Maybe he was, I thought he was third
oh yeah, if it was like 100 feet more, he may have one. guess he was 2nd.
Le Tour!
- Thread starter NJ-XC-Justin
- Start date
Maybe he was, I thought he was third
oh yeah, if it was like 100 feet more, he may have one. guess he was 2nd.
This is a population misconception. Cavendish wins with and without Renshaw. His effectiveness off Renshaw's wheel says as much about Cavendish as it does about Renshaw. They're understanding of each other wouldn't automatically be replicated between Renshaw and any of the other top sprinters. If Farrar was as smart a cyclist as Cavendish he'd be finding ways to win; the way Cavendish does.
Really this is just guessing by both of us, since we'll never really know. If Cav does break up he band, or if the other 2 don't jump to Sky, then we might see. But then Renshaw is likely going to just end up as a sprinter for some other team, not a lead man for anyone else.
I personally don't think Cav wins 4 stages without that leadout. I grant you he's a great sprinter. But I'd say he only would have 2 at this point without the same team around him.
I don't know what Farra's deal is. I know everyone wants to scream "douche" when his name is brought up. But it seems like the team doesn't work that well for him. He ends up in No Man's Land far too early in these sprints. Cav is smarter and exposes himself less. But Farrar appears equally as strong to me, just less experienced/savvy.
Right, and to my point, clouds objective conversation about him. Just IMO but it sure seems that way to me.
Agree about Renshaw.
He won a race this year or last year because he led out Matt Goss (i think) and Goss wasn't there, so Renshaw just kept going to the line. Renshaw talked about it afterwards that he trains to ramp up over the last 400 meters and then pull off, which is different than following a wheel and exploding in the last 100-200 meters. I don't think you will see him as the lead sprinter on any team, his time has passed for that, which he has noted.
kush
Active Member
Interesting. These guys are so extremely specialized these days.
After every stage, ITV has a 15-20 minute podcast about the day, which I find much better than the stuff on Versus. I'm finding I just like the British style of just about all media. I like that Cav said about Greipel the other day, something like, "He'll never beat me. He may be more powerful but I'll just follow his fat ass to the end and jump around him." It's just more honest and less Ameri-polished.
I digress. Here are the podcasts:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/itv-tour-de-france-podcast/id163658288
But more to the point above, they had an interview with Renshaw after yesterday's stage which jives with what you wrote up there:
http://www.itv.com/tourdefrance/2011/news/renshaw-vows-to-stick-with-cavendish/
Rojas and Gilbert (2nd and 3rd in the sprint points) were reported to have gone to the commissar's car to complain about Cavendish holding on to cars, literally, through stage 14. That MAY be what Farrar is alluding to when he mentions Cav's "remarkable recovery" in the interview. Which means that he's bent out of shape 'cause while he was working yesterday, sapping his legs, Cav may have gotten a break, and been fresher for the sprint. Which is pretty politic for a man still trying to get his breath back after a hell of a sprint.
As for Farrar being a douche, take a look at the interview from last year when Renshaw, after head butting Julian Dean for a 100 meters, looks back, sees Tyler and deliberately swings in front of him, almost puttint TF in the barriers. Farrar was shaken as hell, but stayed civil. He's a good guy and a great sprinter. Cav's a better sprinter, and is learning to be a better bike racer (ie: savvy/cheaty).
Best thing that happened to Andy last year? Frank crashed out, so he could race on his own. Worst thing? Frank crashed out, and took a testicle and half of the Schleck-ubermind with him.
Thanks for the Farrar clip. I do kinda like him, as much as most people here don't. His mannerisms do come off a bit "high school jock attitude"-ish at times but he always says the right things, at least IMO he does.
I did hear the accusations about Cav holding onto cars. Phil and Paul said of that, basically, if it was true there would likely be some pictures or videos of it. I have to believe it's not true. I did wonder if that's what Farrar was referring to in that interview.
I heard an interview after Saturday's stage where Frank admitted he was on the edge. So I have to believe an attack there would have dropped him at the very least.
Contador is now saying the Tour isn't *as* important to him. Hmmm.
What does tomorrow bring? Is this enough of a climb to create any separation or is it another ho-hum stage?
Velonews say that there is the possibility of the GC guys attacking on the last climb since the downhill goes right to the first and it is a technical descent. Should fair well for Evans and Contador, since they are better decenders than Andy Schleck. Probably won't fair well for whoever is riding behind Jens Voigt.
Yer welcome! I thought his win on the 4th was fantastic.Contador is now saying the Tour isn't *as* important to him. Hmmm.
What does tomorrow bring? Is this enough of a climb to create any separation or is it another ho-hum stage?
One of the next two stages may be good for the Sanchez. He's a mad descender, which the Schleck-bots aren't (watch Andy's top of the hoods style). Tomorrow looks like a meat grinder.
Contador's bluffing now, I think. They gave him time for the knee to recover in the Pyrenees. He's gonna do something. Maybe even tomorrow, 'cause he can descend pretty well too.
As for Phil, Paul and Cav, they fall in love too easily. And they're in L-O-V-E with Cavendish. (Phil especially seems to favor the tiny dour sprinters. Used to be Robbie McEwen.) Rojas might be a whiner, but if Gilbert went back to complain, there's meat on that bone.
Jens was just testing the various impact-absorbency properties of the Pyrenees. He got bored waiting for the pack to catch up.
He rode away fro everyone except contador on many ocassions in the last two tours.
Several different sets of commentators have been wondering WTF that team has been doing on several occasions. I did read this today:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...efends-teams-tactics-at-tour-de-france_184672
Specifically of note:
It may just be the case that none of these guys has enough to bury anyone else. In that case, Evans has to look really good right now, no?
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...efends-teams-tactics-at-tour-de-france_184672
Specifically of note:
It may just be the case that none of these guys has enough to bury anyone else. In that case, Evans has to look really good right now, no?
It was interesting how they said that they could use a fresh contador in the alps to their advantage. Contador has to attack to make up time. If only Andy Schleck can follow, but stay with contador, then Evans takes the hit. I also really think everyone is just waiting for Evans to explode, which he always has in one way other another in the past. He looks awfully strong this year though.....
More of the guy you love to hate:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...ar-i-dont-know-if-cavendish-took-pulls_184793
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...ar-i-dont-know-if-cavendish-took-pulls_184793