Cuddles

domhopson

Ok, so I've read a couple of articles with Cuddles, but does anybody actually think he has a genuine chance to win yellow on 24th July? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see him get something out of Le Tour this year, and yes he won the rainbow jersey (did it proud). but is he a serious contender?

RichN95.

Probably not, but I see him as one of six riders who could conceivably win (along with Contador, Schleck, Basso, Gesink and Sanchez).

Personally, I'd love to him win.

inkyfingers

If Contador rides then i'd say no (because I don't think anybody does), but if he doesn't then i'd say he has a real chance alongside Schleck and Basso.

takethehighroad

If he can't win a Tour with 70 something kilometres of TTing then I think it'll be tough winning a Tour with some 43 or so.

B3rnieMac

i dont think he ever will, but i love watching him try.

Anonymous

I'd love to see it but don't think I ever will

He was a tremendous world champ last year.

tailwindhome

As someone who has returned to watching the TDF (and other races) after a gap of 20 odd years I don't know all the history.

I have got the impression that Evans is a clean racer competing against dopers and doesn't stand a chance. I've heard and read interviews where he hints as much.

Fair comment?

RichN95.

TailWindHome wrote:

As someone who has returned to watching the TDF (and other races) after a gap of 20 odd years I don't know all the history.

I have got the impression that Evans is a clean racer competing against dopers and doesn't stand a chance. I've heard and read interviews where he hints as much.

Fair comment?

Well....

Is Evans clean? Well he enjoys are good reputation in that area
Are all the others dopers? Well we don't really know
Does this mean he has no chance? Certainly not. He's come second twice

gsk82

i don't think he can match the real big guns on the real big hills, would like to see him do it because he's such an aggressive rider.

tbh though i'm starting to get a bit sick of every thread being turned into who is/ isn't doping.

inkyfingers

gsk82 wrote:

i don't think he can match the real big guns on the real big hills, would like to see him do it because he's such an aggressive rider.

Whilst in the last few years Evans has really seemed excel on short sharp climbs he's always been pretty good in the high mountains too. Lets not forget that he stayed with Basso longer than anybody else on the Zoncolan last year, despite the fact that he was clearly overgeared and Basso was flying.

He couldn't win if Contador turns up in form, but I can see him beating Schleck if he plays his cards right and goes to the tour in peak form.

gsk82

inkyfingers wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

i don't think he can match the real big guns on the real big hills, would like to see him do it because he's such an aggressive rider.

Whilst in the last few years Evans has really seemed excel on short sharp climbs he's always been pretty good in the high mountains too. Lets not forget that he stayed with Basso longer than anybody else on the Zoncolan last year, despite the fact that he was clearly overgeared and Basso was flying.

He couldn't win if Contador turns up in form, but I can see him beating Schleck if he plays his cards right and goes to the tour in peak form.

thats exactly what i mean, he almost stayed with basso who, if they were there, would've almost stayed with schleck and contador.

Anonymous

He almost stayed with basso whilst suffering a broken elbow...

gsk82

NapoleonD wrote:

He almost stayed with basso whilst suffering a broken elbow...

was that not in the tour?

dougzz

Almost isn't enough, No chance, which is a shame.

inkyfingers

gsk82 wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

i don't think he can match the real big guns on the real big hills, would like to see him do it because he's such an aggressive rider.

Whilst in the last few years Evans has really seemed excel on short sharp climbs he's always been pretty good in the high mountains too. Lets not forget that he stayed with Basso longer than anybody else on the Zoncolan last year, despite the fact that he was clearly overgeared and Basso was flying.

He couldn't win if Contador turns up in form, but I can see him beating Schleck if he plays his cards right and goes to the tour in peak form.

thats exactly what i mean, he almost stayed with basso who, if they were there, would've almost stayed with schleck and contador.

A fair point, but there are no climbs like that in the tour and on that day Basso was flying and Evans was fading (having peaked too early for the Giro). I did say above that he has no chance against an in form Contador, but it's not impossible for him to beat Schleck if he's smart and can minimise his losses in the mountains as unlike Contador, Schleck isn't a great TTer. Evans should have won the tour in '08, he didn't because he has a weak team and tactically he made mistakes plus of course CSC/Saxo played a blinder having Schleck Snr in yello then sending Sastre off up the road.

I'm not saying that Cadel will win the tour, just that he could, given good form, some luck and good tactical decisions.

ms_tree

I wasn't always a fan but am starting to warm to Evans. He might not win but he will give a jolly good try whatever.
Anyway, anything could happen - people are always so sure they know who's going to win - but nothing'll be settled until Paris.

RowCycle

Cuddles?

dougzz

Ms Tree wrote:

I wasn't always a fan but am starting to warm to Evans. He might not win but he will give a jolly good try whatever.
Anyway, anything could happen - people are always so sure they know who's going to win - but nothing'll be settled until Paris.

Is CAS moving

takethehighroad

RowCycle wrote:

Cuddles?

From the way he held tightly to his Credit Lyonnais lion when he was in Yellow in the Tour in 2008

Anonymous

My bad, elbow was the tour, illness in the giro. Knew there was some ailment!

shinyhelmut

gsk82 wrote:

i don't think he can match the real big guns on the real big hills, would like to see him do it because he's such an aggressive rider.

Don't times change

dougzz

I guess one man's aggression is another's wheel sucking, such is life huh.

Stone Glider

Times change and so do our perception of riders. That one, massive, attack at the World Championship changed many peoples opinion of Mr Evans. It must be truly desparate to be riding clean when so many of your competitors have been so carefully prepared.

Cadel Evans seems a man of high integrity and a great cyclist IMO.

mroli

Genuinely didn't like Evans much - thought he came across as petulant and brattish and wasn't the sort of rider that anyone would point at and go - wow.

My wife once came in and saw Evans going backwards on a hill and said "Evans is rubbish isn't he?" and I was inclined to agree.

Then last year, I thought he lit up in the WC jersey - easily the best WC for a while and i am completely converted - to the point that I would love him to win the TdF. Won't happen, but he could easily top 5.

greasedscotsman

dougzz wrote:

I guess one man's aggression is another's wheel sucking, such is life huh.

I guess one man's wheel sucking is another's just hanging on...

wicked

Cadel Evans will never win the tour. He will turn himself inside out to come 5th or something and in the process will ruin any chances he might have had in the vuelta. He should forget the tour, that ship has sailed and concentrate on the giro or vuelta, the latter has actually has a chance of winning.

RichN95.

wicked wrote:

Cadel Evans will never win the tour. He will turn himself inside out to come 5th or something and in the process will ruin any chances he might have had in the vuelta. He should forget the tour, that ship has sailed and concentrate on the giro or vuelta, the latter has actually has a chance of winning.

He's not paid huge amounts of money by BMC to skip the Tour.

Pokerface

wicked wrote:

Cadel Evans will never win the tour. He will turn himself inside out to come 5th or something and in the process will ruin any chances he might have had in the vuelta. He should forget the tour, that ship has sailed and concentrate on the giro or vuelta, the latter has actually has a chance of winning.

Yeah - but pretty much every rider has no chance of beating Contador. Should all GC contenders simply skip the Tour and focus on the Giro/Vuelta instead?

iainf72

wicked wrote:

Cadel Evans will never win the tour. He will turn himself inside out to come 5th or something and in the process will ruin any chances he might have had in the vuelta. He should forget the tour, that ship has sailed and concentrate on the giro or vuelta, the latter has actually has a chance of winning.

Yeah, I mean, coming second twice doesn't mean anything.

And the sad reality is coming 5'th in the French race is worth more than winning the Vuelta.

Pokerface

iainf72 wrote:

And the sad reality is coming 5'th in the French race is worth more than winning the Vuelta.

To who? The riders? I can tell you who won the Vuelta last year. I can't tell you who came 5th in the Tour (or even 3rd for that matter!)

jonginge

Pokerface wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

And the sad reality is coming 5'th in the French race is worth more than winning the Vuelta.

To who? The riders? I can tell you who won the Vuelta last year. I can't tell you who came 5th in the Tour (or even 3rd for that matter!)

That's coz it was Denny Menchov, the silent killer