Is Cavendish's Green Jersey Gone?

donrhummy
donrhummy Posts: 2,329
edited July 2010 in Pro race
A few questions really:

1. Are his chances for green gone?

2. Do you think he's still hampered by the mental crap he's had to deal with this year? (A lot actually)

Thor, I have to say, deserves to be even further in front than he is (yesterday's neutralized points hurt him), but wow, is he a brilliant cyclist. It seems that no matter how many crashes occur, he's always in a great spot. And he can do more than just Sprint, yet is also a great sprinter. Very impressive.

Still, I just feel Cav still hasn't gotten mentally to where he needs to be.
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Comments

  • The Jack
    The Jack Posts: 52
    1: Yes.

    2: Yes, but the main problem is that he started to believe his own hype "I´ll just go 85% intead of 80% (like I did last year)". No, Mark, you went 100% last year. To make it this year you need to go 100% again and be in better shape than you were last year.
    "Wo ist mein Fahrrad?"

    -Ralf Hutter of Kraftwerk waking up from a coma after a crashing with his bicycle-
  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    I don't think he ever had it. He's been struggling and his team aren't as good as last year. Even with all those stage wins last year Hushovd won more points. Yes, there was the DQ incident but my point is that he struggled to build up points outside of the stage wins.

    I hope he gets a stage win or two and settles down a bit.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    After benefiting from Monday's neutralized finish maybe he'll stop whinging about his DQ last year.

    He's certainly got a battle on his hands. He might even need to go 86% now :lol:.

    I'd like to see him in the mix again, the green jersey is in danger of becoming a one horse race this year, with Farrar's broken wrist and Cav's poor start, ironic really when it was the most (only) exciting classification last year.
  • off the back
    off the back Posts: 168
    No chance on the green esp. as not as many pure sprint stages as previous. That and he is not riding well all year. Stage 2 - first sprinter out the back in hills. He has talked himself up all year but just not close to the level he was at last year - in both getting over hills and in pure sprint power.

    I think his problems are mainly physical (lack of form) sure that brings frustration.

    This could be a very frustrating tour and could see scenarion where he might even pack early to go back to basics to prep for Worlds to try get season back on track.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    it's not looking good for Cav and the green jersey so far. He's form has been bad all season so unless he can start picking up the sprints mid stage and a few wins I can't see it.

    he really needs to work on the climbs any little hill and he just gets spat out the back, makes you wonder how he got over the Poggio
  • Bikerbaboon
    Bikerbaboon Posts: 1,017
    All im saying is that if he does not win some points today hes off my fantasy tour team roster. I mean how much more damming a review can a guy get

    :lol:
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  • Pokerface
    Pokerface Posts: 7,960
    No - the Green jersey is NOT gone!!

    Remember last year when he had that big lead - and still lost it? Just takes one finish where Thor DOESN'T get in the points and he does. Isn't that what happened last year - but in reverse?!

    But if he doesn't step it up and quick (like as in TODAY), then Green may be a target for next year.
  • Sidi
    Sidi Posts: 21
    I think this years tour might just prove too much for an outright sprinter to win the green jersey and it will most probably go to someone like Thor who can pick up intermediate points in the hills.

    The question imo is not will he win the jersey but will he make Paris?
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  • Kléber
    Kléber Posts: 6,842
    It's also possible that Contador takes green, there are several stages where consistent finishing could seem him win enough points.

    But with Farrar weakened and Cav struggling already, Hushovd is already in a strong position. But a crash or a mistake and things could change again.
  • Homer J
    Homer J Posts: 920
    Could he wim the green and yellow? Has anyone done that? Maybe EM?
  • Neil McC
    Neil McC Posts: 625
    It's not over for Cav yet, though it wouldn't take long at his current rate of losing points to the leader. He needs to start winning. If he wins today & tomorrow that would be a good start.

    Likewise it's not in the bag for Thor.
  • petejuk
    petejuk Posts: 235
    Today is crucial for him. He needs to win and needs to beat Hushovd in a sprint to give him the psychological edge. The team also looks weaker this year. Its too early to write him off yet though.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    Homer J wrote:
    Could he wim the green and yellow? Has anyone done that? Maybe EM?

    Eddy Merckx in 69,71 and 72, Bernard Hinault in 79

    The problem for Contador winning is that there are less points for mountain stages (and TTs) than for flat stages
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  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    Homer J wrote:
    Could he wim the green and yellow? Has anyone done that? Maybe EM?

    Yes EM won all three in his first tour
  • dcj
    dcj Posts: 395
    tyler weakened won't help cavendish. if cavendish wins a stage, chances are noboady else will be between him and Thor to take the lower points on offer.
  • inseine
    inseine Posts: 5,788
    Remember last year when he had that big lead - and still lost it? Just takes one finish where Thor DOESN'T get in the points and he does. Isn't that what happened last year - but in reverse?!


    'cept he needs TWO stages where Thor is not in the mix and he wins. Unlikely.*
    I think he'll win a couple, but he'll only take the Green jersey by some quirk of luck now i think.
    Thomas is second though!
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  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    maybe he can do a solo breakaway on a mountain stage and mop up all the points like Thor did last year :D
  • donrhummy
    donrhummy Posts: 2,329
    Yeah if Cav wins 6 stages (VERY unlikely but possible) and Thor is just 3rd on all of them, Cav would gain 54 points on Thor and STILL be losing in the green jersey competition by 8 points!!
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    He did say in an interview that he couldnt be ar*ed chasing the remaining 2 or three points that will be left if a breakaway sweeps up the points in a breakaway on a flat stage. He said he'd concentrate on the wins, as long as thats what hushovd, ciolek, farrar et al did.

    But hushovds no dumbo and he's probably thinking the same but with a massive points advnatage in his favour.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
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  • inkyfingers
    inkyfingers Posts: 4,400
    Cav can't win the green jersey, Hushovd will have to lose it.
    "I have a lovely photo of a Camargue horse but will not post it now" (Frenchfighter - July 2013)
  • Orleandrew
    Orleandrew Posts: 61
    It's gone based on today's form (or lack thereof).
  • symo
    symo Posts: 1,743
    Need to hold a requim for it after today. Will wait till the great man gives an interview later.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Yeah, he should win it no probs. :shock:
  • dave_1
    dave_1 Posts: 9,512
    Cav's head will not be right, with the damage in his family life + illnesses, it doesn't surprise me. Could you keep your mind on cycling with your bro locked up in jail for years..must be taken its toll.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBacb2V ... ata_player
  • Coach H
    Coach H Posts: 1,092
    Looks like it is all over after sitting up today. Especially as he cannot be bothered with the intermediates.
    Coach H. (Dont ask me for training advice - 'It's not about the bike')
  • neilmacd
    neilmacd Posts: 128
    Definitootly afetr today's result ah well always next year I suppose
    Scott CR1 Team
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  • Bikr23
    Bikr23 Posts: 16
    It may be in the best interest of Team Columbia for Cav to lead out Renshaw :shock:
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    Doubt he will see the other side of the Alps never mind the Pyrenees or Paris.
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    didn't know about Cav's brother, whats the story there ?

    Seems he in interested in stage wins and gave up points today and sat up.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    sherer wrote:
    didn't know about Cav's brother, whats the story there ?

    Seems he in interested in stage wins and gave up points today and sat up.

    Currently serving six years for drug smuggling (coke and weed)
    Twitter: @RichN95

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