Cancellara

I am a huge Spartacus fan. I think the guy is an absolute machine. He has won a couple of World ITT championships and an Olympic TT Gold Medal and he always does a huge amount of work for his team.

Having said that, I don't like hearing competitors of any sport complain about perceived advatages. That's for team managers etc.

However, I was thinking the exact same thing watching the stage last night. Why was Contador getting an escort? Don't tell me it was for crowd control. It isn't done on a mountain stage. It isn't done in any stage. It wasn't even done for any other rider in this stage! So I think he has some merit in his statement...

What I find interesting about yesterday's stage is the fact that Cancellara has been consistantly the best TTer in the last few years but Contador, not only improving in the mountains, has now improved so much in the TT that he rivals and indeed surpasses the world's best. I am having trouble reconciling such a big improvement in this aspect of his 'game'.

So sad.

Best sprinter...Cav. Complainer.

Best TT'er: Cancellara. Complainer.

Makes you have much more respect for Contador (didn't complain too publicly), Armstrong, Kloden, Wiggins, Zabriskie, Thor, The Schlex, you name 'em.

And special mention to Pellizotti. He started out the tour as a fave....then, when he knew he couldn't do the GC, repurposed himself for the KOM. No complaining, he just went out and did his job. Damned well, too. I'm a fan.

I agree completely with that.  I really like Pellizotti now.  He has really played to win the KOM.  His reaction to the Cera scandal from the Vuelta was really classy too.  He said "I'm sad to hear about it, but we should wait for the B sample before we condemn him.  I consider him a friend and I know he has to live with what he's done."  That's a lot classier than just saying "What a scumbag!"

I also agree on the comment about Contador's improvement.  But you know, maybe it's like P&P say "When you wear the yellow jersey it's as if you become 2 men."  That jersey can motivate to great things.  Noncetini got carried over some pretty tough cat 1 climbs by that jersey.

Interesting.... Why do you consider Cav a 'complainer'? 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/19/mark-cavendish-thor-hus...

Lance was whining when Big George didn't get yellow and threw Garmin under the bus for riding tempo in the last 30 miles.

This user's post has been ignored.

From Stage 5: http://www.itv.com/sport/tourdefrance/news/videocavendishcomplains/default.html

From Stage 14:  whining when he received the penalty (which was the right call)? And that the real green jersey wearer should win it on the road, not by infringement ruling (looking for the quote, it was relayed by P&P)? 

From the British Cycling foundation: http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/mark-cavendish-rejects-britains-olympic-fixation-21449

From the 2008 Giro: http://myshavedlegs.blogspot.com/2008/05/shut-up-and-ride.html

And in googling to get the quotes above, I was unaware that he was accused of racist remarks in the first week of the tour. It was anonymous feedback from the French riders in the peloton, so I don't take it at face.

With that all said, though, his last two interviews, and respect for Thor's ride in the Alps, was classy. I hope that means he's learning, a little humility and respect for the rest of the peleton never hurt anyone - especially one that's won a handful of stages at the expense of others.  I'm hoping he straightens around and turns into the respectful cyclist he claims he is, despite the other stuff. 

Not a fan, but giving him time to right his ship.   

Edited by rkreuser 2009-07-25 12:37 PM