I suspect that he will. In the meantime Astana is learning how to be at the pointy end of a flat stage, which will serve them well in the future. I expect that there is some kid in the wings who will step up to take over the sprinter role in the next 12 months.

If winning was all about Watts and drag coefficients, then there would be no reason to race. People would just submit their numbers to the officials and the result could be declared. The beauty of the sport is that the race doesn't always go to the fastest.

Cheers,

Cameron

Good post

Had to laugh at the above post, as in the middles of ironhangliders post, I got an ad for "15% pensioner discount".

Was that targeted at me or Froome

[MichaelB]

A snip of Froome & Cvendish from PCS.

Sobering indeed ! Which is which ?

[warthog1]

As posted above, Cavs team still believe he can win stages.

That is a far more likely prospect than Froome winning a GC.

Will Cav win more? Dunno, he is surely past his best. It is however far more plausible than Froome winning anything imo.

[MichaelB]

As posted above, Cavs team still believe he can win stages.

That is a far more likely prospect than Froome winning a GC cracking the Top 10 in anything.

Will Cav win more? Dunno, he is surely past his best. It is however far more plausible than Froome winning anything imo.

Fixed it for you

[warthog1]

True

[find_bruce]

Froome is listed as an upcoming participation in le Tour - talk about delusions of adequacy

[twizzle]

What Cav does tend to have is "staying power". I'd still expect him to be doing well after a hard couple of weeks. Durability counts... I think. But when everyone is fresh, the new kids clearly have the edge.

[fat and old]

oooo....my two favorite world tour subjects to hang shite on now that The Boo has slid off the bike!

Froomay is like owning Australia. Always was, always will be. Shiznit. Got lucky with the Sky koolaid but the crash put him out for good. How he wrangled that deal from the Isreali team gets me but good luck to him.

Cavendish...he's another matter. I bagged him for not leaving 5 years ago.....and lookit what he did last year. The dude thrives on the big occasion, has the knowledge, craftiness and rat cunning that comes with old age and I would not be surprised to see him jag one more stage. And good on him, he deserves it for sticking it up me and the millions of other mes out there last year.

Both of them would leave me in the dust after 200m.

[MichaelB]

oooo....my two favorite world tour subjects to hang shite on now that The Boo has slid off the bike!

Froomay is like owning Australia. Always was, always will be. Shiznit. Got lucky with the Sky koolaid but the crash put him out for good. How he wrangled that deal from the Isreali team gets me but good luck to him.

Cavendish...he's another matter. I bagged him for not leaving 5 years ago.....and lookit what he did last year. The dude thrives on the big occasion, has the knowledge, craftiness and rat cunning that comes with old age and I would not be surprised to see him jag one more stage. And good on him, he deserves it for sticking it up me and the millions of other mes out there last year.

Both of them would leave me in the dust after 200m.

5 for me

[MichaelB]

Gonna miss the last attempt at MSR as Astana chasing UCI Points.

Per PCS, next races so far are ;

Upcoming participations
13.03 Milano - Torino
20.03 Classic Brugge-De Panne
03.04 Scheldeprijs
08.05 Tour de Hongrie
29.06 Tour de France


At least he's going to races, Froomedogs list is much shorter ...
Currently : Tirreno Adriatico
29.06 Tour de France

[fat and old]

Gonna miss the last attempt at MSR as Astana chasing UCI Points.

Per PCS, next races so far are ;

Upcoming participations
13.03 Milano - Torino
20.03 Classic Brugge-De Panne
03.04 Scheldeprijs
08.05 Tour de Hongrie
29.06 Tour de France


At least he's going to races, Froomedogs list is much shorter ...
Currently : Tirreno Adriatico
29.06 Tour de France

Surely the isrealis won’t take the bum to the TDF???? I reckon their celebration when rid of him will be bigger than a TDF winners!

[MichaelB]

Gonna miss the last attempt at MSR as Astana chasing UCI Points.

Per PCS, next races so far are ;

Upcoming participations
13.03 Milano - Torino
20.03 Classic Brugge-De Panne
03.04 Scheldeprijs
08.05 Tour de Hongrie
29.06 Tour de France


At least he's going to races, Froomedogs list is much shorter ...
Currently : Tirreno Adriatico
29.06 Tour de France

Surely the isrealis won’t take the bum to the TDF???? I reckon their celebration when rid of him will be bigger than a TDF winners!

Maybe dangling a withered carrot ....

[foo on patrol]

^^^^ ^^^^

Foo

[foo on patrol]

And he has missed the time cut off in the present Tour. How the hell does he think he'll make it through the TDF then?

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) has been eliminated from Tirreno-Adriatico after missing the time cut on stage 5.

Foo

[elantra]

And he has missed the time cut off in the present Tour. How the hell does he think he'll make it through the TDF then?

Mark Cavendish (Astana Qazaqstan Team) has been eliminated from Tirreno-Adriatico after missing the time cut on stage 5.

Foo

And Froomey is also out because his injured wrist (Crash on Stage 2) actually is a fracture in the small wrist bone (Scaphoid)
Wrist injuries of course are an occupation hazard in bike racing- and lots of other sports.

[find_bruce]

What Cav does tend to have is "staying power". I'd still expect him to be doing well after a hard couple of weeks. Durability counts... I think. But when everyone is fresh, the new kids clearly have the edge.

Stage 1 of the Tour of Türkiye was consistent with this - Cavendish was 15th, well back from winner Jakobson

[AUbicycles]

I will watch for the sport, certainly an aspect that will capture media and viewer attention… so more interesting whatever happens.

[fat and old]

Well, I'm looking forward to watching Cavendish race the TDF. A lot actually. Unless Pogacar wins the Giro by a mile and is looking just as good early stages in the TDF, what else is there? The Danish Froomay won't be there. Watching Roglic is like watching a glacier....steady, steady, oops, broke off at the end....Sky is still bringing Thomas out to play. Jay Vine is now a super dom for Pogacar. At least the Cavendish show provides entertainment one way or the other.

[MichaelB]

Well, I'm looking forward to watching Cavendish race the TDF. A lot actually. Unless Pogacar wins the Giro by a mile and is looking just as good early stages in the TDF, what else is there? The Danish Froomay won't be there. Watching Roglic is like watching a glacier....steady, steady, oops, broke off at the end....Sky is still bringing Thomas out to play. Jay Vine is now a super dom for Pogacar. At least the Cavendish show provides entertainment one way or the other.

At least he's racing unlike Froomedog.

[fat and old]

Yeah, that's it! And we get entertainment no matter what. He wins, lotsa balloons. He dips out, all of the hand wringing excuses from the bulk of the Cycling Media. Good times. Maybe we even get a positive test.......oooooo