Professional Cycling - Does Evans stand a chance?

I'm really hoping so.

I feel asleep before the start of the Galibier last night but I just check the GC standings. I nearly **** myself with glee when I saw he'd moved up two positions in one stage. Considering he's pretty much Australia's only hope now I'm definitely behind him.

How did he manage to move up so much in one stage?

A chance yes. A podium likely, but this year is strange, and Evans could crack any day along with all of the other GC guys.

Richard

Believe it or not, he actually attacked a couple times.

He's riding very well this tour, and is the best-placed good time trialist IMO.

If Kloden isn't affected by his injuries he will lay down the law in the time trials.

Richard

My biggest fear right now is something illicit being found in his blood :(

I almost cried when I heard McEwen and O'Grady were out. I don't think I'd be able to cope with another one out because they were doping.

I almost cried when I heard McEwen and O'Grady were out.


WTF?

you need to get out more.

Rogers I felt bad for

O'Grady I felt bad for

McEwen is such a wheel sucking no account he wont be missed by me.

Richard

I'd have to say "I don't know". After stage 16, I'll give you my opinion. :D Too many possible scenarios. About the only prediction I think is safe is Contador winning the White jersey.

WTF?

you need to get out more.

I get out plenty. I just had really high hopes for McEwen coming into this thing it was really disappointing hearing that was out.

Rogers I felt bad for

O'Grady I felt bad for

McEwen is such a wheel sucking no account he wont be missed by me.

Richardwhat on earth are you talking about? mcewen has won more stages with less support than any other rider in recent history.

evans certainly has a chance. i would say he is behind only klodie and contador, and maybe valverde (depending on what form he displays TTing this tour).

He is akin to a field goal kicker in football. During time trials he rides around the course like he is on parade. His support is sucking wheel, although not necessarily a teamates until 300 meters to the finish.

I know I know he is paid to win sprints, but so is Zabel, and Boonen.

Richard

the difference is, that boonen and zabel are good powerful enough riders to nab a yellow after time bonuses if they put in good ITT's at certain points. it's not liek you don't see boonen and zabel in the gruppetto once the stages get really high.

I actually like the sprinters who are able to win chaotic sprints where no teams have it under control (McEwen being a prime example). Although I appreciate watching the Milram train set something up for a rider like Alessandro Petacchi, it just isn't as entertaining IMO.

No the difference is Robbie is lazy. He didn't have any problem keeping up with Boonen during last year's time trial. Once Boonen caught him he had a wheel to suck, and generally wanted to annoy Boonen.

Even though Boonen knew he was not going to win the time trial, and wouldn't stay in yellow he rode his butt off.

I can't deny Robbie can sprint like a mad man he just doesn't seem to have any class.

Richard


the difference is, that boonen and zabel are good powerful enough riders to nab a yellow after time bonuses if they put in good ITT's at certain points. it's not liek you don't see boonen and zabel in the gruppetto once the stages get really high.

No the difference is Robbie is lazy. He didn't have any problem keeping up with Boonen during last year's time trial. Once Boonen caught him he had a wheel to suck, and generally wanted to annoy Boonen.

Even though Boonen knew he was not going to win the time trial, and wouldn't stay in yellow he rode his butt off.

I can't deny Robbie can sprint like a mad man he just doesn't seem to have any class.

Richard


you know the same was said about mario cippolini in the earlier part of his career...before his record number of wins ... but now we know the lionking probably won his sprints and abandoned to stay a step ahead of the doping checks :eek:

ed rader

no class is cippo not even going for first week stage wins and not even trying to finish the race. robbie, on the other hand, has won the green jersey 3 times. there's nothing wrong with being tactical when you're going after the second biggest prize in the TdF, and you have absolutely no chance at the yellow. it's just plain stupid to go balls out on a stage you can't even not lose time in.

I don't dispute your logic. I just am not a fan. I wish I had his sprint!

Richard


no class is cippo not even going for first week stage wins and not even trying to finish the race. robbie, on the other hand, has won the green jersey 3 times. there's nothing wrong with being tactical when you're going after the second biggest prize in the TdF, and you have absolutely no chance at the yellow. it's just plain stupid to go balls out on a stage you can't even not lose time in.

I'm really hoping so.

I feel asleep before the start of the Galibier last night but I just check the GC standings. I nearly **** myself with glee when I saw he'd moved up two positions in one stage. Considering he's pretty much Australia's only hope now I'm definitely behind him.

How did he manage to move up so much in one stage?

After seeing his attacking style today (at last), I think he has a chance but I feel Valverde and Kloden are going to get the better of him.

I saw some highlights on my lunch break and I'm kicking myself not staying awake :(

i can definitely feel where you're coming from as well, but i think that when robbie is going against zabel and thor, he has always needed to be tactical and go for the flat stage wins where he has a sharp advantage. hell, i would like to see evans show more balls as well, but the reverse side of that is a guy like merckx or hinault, who, no matter how great they were, take alot of competition out of cycling. sure it's amazing to see the same guy kick ass in every area of racing, and be aggressive, but it's much more interesting to see the TTer vs. climber battle in a grand tour IMO, much like it's interesting to see the juggernaut sprinter vs. the guy who's a little ore well-rounded who can grab other bonuses.
I don't dispute your logic. I just am not a fan. I wish I had his sprint!

Richard

McEwen is such a wheel sucking no account he wont be missed by me.

Richard

WTF? He's a sprinter, of course he sits on wheels. Then he rides off them, very fast. That's what sprinters do. As someone else pointed out earlier, there's no point in McEwen attacking the prologue like Boonen. He's paid to win stages, not to be a time-triallist. It would be plain stupid of him to waste energy.

Did you not see stage 1? McEwen is one of the most exciting riders in the peloton, one of the best bike handlers, and has won three green jerseys and 12 Tour stages. This is hardly the mark of a soft or lazy man!

As for Cadel.... definite podium chance, but the race is still so open it's impossible to say much more than that.

McEwen doesn't particularly need your advice, he already has three green jerseys. how many do you have?

wheel sucking and playing the field, waiting for the right time and the right lead rider to jump are tactics, mate. TACTICS that win races. he has won more stages than anyone else here, so i think you're just crying that he's not American.

FYI, lance was the same. when it did not matter to his race plan, he sat back and cruised, and he had a whole team surrounding him to make sure nothing happened. he only pushed when he had something to gain. what's the difference?

I think Evans is more of a chance to win now that McEwen is out of the race. He has the whole team to work for him now instead of some being used to work for McEwen. To win though he will have to be more aggressive and pick times when he can get time up on the other GC contenders.

I think you miss my point. I was not giving RM advice. I was merely pointing out I don't like him. I am sure he is heart broken.

Richard


McEwen doesn't particularly need your advice, he already has three green jerseys. how many do you have?

wheel sucking and playing the field, waiting for the right time and the right lead rider to jump are tactics, mate. TACTICS that win races. he has won more stages than anyone else here, so i think you're just crying that he's not American.

FYI, lance was the same. when it did not matter to his race plan, he sat back and cruised, and he had a whole team surrounding him to make sure nothing happened. he only pushed when he had something to gain. what's the difference?

Yea he tried to attack Contador's rear wheel, but that did not work out too well.

Richard


attacking style? is that what that was?

No the difference is Robbie is lazy.



Couldn't be more wrong.

Couldn't be more wrong.

Where are you from? Oh I see.

Richard

attacking style? is that what that was?


Hey I didn't say it was pretty;) At least he got away from the group even though it didn't work out, he at least tried.

I'm pretty sure McKewen would beat anyone in the field in a (rolling start) 100m time trial.

Yea he tried to attack Contador's rear wheel, but that did not work out too well.

Richard

True, but did you notice he sat up on the descent to conserve energy and waited for Chicken's bunch, and they caught Contador and Popovich anyway, and believe it or not, he helped to pace them to the finish, maybe boring, maybe just a smart rider?

I never said he wasn't smart. Why waste energy when you don't have to?

Richard


True, but did you notice he sat up on the descent to conserve energy and waited for Chicken's bunch, and they caught Contador and Popovich anyway, and believe it or not, he helped to pace them to the finish, maybe boring, maybe just a smart rider?

True, but did you notice he sat up on the descent to conserve energy and waited for Chicken's bunch, and they caught Contador and Popovich anyway, and believe it or not, he helped to pace them to the finish, maybe boring, maybe just a smart rider?

Yeah, but then he left a gap that wouldn't have been closed up if Kloden hadn't turned himself inside-out.

Where are you from? Oh I see.

Richard


When you've trained and raced with him, you can comment.

Yeah, but then he left a gap that wouldn't have been closed up if Kloden hadn't turned himself inside-out.

Even so, after he had attacked and got dropped by Contador, he stayed away from Rasmussen's group until he sat up, if anyone should have closed that gap it was the rest of riders with him, not him alone. Even the best riders need a chance to gasp a breath and occassionally they make mistakes...hey, we're all human, remember??

Even so, after he had attacked and got dropped by Contador, he stayed away from Rasmussen's group until he sat up, if anyone should have closed that gap it was the rest of riders with him, not him alone. Even the best riders need a chance to gasp a breath and occassionally they make mistakes...hey, we're all human, remember??

You must not have been watching. The five riders ahead of him just pulled away, and Cadel had totally zoned out for a few seconds. His group managed to get as much as 30 seconds behind before Kloden nailed it back. If that happens to him again, he might not be so fortunate, and could lose a minute or so.

I never said he wasn't smart. Why waste energy when you don't have to?

Richard

so it's ok to race smart for everyone except McEwen?

-1 credibility.

so it's ok to race smart for everyone except McEwen?

-1 credibility.
Now you've got it. Robbie should be out in front setting the tempo and chasing down breaks. Then he should attack and go on his own 120K breakaway, sit up, wait for the peloton, lead himself out, and take the win. Just like Hushovd, Zabel, and Boonen do.

And now that McEwan is out, there's no one to pace Evans up the mountains.

No the difference is Robbie is lazy. He didn't have any problem keeping up with Boonen during last year's time trial. Once Boonen caught him he had a wheel to suck, and generally wanted to annoy Boonen.

Even though Boonen knew he was not going to win the time trial, and wouldn't stay in yellow he rode his butt off.

I can't deny Robbie can sprint like a mad man he just doesn't seem to have any class.

Richard

He has no class because he, as a sprinter, didn't give it 100% on a meaningless (to him) TT? Interesting.

... Brad

This thread was not started to discuss Robbie's racing tatics. I merely pointed out I don't like him. I don't need to train or race with with him. I just don't like him plain and simple. I sure everyone here has riders they don't like.

Richard


Now you've got it. Robbie should be out in front setting the tempo and chasing down breaks. Then he should attack and go on his own 120K breakaway, sit up, wait for the peloton, lead himself out, and take the win. Just like Hushovd, Zabel, and Boonen do.

And now that McEwen is out, there's no one to pace Evans up the mountains.

This thread was not started to discuss Robbie's racing tatics. I merely pointed out I don't like him. I don't need to train or race with with him. I just don't like him plain and simple. I sure everyone here has riders they don't like.

Richard
Fair enough.

I think Evans has a great shot at it. Along with Kloden, Sastre, and Valverde.


This brilliantly insightful post was brought to you by lack of coffee.

I'm really hoping so.

I feel asleep before the start of the Galibier last night but I just check the GC standings. I nearly **** myself with glee when I saw he'd moved up two positions in one stage. Considering he's pretty much Australia's only hope now I'm definitely behind him.

How did he manage to move up so much in one stage?


Don't you have VCRs or DVRs down under? :)

Don't you have VCRs or DVRs down under? :)

No...we are still trying to work out Beta.

My 4-year old son Evan shouts out "Cadel Evans!" every time the announcers mention his name during the broadcast.

I've been a big fan of Cadel since his mountain biking days when he seemed to break his collar bone every other month. At the very least I hope he finishes on the podium, and I think he has a good chance to win - especially if he can turn in some consistent rides in the Pyrenees.

remember how that little ****** miguel mrtinez used to poan him every year? man did i hate that tool.

you know the same was said about mario cippolini in the earlier part of his career...before his record number of wins ... but now we know the lionking probably won his sprints and abandoned to stay a step ahead of the doping checks :eek:

ed rader

Eh, I always thought they skipped out to save their legs for the later season races. After the first week, the odds of a breakaway stiking are much higher, plus the mountains, and its a lot more work for less reward.

stage winners get tested too, so skipping out wouldn't necessarily save his hide.

After seeing stage 11, live on TV, all I can say is......... "GO VINO", what a champ!! ya gotta love the guy for trying.

remember how that little ****** miguel mrtinez used to poan him every year? man did i hate that tool.

I expected Little Mig to win at least one mountain stage one of the Grand Tours since he used to regularly blow the off-road field away, but I guess not much happened in his road career. Cadel Evans, Michael Rasmussen and Floyd Landis have done much better with their transitions. On the other hand, Martinez has a gold medal from the 2000 Olympics and that ain't too shabby.

Cadel Evans, Michael Rasmussen and Floyd Landis have done much better with their transitions. .


+ Dario Cioni

This is a great point - I'm beginning to dislike Evans, possibly the most boring racer to watch in contention for any jersey, mostly because of his smart tactics ('limpet' according to Phil or Paul just now).


This thread was not started to discuss Robbie's racing tatics. I merely pointed out I don't like him. I don't need to train or race with with him. I just don't like him plain and simple. I sure everyone here has riders they don't like.

Richard

So in order for you to like a rider, he has to ride like an idiot? Ok. This stuff about Evans being 'boring' or 'weak' because he's riding himself into the ground every day to stay near the front, but not blowing himself up in a meaningless attack that he know he can't make stick because he's already redlining... he's being paid to get results not to overreach like a poseur idiot, blowing his GC chances.