dmb2786

Boonen is asked about his opinions on Cavendish toward the end.

El Diablo Rojo

Cav may have the better sprint but Tommeke is the man...he wins the hard man races, one day classics that are monuments. Bunch sprint wins are great and all but in the end who will be remembered more Boonen or Cav?

Snuffleupagus

That, and getting in trouble for snorting blow, and one can only assume, off the backside of your 17 year old girlfriend is far more memorable than any silly Olympic medals.

Lithuania

+1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

grolby

I don't know. Probably have to wait a few years to find that out.

And don't get me wrong, I think Boonen is amazing - more of a Classics man who also happens to have a killer sprint than a sprinter per se. He's a phenomenal rider. That said, sheer speed means that Cavendish will win a LOT of races over his career, and if he develops into a rider with more capability in the hard races he will truly be a force to be reckoned with.

kniprm

Maybe, but I have to agree with Tommeke on this one. I can see Cav finishing well at MSR, but Flanders and Roubaix? Doubtful.

Soil_Sampler

Cipo thinks he might be a little bit good.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?...an09/jan20news

Duke of Kent

Fixed that for you.

I will boil, dice, and eat my hat if Cavendish ever wins Flanders or Roubaix.

tekhna

Heat up? Hardly. He said he has the body type of a different type of rider. He might be right, he might not be. Cavendish is 23 years old, he's got a long way to go to his peak, and that's scary.
Hardly an inflammatory interview.

Racer Ex 

It was off the taut stomach of a world weary 16 year old Hungarian "model" to be accurate. An updated club mix of Falco's Der Commisar was playing and the blow in question was proffered by an Omani national working with his government on establishing a piggyback race to the tour of Qatar.

El Diablo Rojo

This goes back to the 'Ultimate Question' thread:

Would you rather win a lot of races, or win fewer races but win the big ones. If had choice between winning 30 races and 15, included in that 15 were PB and Flanders I'd take the 15. Few pure sprinters are remembered for just there turn of speed. We remember Chipo for his flair, Zabel for his class and Robbie for his agression and post race comments. Cav has none of these attributes, save the aggression, but sounds like a buffoon when interviewed. No in the end it's Boonen FTW.

botto 

pure sprinters don't have a long shelf life. who can name a top sprinter from the past that never won a classic, or a world championship?

Zabel was so much more than a sprinter.

while we remember Cipollini for his flair, he was more than just that. the rainbow jersey is probably one reason while his name will be remembered a lot longer than McEwan's.

obie

Wha? He's not Zabriskie-like but, I don't hear anything in interviews that makes me think he's a donk.

Maybe just a young kid from a small town thrust on the big stage?

Big talent, exciting to watch.

YMCA

I saw no war of words in the article. Boonen was very gentlemanly.
Cav is quick. Boonen is strong. Simple.

El Diablo Rojo

correct.

I was generalizing but yes Chipo was much more than just style, and Zabel was much more than just a green jersey winner....Boonen is more than just a sprinter...which makes him more than just a Cav.

slim_77

Yep, well said. A great deal more, but time will tell...

botto 

that pretty much nails boonen.

ridethecliche

Man, the kid just started racing as a pro.

Lets watch him grow, I'm hoping he gets stronger all round.

botto 

hope against hope.

ridethecliche

Like soap on a rope?

kniprm

agreed.

Ste_S

Small Island
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Mann

Racer Ex 

Beg forgiveness here but it isn't like he grew up in a small African village and has been thrust into a big world of which he has little knowledge. They do have both television and the Internet on the Isle of Mann. Broadband even. The "small town kid" excuse went out a while ago; you aren't going to convince him to buy your magic beans or that a little man lives inside your cell phone.

At 23 you don't get a free pass in any case. And Boonen's 28 for chrissakes. If you're risking your career at that age by doing blow it's because you're a dumbarse.

botto 

non sequitur, but am i the only one who can't stand it when cavendish is referred to as "Cav?"

and for that matter, unless you speak flemish, can we drop the "Tommeke" sobriquet?

thanks.

wanders

I speak flemish.