It’s clear to me why he has won so much, he seems to have a brilliant mind for racing.
Yes. I'm always amazed that in interviews straight after a stage finish he knows exactly who was coming up either side of him, who was doing lead-outs, who was fading, who was a real threat, who was where......basically everything that was happening around him while he's doing 40 mph on a bike and focussed on getting a win.
He's apparently a decent chess player; I'd love to know if he's good at blitz chess where you have to play almost on instinct.
his sprinters brain is something else and when you consider that sprinting is traditionally a young mans game his wins last year were amazing
There's still a bit of my brain that thinks someone will take him on this year and make him look beatable, like he did to Pettachi when Cav first came onto the scene
Shinton.
Excellent link. Got any more?
It really was a good read wasn't it
doesn't look like mark will be riding the tdf, seems to be penciled in for the QST giro roster.
Orla Chennaoui on the Cycling Podcast broke the news that Alpha-Vinyl QS will be starting a womens team. There was a bit of chat speculating whether Cav might have had a hand to play or might play a hand in the future (he's a big supporter of the women's peloton).
more top sprinting!
Was awesome from Morkov too, brilliant from both... i didn't think he was going to get it at one stage !
If you read The world according to G, there's a fair chunk in there about Cav and his mind, the way he memorises the road book for the finishes, knowing every turn and feature of the run in and how he can compare them over different years and races.
He's very focused and passionate. I watched him having to be pulled off a Spanish rider he thought had brought him down at a race at Derby velodrome - 5 minutes later he was back in the spectator zone for autographs and selfies as though nothing had happened.
I’d think any professional sportsman would be a bit pi$$ed if the guy responsible for preparing the team’s kit handed-up something that wasn’t up to standard. I wouldn’t want to go wheel-to-wheel in a sprint on a bike with a poorly adjusted headset, never mind LeTour. Can you imagine something like Lewis Hamilton reacting any different.
That spat is discussed in his book. Two sides and everything but when read in context he was both right to be pissed off, but also it was a complete non-event as far as him and the mechanic were concerned.
Ampthill. I'm confused by the picture story. Might be because I don't have proper twitter access and also don't really follow StarWars. What's the significance?
He’s a wee prick.
Really? He's about to ride a stage with potentially unsafe gear & you think he's a bit moody because he's not happy about it. Very odd.
you're not allowed to express anything these days, didn't you read the memo? People can't handle it.
Great podcast featuring Cav interviewed by Orla Chennauoi and Greg Rutherford link
I'd never really warmed to Rutherford as an athlete but really liked his insight into being an elite athlete and how we was able to compare and contrast his own experiences with Cav.
The Missile is going to the Giro, probably the nail in the coffin for anyone hoping he's going to the tour; unless something very unlikely happens to Jacobsen
Seems a shame he doesn't get to take one last swing at the record. Perhaps he'll contest the early stages in the Giro then drop out?
Could do a cippo and get off on the first Giro hill, then have Jakob and morkov lead him out for a TdF double hit stage hunting between the two. Maybe 😉
honestly this podcast needs pinning,
I'll bump it up for the morning crowd, it really is an excellent listen.
Really enjoying the podcast, some other good names coming up too
I can't see Cav dropping out of the Giro to go to the Tour - unless Lefevre has some mad plan to take two sprinters and letting them duel it out ???!
Excellent....
Ol' Fabio is struggling @ the Belgium Tour, failed to get over the lumpy terrain to contest the sprint yesterday and finished 7th Today.
Wasn't there something about a knee injury from a crash recently?
Jakobsen looked impressive in the final stage today.... even without a Morkov leadout
honestly this podcast needs pinning
Oh it does, thanks for that. I was annoyed with the 3 of them for all of 60 seconds and then I was charmed, they were great talking together. The Orla/Greg combination is brilliant.
Lets bump it a bit..
Cav currently smashing it in the National Road Race Championships, up in a break of 4 off the front. He was in the initial break as well which got reeled back in, now he's gone again.
About half way through at the moment, 100km to go, live coverage here:
Winning the Nationals would be a huge statement against the team's choice not to take him to the Tour...
Boom!
Apologies if this comes as a spoiler to anyone but Cav is National Road Race Champion again. Tactical sprint from a small group and he won it pretty easily.
One of his best races, he was right up in the fight the whole way through.
I really wanted Sam Watson to win but fair play to Cavendish a canny race.
he was right up in the fight the whole way through
He did a huge amount of the work all day. A really strong performance.
Think he earned that!
Now all he needs to do is get a place in the Tour!
if I go, I'll win
And I 100% reckon he would too
Some good strong riding from Cav today...
When are they going to announce the team..? It's starting soon!
The man is an absolute legend! Please let him ride le tdf! Please please please!
I tuned in near the start of the race, saw him in the break and assumed he was working for Ethan Vernon! Absolutely astonishing ride, tactically and physically.
