silence-lotto versus cadel evans

le_patron

"If Evans used a rebranded Walser model 6 and some rebranded Stingers he would have have had a comfortable winning margin in the final TT."

I don't know enough to argue the figures, but do people really believe that Evan's choice of kit cost him the Tour de France ?

And more importantly, just think how much extra free time a year I would get if I rode a Walser 6 with rebranded Stingers to work every day instead of my £300 MTB with slicks.

OffTheBackAdam

The lack of support from his team does contrast strongly with CSC. CSC arguably had another 1 or 2 potential tour winners within its ranks, Lotto doesn't.
As for using different wheels for the TT suddenly finding him another minute, sounds far-fetched to me.
He never looked particualy comfortable in the high mountains, always seemed to struggle to get back on when a true climber attacked. Lack of team mates didn't help him, but he did capitalise on the work done by CSC in setting a fiery pace on the lower slopes and the initial climbs. Things may have got very interesting if Soler was still in the race and you'd got him, Kohl & maybe even Sastre going hammer & tongs up the big ones.

disgruntledgoat

le patron wrote:

"If Evans used a rebranded Walser model 6 and some rebranded Stingers he would have have had a comfortable winning margin in the final TT."
.

Is the authour of this the bloke in my club who worries about the weight of his bar tape?

He/she is honestly arguing that a specific model of bike and wheels would have made him a minute faster over the same course? I know the bike industry makes some ludicrous claims in advertising, but surely nobody actually swallows that the difference between Evan's kit and those items is anything more than incremental?

Jez mon

I don't believe the time gained by better equipment alone would have meant Evans won the tour. BUT my point is, if you are a tour contender, (looking to win the tour through TTs) then you owe it to yourself to get the most aero equipment possible. If Evans had been in slightly better shape, and only lost the yellow by a few seconds, then better equipment could well have put him in yellow.

Evans may have used Armstong's bodyguard, but he should have taken other ideas from Armstrong, a strong and dedicated team, a completely training plan completely dedicated to the tour and equipment choices.

calvjones

Jez mon wrote:

I don't believe the time gained by better equipment alone would have meant Evans won the tour. BUT my point is, if you are a tour contender, (looking to win the tour through TTs) then you owe it to yourself to get the most aero equipment possible. If Evans had been in slightly better shape, and only lost the yellow by a few seconds, then better equipment could well have put him in yellow.

Evans may have used Armstong's bodyguard, but he should have taken other ideas from Armstrong, a strong and dedicated team, a completely training plan completely dedicated to the tour and equipment choices.

Yep, that's why Armstrong won seven Tours allright.

Where Evans is supposed to magic up 8 top quality dedicated Domestiques is anyones' guess. He rides for a team that can't buy a half-decent win in a single day Belgian race, let alone the Tour, remember?

Nuggs

Evans also seems to have completely misunderstood how food is put on his table - sponsorship.

If I was paying Evans' wages I would be horrified by his approach to the press.

Jez mon

calvjones wrote:

Jez mon wrote:

I don't believe the time gained by better equipment alone would have meant Evans won the tour. BUT my point is, if you are a tour contender, (looking to win the tour through TTs) then you owe it to yourself to get the most aero equipment possible. If Evans had been in slightly better shape, and only lost the yellow by a few seconds, then better equipment could well have put him in yellow.

Evans may have used Armstong's bodyguard, but he should have taken other ideas from Armstrong, a strong and dedicated team, a completely training plan completely dedicated to the tour and equipment choices.

Yep, that's why Armstrong won seven Tours allright.

Where Evans is supposed to magic up 8 top quality dedicated Domestiques is anyones' guess. He rides for a team that can't buy a half-decent win in a single day Belgian race, let alone the Tour, remember?

I know that Evans can't magic up USPS, but he could have done a number of things; been nicer to his team, he isolated himself with the Cadel bus etc, he should have made sure that his super domestique, Popo, was ready and prepared for the tour and he should have tried to persuade Silence Lotto to build their season around Cadel winning the tour.

skavanagh.bikeradar

I think this is probably the end of Evans as a tour winner. It'll be interesting to see what he does next, but his best chances of winning the Tour were last year and this I would think and his team couldn't or wouldn't help him much. He may find a home on a team with 8 blokes dedicated to working for him, but on the basis of what you've seen and heard over the last 3 weeks you wouldn't bet on it.

Pirahna

disgruntledgoat wrote:

le patron wrote:

"If Evans used a rebranded Walser model 6 and some rebranded Stingers he would have have had a comfortable winning margin in the final TT."
.

Is the authour of this the bloke in my club who worries about the weight of his bar tape?

He/she is honestly arguing that a specific model of bike and wheels would have made him a minute faster over the same course? I know the bike industry makes some ludicrous claims in advertising, but surely nobody actually swallows that the difference between Evan's kit and those items is anything more than incremental?

It's fairly easy to test if you have the right kit. The thing with Weight Weenies is if you're posting a load of bollocks somebody will tell you. If nobody disputed the claim it's more than likely been tested. If you ask on there for verification you'll get pointed to the test data and methodology.

Max Weber

The original comment about Evans winning the Tour if he'd used the Walser/Stingers combo referred to the 2007 Tour.

humble

victorponf wrote:

Someone in youtube (http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=FikzgWE3t0A) wrote this about CADEL EVANS:

He's a joke. He rode like a complete wheelsucking pussy all the way up Alpe Duez, refusing to take the lead in the chase group after Sastre and he rode every other alpine stage this year in the same exact wheelsucking fashing rarely if ever taking the lead and pacemaking himself.

So glad he lost to Sastre who earned it on Alpe Duex by gutting ity out on the lead and doing the same today. Hope this little spolied brat just goes away, he didn't deserve to win the TDF.

That someone must have a very brief clip of the ride up the Alpe - because Evans was forced to the front the last 5km - and only came off the back - in the last bit toward the line.

In fact - this was a very important and revealing moment - the fact that CSC was able to force Evans to the front - and watching the other riders from all the other teams - being towed by Evans - a rare sight - km after km.

humble

I'm not convinced Cadel could lead a team the way Lance did. The team he had - on paper - is a not as weak as they performed. Lance always seemed to make the team better - not worse than they were on paper - one way - or another - some would say - by hook or crook

It is not clear that Evans understands the importance of getting pub and props and victories where possible for those that give themselves up for him. This is something Lance was a master at - the carrot if you will. Of course - Lance could wield a big stick too.

That being said - It was odd that Popo said he got the green light to go for the stage win the day before the Alp d'Huez - I don't think we'd have seen that on a Lance team - you supposed key guy in the mountains burying himself the day before the day you'd expect to him to help you. Somethings not quiet right there.

The argument that Evans would have won with a stronger team - is far from a lock.

I have yet to hear or read Evans congratulate Sastre - I'm sure he has and I missed it. I have heard of how his fall hurt and his team was not the strongest - over-and-over-and-over. :roll:

McEwen - came right out and said it - like only he can - the better rider won.

richard wants a baum

Well my guess is the british media arent showing much of Cadel Ive watched numerous intreviews with Evans where he says the same thing, "nothing i could do i did my best but the better rider won". I think you guys need to remmeber that his a australian rider and you might only get the sound bits the tv directors want you to hear. might not be the ones that paint evans in a good light. same could apply to me i suppose aswell

Alain Quay

I think he has alienated too many people to be considered by many teams or sponsors, or fans.

I am not trying to defend him but he is an eclectic character, living in Italy and
married to a concert painist. Wikipedia says:

In 2008, Cadel Evans wears a cycling undershirt with the Flag of Tibet and supports freedom for Tibet. [1], [2]

He stated :

Trying to bring awareness of the Tibet movement is something someone in my position can do. I just feel really sorry for them. They don't harm anyone and they are getting their culture taken away from them. I don't want to see a repeat of what happened to Aboriginal culture [in Australia] happen to another culture.

So, don't like his riding style, or how he treats the media, but not a total oik.

dirk_van_gently

Put aside all the side issues, such a being eccentric (Amen to that, or maybe he should just be boring? you decide), marginalizing team mates and possibly the wrong kit on the TT.
The fact is either his team wasn't working for him, or they were useless.
When CE was left isolated so many times, the DS must have been apoplectic. The team meetings must have been "Interesting" to say the least.
I cannot believe any DS would work against one of his team, especially when that member is a likely tour winner, put forward all the theories you like, he was let down by the team.

flattythehurdler

Armstrong made his teams improve by organising and paying for their preparation.
Wearing a message under your shirt doesn't advertise it very well.

DavidBelcher

Dirk Van Gently wrote:

Put aside all the side issues, such a being eccentric (Amen to that, or maybe he should just be boring? you decide), marginalizing team mates and possibly the wrong kit on the TT.
The fact is either his team wasn't working for him, or they were useless.
When CE was left isolated so many times, the DS must have been apoplectic. The team meetings must have been "Interesting" to say the least.
I cannot believe any DS would work against one of his team, especially when that member is a likely tour winner, put forward all the theories you like, he was let down by the team.

The team was allegedly assembled to support Evans, at the expense of giving McEwen a decent lead-out train and thus depriving him of potential stage wins. In the end, they seem to have been an ill-matched, rag-bag bunch offering little benefit to either of their Aussie stars.

David