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Greatest British cyclist of all time IMO. Seems like its the end. I would have loved to see him win again before he had to end.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1315319927755202560
= :87(
Maybe in different times he could have finished with a 6 day event like Wiggins did.
Nothing to prove now. Had his day and fine one it was !
Ah that's sad. Wanted to see more glory.
Him and Wiggins were a joy to watch at the six days London. It was incredible
Greatest British cyclist of all time IMO
Beryl would disagree. But Mark has nothing left to prove. What. A. Rider.
Remember watching him properly squaring up to a Spanish rider who brought him down at a race at Derby velodrome, then 5 minutes later he was signing autographs and posing for selfies with the fans.
He had nothing left to prove as a rider. Should be hugely proud of all he achieved and what he did for the sport, one of the key players in the "boom years". Even my mum knows who he is!
Beryl would disagree.
True, best male cyclist!!
Watching Wiggins, in yellow, leading him out to win on Champs Elysees in 2012 is one of my all time favourite sporting moments. Absolute sport perfection.
Shame he just fizzled out with all his troubles over the last few years. I wondered if he'd be able to reinvent himself a bit when the top end speed went but it wasn't to be.
Loved watching him race. Glad that I managed to be there on the side of the road embarrassing my kids shouting “allez Cav”. Was always surprised at just how short he is!
See from his twitter that some journalist has been giving him a going over re his mental health. Don’t think that’s in personally.
A real shame I used to watch and look up to Cavendish as a kid. Incredible rider
In his day he was an absolute joy to watch. The nearest sprinter to him has less than half of his stage wins in the TDF. It’s been sad to see him come down from such great heights but as a sprinter it was always going to happen, illness or not. I loved the way he always made a point of praising his lead out team, plus his feisty nature always made the interviews fun.
Definitely one of the best cyclists ever and one with a real personality, flawed, vulnerable, brilliant, outspoken and real.
I've always liked Cav, flaws and all. Felt sorry he never got Olympic gold at the London Olympics.
Undoubtedly the best sprinter of all time. What I find most endearing is that he wears his heart on his sleeve.... he's obviously had to try and do the whole 'scripted PR' answers thing throughout his career....and never really managed it!!!
If he wasn't quite so emotional about Harrogate and Sagan didn't knock him off, I reckon have the most tdf wins.
Always hoped he could get a couple more wins, gutted he has call an end on it.
Slightly mixed feelings on this TBH.
I love Cav, let me say that at the outset. He's a proper racer, in the most dangerous part of bike racing, my heart's in my mouth every bunch sprint of every race, from about 10k's to go. And he's a proper 'red in tooth and claw' sprinter and I love the fact that if you shove a mike under his nose immediately after that heart pumping nerve-shredding event then you get what you get, good or bad. No bland anodyne media friendly crap here please.
And he's the best there is at that certainly in his day and probably in any day, although the modern sprint trains putting him into the position to be the best make comparisons harder (and he's the first to pay tribute to Renshaw, etc.)
But to better Merckx's stage win record feels a bit wrong to me - because Merckx was an all rounder and won everything, mountains, sprints, TT's, ridiculous solo breakaways.... even allowing for eras of course Cavendish would school him over 300m but that's really the only place. I still wanted him to though....just now he hasn't I think it's 'fair'
So without a doubt for me GOAT as a sprinter and one of my very favourites.
It doesn't seem 5 minutes since he was being talked about as a neo-pro with T Mobile! If he does, he can retire with his head held high. EB virus robbed him of getting closer to Merckx but I agree with theotherjon about Merckx's palmares. Bahrain McLaren contract ends at the close of this season but they are apparently 'in negotiation'. Apart from the Champs Elysees stage, I'll remember him for his World's win in Copenhagen. How long before we have another British World Champion?
I've got this poster hanging up in my garage:
It seemed a bit predictable and unimaginative that journos kept needling him about beating the Merckx record, I certainly felt it was irrelevant to his achievements and career.
But even though he always played it down - perhaps it was something that motivated him?
Anyway, I wouldn't mind seeing him make a move into punditry - he was great when he did a bit at the Olympics - he's always very insightful and intelligent when talking about racing IMO - and his honesty would be a breath of fresh air.
I’ve got this poster hanging up in my garage:
Has anyone ever had a flatter back than Wiggo? It actually looks concave there.
As great as Cav is/was I think saying he's the best cyclist ever is stretching it a little. I don't even think you could claim he's the best British cyclist ever.
As great as Cav is/was I think saying he’s the best cyclist ever is stretching it a little. I don’t even think you could claim he’s the best British cyclist ever.
I don't think anyone claimed he was the best cyclist ever. AA as the OP suggested he was the best British cyclist ever, but quickly realised his mistake and corrected it to best British male cyclist ever. I think I could go with that. Beryl Burton is clearly the best British cyclist ever, just as I would suggest Marianne Vos is the best cyclist of all time, not Eddie Merckx.
I don’t think anyone claimed he was the best cyclist ever. AA as the OP suggested he was the best British cyclist ever, but quickly realised his mistake and corrected it to best British male cyclist ever. I think I could go with that. Beryl Burton is clearly the best British cyclist ever, just as I would suggest Marianne Vos is the best cyclist of all time, not Eddie Merckx.
True, best male cyclist!!
Definitely one of the best cyclists ever
I would not dispute that he is the greatest TDF sprinter of all time.
Beryl Burton is clearly the best British cyclist ever,
IMHO a cyclist is more than their palmares. For me, Chris Boardman is the best British cyclist ever, not only was he a great rider ( Olympics, on the track and on the road) but he came up with a great range of quality affordable bikes, and does a great job representing cyclists rights. You could also add commentating, pioneering many advances in cycling and being a very friendly chap.
MHO a cyclist is more than their palmares
natrix
I can't argue with your logic, although I'm not sure how involved Chris Boardman is involved in Boardman bikes (could be a lot?) Perhaps I should have said best "racing" cyclist.
Cav's rise cooincided with my first real interest in road racing and to see a Brit suddenly start winning left, right and centre was utterly thrilling after the sport being dominated by other nations for so long.
And yes, even is heat of the moment at the very peak of his career he always went out of his way to thank his lead out train, which was classy and unusually humble for a sprinter.
Hope he has good fortune in whatever next stage of life he emabarks upon.
Cav and others are getting dragged into the Freeman implosion
He was a great racer, could explain what he did with remarkable clarity, but too many faster kids coming through, time to move on
IMHO a cyclist is more than their palmares. For me, Chris Boardman is the best British cyclist ever,
No, sorry but that just makes him a great cycling advocate. You cannot lump that in with actual performance on a bike.
I think Cav is up there with the very best of British Cyclists, if not the best.
He'll be remembered for the Olympic medals and TdF stage wins long after everyone has forgotten the slightly crap end to his career.
Watching Wiggins, in yellow, leading him out to win on Champs Elysees in 2012 is one of my all time favourite sporting moments. Absolute sport perfection.
I was going to say this. I'm no jingoistic type and in hindsight I'm not sure how much of a fan I am of the Sky team phenomenon but seeing a one friend who has achieved a lifetime goal towing another to secure an iconic win was pretty marvellous. I'd lost my father a few weeks before that and was pretty churned up and it didn't take much to make me emotional but that certainly did.
I like Cav commentating as he says what he sees and it sometimes leaves the other commentators apologising for him.
No, sorry but that just makes him a great cycling advocate. You cannot lump that in with actual performance on a bike.
Do you know what CB achieved on the bike or are you just thinking aloud? He revolutionised an entire discipline of cycling (the one concerned with how fast we can go) and along with his coach Peter Keen they did it on their own. No behemoth team GB or pro team structure behind him for his 92 gold medal - first British cycling medal in three generations.
That doesn't make him greater than Cav, because Cav's palmares weighs ten ton, but they are in the same league of comparison. Boardman a lot more impactful and influential on the sport of cycling before he even started his post-competitive career.
No, sorry but that just makes him a great cycling advocate. You cannot lump that in with actual performance on a bike.
No it doesn't.
Yes you can.
The immense challenge that Boardman has taken on with Manc Cycling makes him a God who walks amongst us. The fact that he can do this stuff so calmly and professionally after what happened to his maw is phenomenal.
In this modern world of specialists, the fact that Boardman was at the pinnacle of racing and then puts so much effort into something far more difficult than just winning a race puts him in s League of his own
Debate about who is "the best ever" is reductive and tedious.
Cav is one of the greats, there are other greats, they did different stuff, it's all nice.
Debate about who is “the best ever” is reductive and tedious.
Cav is one of the greats, there are other greats, they did different stuff, it’s all nice.
You're absolutely right.
I think it must be hard for a sprinter. Richie is off to Ineos to retire as a super domestique and will be a fabulous asset, road captain and future DS. But Cav? I love him but he has shone so brightly. I could see him working for a team and wanting to giving back to younger riders. He’s matured so much and in public view. But I can’t see him in the same role as Richie. His engine is so different.
Millar has been phenomenal as a commentator. I was sceptical at first, but he is excellent. He also matured into a good Road Captain. I can’t really see Cav In that role.
But Greipel got a win!!!! So who knows 😉
Cab is/was definitely my favourite cyclist.
What’s the story behind the clip in the OP? Presume he has been dropped from the bunch and has now decided to throw in the towel?
Sorry I don’t want to check the cycling news as I’m watching Giro highlights in a bit..
I would suggest Marianne Vos is the best cyclist of all time, not Eddie Merckx
I think it's a bit silly to say that Vos is a better cyclist than Merckx when Merckx would have easily beaten her if they had ever raced. How are you judging it, exactly? Best female cyclist? Yes.
Probably not a popular opinion but I reckon the best UK male cyclist is Wiggins. He's a plonker, but he achieved so much in so many different disciplines. I love CAv though.
I reckon the best UK male cyclist is Wiggins
Nice try, but Beryl would have beaten him at her prime 😉
Maybe. Over 12 hours.
Nice try, but Beryl would have beaten him at her prime
I did specifically say male Cyclist.
I know, I was merely trying to show what an astonishing feat that 1967 12hr was. I'm not sure what Wiggin's all-time best 12hr distance is (if he ever rode one). For all I know, I may have beaten him too! It took 50 years for Alice Lethbridge to break that record - with all the aero kit.
Nice try, but Beryl would have beaten him at her prime 😉
and would have offered him a toffee!
What a come-back, turns out Cav hasn't retired after all............