The Ego Has Landed

2

Comments

  • Allez Mark
    Allez Mark Posts: 364
    He's just tweeted this

    f_cancellara Fabian cancellara
    Interview's are not coming out like always i be thinking to say things.Specially now whats around sounds not me.lot get lost in translation
    14 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply
  • dbb
    dbb Posts: 323
    FC is always a great support for his team during the tour - so i am sure he does not expect races to always be won 'his way'.

    at this level, the difference between riders is in their head/confidence. he is just letting everyone know that he is ready for this weekend and trying to talk everyone else out of it!
    regards,
    dbb
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Allez Mark wrote:
    He's just tweeted this

    f_cancellara Fabian cancellara
    Interview's are not coming out like always i be thinking to say things.Specially now whats around sounds not me.lot get lost in translation
    14 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

    I wondered that, was the interview in English? How good is his English?
  • pedro118118
    pedro118118 Posts: 1,102
    From what I've seen his English is fairly basic - certainly not good enought to articulate his thoughts in an extended interview. And I'm sure the journo only published the juicy bits. He does have a big head, but I think that comes with the territory, when you're as good as he is. Probably just brovado, given his attack didn't stick on Sunday and his aura of invicibility was knocked as a consequence. He probably wants to convince himself that Nuyens was lucky to get himself in the right frame of mind for Roubaix...
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    pedro118118 wrote:
    He does have a big head, but I think that comes with the territory, when you're as good as he is.

    Are you suggesting that to be that good, you have to be arrogant? Don't think that's the case. There are plenty of riders as good, in their own particular way who aren't. Tom Boonen was as good a few years back as Cancellara is now and I don't think anyone would say he's a big head.
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,725
    edited April 2011
    He always seems happy enough and able to do live, pre-race English interviews.
    Always has plenty to say.
    Maybe not excellent, but certainly not what I'd describe as basic English, either.

    Maybe a partially a lost in translation scenario, but also an element of having read and digested the article and having second thoughts.
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    pedro118118 wrote:
    He does have a big head, but I think that comes with the territory, when you're as good as he is.

    Are you suggesting that to be that good, you have to be arrogant? Don't think that's the case. There are plenty of riders as good, in their own particular way who aren't. Tom Boonen was as good a few years back as Cancellara is now and I don't think anyone would say he's a big head.

    They did when he was younger...

    Watch any interview with Boonen where they suggest he did something wrong and wait to see if he agrees or admits he's done anything wrong.

    It'll be a very long wait.
    _
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    Cancellara seems to want people to take him on on his own strengths. He rides the way he does because it's the way he's best suited to win races, not because of some aesthetic. Put him in a bunch sprint alongside Cav and he's toast. Are all sprint victories now to be deemed worthless, because sprinters by definition wheelsuck for all bar the last 200m of any race? Why should the middle ground, of riders that won't beat sprint specialists but can't time-trial alongside Cancellara have to perform to his criteria?

    +1 to that! All those criticising Nuyens and others for not taking Cancellara on by sharing the work with 50km to go are deranged, why work to another persons strengths especially when they are head and shoulders above everyone in that area.
  • shinyhelmut
    shinyhelmut Posts: 1,364
    No tA Doctor wrote:
    Tactics are an integral, worthy and interesting part of cycling. Without them it would be rubbish.

    Exactly. If Canc wants a race in which the strongest athlete wins in which tactics plays a minimal part then he might want to consider Ironman triathlon or RAAM where drafting is not allowed.
  • dbb
    dbb Posts: 323
    ok- then they have to accept the critisism for not working
    regards,
    dbb
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    They did when he was younger...

    Watch any interview with Boonen where they suggest he did something wrong and wait to see if he agrees or admits he's done anything wrong.

    It'll be a very long wait.

    OK, fair enough, maybe a bad example. How about listen to a Chris Hoy interview instead. Just don't see that being a big head and good go hand in hand.
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    RichN95 wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    By all means big yourself up, but no need to slag off your rivals.

    I don't know, I like a bit of niggle and animosity between sporting rivals. I'd rather have less of the Contador-Schleck love-ins personally.

    Check. The Great Fignon waxed lyrical on this at the Tour.

    Sporting rivalries and jibes make it more exciting for the fans.

    His comments are true though. Just like Pozzato rides to make Gilbert lose. Cancellara rides to win with glory. I repeat that he will be remembered long after Nuyens.

    I like reading his comments generally and he has pertinent insights to make.

    You can admire someone's sporting ability and still dislike them as a character too so I wouldn't let some comments put you off enjoying his sheer brilliance ona bike. He produces some of the most amazing photos too.
    Contador is the Greatest
  • antikythera
    antikythera Posts: 326
    Nuyens raced smart, within his abilities on the day and it worked! - Good on him. Racing is as much about tactics as anything else and Nuyens clearly showed this

    Cancellara's comments simple show that even after the event, he's not acting smart and he'll simple lose again (in the media stakes). Hope he gains a few IQ points coz he is a great talent
  • tremayne
    tremayne Posts: 378
    Just read the article. Can't say I'm too offended by it really. A Big winner has a big ego? Big surprise? Not really.

    The man's an absolute monster on two wheels and his style is pretty unique. Can't say I'm over keen on chinny, but I think in the heat of the moment, bitter taste of defeat - and all that, what he said wasn't too off the mark. But yes - drafting is what makes cycling what it is - and he'll just have to live with that on the days it doesn't quite work out for him.
  • moray_gub
    moray_gub Posts: 3,328
    frenchfighter wrote:
    RichN95 wrote:
    inkyfingers wrote:
    By all means big yourself up, but no need to slag off your rivals.

    I don't know, I like a bit of niggle and animosity between sporting rivals. I'd rather have less of the Contador-Schleck love-ins personally.

    .Just like Pozzato rides to make Gilbert lose. /quote]


    This blaming it all on Pozzato is a basically Gilberts way off saying he was not good enough on the day in question whether that be the Worlds or Flanders, pure smokesecreen this Pozzato thing.
    Gasping - but somehow still alive !
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    Is it? How about Paris-Tours a few years back where Pozzato and Gilbert were away, but Pozzato wouldn't work so they were caught before the line? Or Milan-San Remo this year where Pozzato chases down Gilbert's attack in the final couple of kilometres, then sits on his back wheel, refusing to come through, meaning they get caught? See a pattern emerging yet?
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    4758067527_4439c9fa1f_z.jpg
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    andyp wrote:
    Is it? How about Paris-Tours a few years back where Pozzato and Gilbert were away, but Pozzato wouldn't work so they were caught before the line? Or Milan-San Remo this year where Pozzato chases down Gilbert's attack in the final couple of kilometres, then sits on his back wheel, refusing to come through, meaning they get caught? See a pattern emerging yet?

    What are you talking about? Pozzato making Gilbert lose? If so here is the direct quote PT 10:
    I tried to attack on the Côte de l'Epan but immediately had Pozzato in my wheel. That's just his way of riding: his speciality is to make others lose.

    Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5971/ ... z1ImB24tzf

    And Worlds 10:
    After my attack in the penultimate lap, there were six of us at the front. Why would Filippo Pozzato not work in it? Had he done so, we were gone. Now he has nothing.

    Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6108/ ... z1ImBJYcC3
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    edited April 2011
    http://www.atwistedspoke.com/pozzatos-c ... -will-not/
    :lol:

    http://www.roadbikeaction.com/ARCHIVE-N ... -wait.html
    Contador is the Greatest
  • frenchfighter
    frenchfighter Posts: 30,642
    “Pozzato has so much talent but he lacks something,” said Tchmil, “you could call it grinta. I am sick when I see what opportunities he has squandered.”

    Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6152/ ... z1ImCTDxu8
    Contador is the Greatest
  • ms_tree
    ms_tree Posts: 1,405
    Magnus said much the same today during Pays Basque.
    'Google can bring back a hundred thousand answers. A librarian can bring you back the right one.'
    Neil Gaiman
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    C'mon guys be fair.

    He rides to make Boonen lose too.
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.
  • daverow
    daverow Posts: 64
    Aggieboy wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    Just when you thought his head couldn't get any bigger...

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancell ... is-roubaix


    It's not bragging if you can back it up.

    Muhammad Ali

    +1 Cancellara is THE strongest rider out there and we all saw it again today. Every other team isolates him until he either drops too far back to make a viable bid for the win or they just sit on his wheel (Nuyens) and let him drag them to the line. It's a cowardly way to win. and I use the word 'win' loosely.

    You naysayers should wake up and smell what you're shovellin!
  • mattsy666
    mattsy666 Posts: 91
    In the last 2 races, he may not have won, but he decided who didn't ... both Thor and Chavennel will currently be mulling over the stupidity of their own tactics rather than Fab's ...

    It's reminiscent of Armstrong in his pomp ... only Fab is willing to aim (and risk/accept failure) for different goals rather than stick to owning the World TT ...
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    calvjones wrote:
    C'mon guys be fair.

    He rides to make Boonen lose too.

    The shadow...
    _
  • pedro118118
    pedro118118 Posts: 1,102
    daverow wrote:
    Aggieboy wrote:
    andyp wrote:
    Just when you thought his head couldn't get any bigger...

    http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cancell ... is-roubaix


    It's not bragging if you can back it up.

    Muhammad Ali

    +1 Cancellara is THE strongest rider out there and we all saw it again today. Every other team isolates him until he either drops too far back to make a viable bid for the win or they just sit on his wheel (Nuyens) and let him drag them to the line. It's a cowardly way to win. and I use the word 'win' loosely.

    You naysayers should wake up and smell what you're shovellin!

    Very harsh. What is the point intrying to out punch a bigger puncher? You've got to box clever. Cancellara puts himself out there as the man to beat - the self-proclaimed gladiator of the pro peleton. What it doesn mean is that we get some surprise winners, as all the main favourites market each other out of it.
  • iainf72
    iainf72 Posts: 15,784
    Everyone knows to win at bike racing you need good legs, a good head and a bit of luck, yes?

    Fabian had 2 yesterday. JvS had 3. Nuyens had all 3 at Flanders.
    Fckin' Quintana … that creep can roll, man.
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    iainf72 wrote:
    Everyone knows to win at bike racing you need good legs, a good head and a bit of luck, yes?

    Alternatively, you can be tactically as thick as a railway sleeper, have an earpiece and a good DS.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • pedro118118
    pedro118118 Posts: 1,102
    Indeed. It's all very well lambasting Garmin's performances, given their perceived strength in depth, but Leopard have left Cancellara completely isolated at both Flanders and Roubaix.
  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    "It's a pity, because if they had helped in the chase, we would have finished just the three of us and you never know, I could have punctured or had cramps like in Flanders."


    Rough translation:

    '..of course none of them could or would have beaten me if I didn't have a problem in the finale.'

    Nice to have confidence.
    ___________________

    Strava is not Zen.

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