Should Mark Cavendish swallow his pride and retire?

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  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,601
    daniel_b said:

    I wonder how much sway Specialized would have over whether he goes to the tour or not?

    I imagine for them, if the unimaginable happened, and he could win a stage or two, the press attention it would get would be enormous - and as a result for the entire team.
    Presumably if DQ are not going for the GC, then there could be a train of thought that says take the best lineup that could pick off the largest number of stages - perhaps they look at the parcours and find ones suitable for bennett, and ones more suitable for cav, with others up for debate 40-20k from home, depending on how their legs feel at the time.
    If one of them is definitely not targeting the stage, they can take it easy, and ride in the grupetto, conserving energy for the next targeted stage.

    Taking it easy in the grupetto may be beyond Cavendish's limits.
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  • david37
    david37 Posts: 1,313
    thats a bit harsh
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,601
    david37 said:

    thats a bit harsh

    He missed the time limit in his last tour
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    gsk82 said:

    david37 said:

    thats a bit harsh

    He missed the time limit in his last tour
    He was suffering from a relapse of Epstein-Barr at the time.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,985
    andyp said:

    gsk82 said:

    david37 said:

    thats a bit harsh

    He missed the time limit in his last tour
    He was suffering from a relapse of Epstein-Barr at the time.
    Indeed, and it was one time. Bizarre comment.
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  • gweeds
    gweeds Posts: 2,613
    A bizarre comment which also neatly ignore the mental strength and determination needed to come back from that. Even more so at his age.

    Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,985
    gweeds said:

    A bizarre comment which also neatly ignore the mental strength and determination needed to come back from that. Even more so at his age.

    Agreed that is some serious mental and physical fortitude.
    A lot of people would have folded in that situation, combined with the pandemic.
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  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    He hasn't won for days now. He's finished and should call it quits.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,985
    Pross said:

    He hasn't won for days now. He's finished and should call it quits.

    I don't see him winning again this month to be honest.
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  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    Looks like he might be going to the Tour as DQS's main sprinter:

    https://cyclingtips.com/2021/06/sam-bennett-unsure-about-the-tour-de-france-will-cavendish-replace-him/
  • amrushton
    amrushton Posts: 1,312
    daniel_b said:

    Pross said:

    He hasn't won for days now. He's finished and should call it quits.

    I don't see him winning again this month to be honest.
    Just had to wait a few weeks.
  • kingstongraham
    kingstongraham Posts: 28,166
    That's a proper field of good sprinters he beat there.
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,985
    Very impressive win.

    He's clearly back in real form versus the opposition.

    Anyone continuing to say he has no future is making themselves look pretty silly right now.
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  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,334
    Seems best placed here...

    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • johnboy183
    johnboy183 Posts: 832
    The sooner he retires, the sooner we can see him winning his rightful crown with The Glitterball Trophy
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Does OP feel stupid yet?
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    bobmcstuff said:

    Does OP feel stupid yet?

    Was thinking that, he's probably frothing at the mouth as he had a real dislike
  • above_the_cows
    above_the_cows Posts: 11,406
    I think we can answer this with a categorical...


    Correlation is not causation.
  • salsiccia1
    salsiccia1 Posts: 3,725
    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Jammiedodgeruk said:

    I used to be a big fan of Cavs back in the day, but I've got to say he's become a bit of a sad joke these past few years

    Well this aged well.
    Come on. How many of you actually thought he'd come back to win stages at the Tour? I certainly didn't. I'm absolutely delighted, but still shocked.
    It's only a bit of sport, Mun. Relax and enjoy the racing.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,463
    salsiccia1 said:

    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Jammiedodgeruk said:

    I used to be a big fan of Cavs back in the day, but I've got to say he's become a bit of a sad joke these past few years

    Well this aged well.
    Come on. How many of you actually thought he'd come back to win stages at the Tour? I certainly didn't. I'm absolutely delighted, but still shocked.
    The OP didn't just say he didn't think he'd win again though did he? He said he was a sad joke. besides, if you go back to the early posts quite a few people were pointing out Cav had been ill and no-one really knew if he could come back so we weren't ruling it out (although this time last year I had finally given up hope).
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Pross said:

    salsiccia1 said:

    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Jammiedodgeruk said:

    I used to be a big fan of Cavs back in the day, but I've got to say he's become a bit of a sad joke these past few years

    Well this aged well.
    Come on. How many of you actually thought he'd come back to win stages at the Tour? I certainly didn't. I'm absolutely delighted, but still shocked.
    The OP didn't just say he didn't think he'd win again though did he? He said he was a sad joke. besides, if you go back to the early posts quite a few people were pointing out Cav had been ill and no-one really knew if he could come back so we weren't ruling it out (although this time last year I had finally given up hope).
    Yep and that by continuing to ride he was undermining everything he had achieved - which was never the case
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    After 2 years deliberation, jury has finally delivered it's verdict: not guilty, m'lord.
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  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,985
    bobmcstuff said:

    Pross said:

    salsiccia1 said:

    Lanterne_Rogue said:

    Jammiedodgeruk said:

    I used to be a big fan of Cavs back in the day, but I've got to say he's become a bit of a sad joke these past few years

    Well this aged well.
    Come on. How many of you actually thought he'd come back to win stages at the Tour? I certainly didn't. I'm absolutely delighted, but still shocked.
    The OP didn't just say he didn't think he'd win again though did he? He said he was a sad joke. besides, if you go back to the early posts quite a few people were pointing out Cav had been ill and no-one really knew if he could come back so we weren't ruling it out (although this time last year I had finally given up hope).
    Yep and that by continuing to ride he was undermining everything he had achieved - which was never the case
    The irony being the op is the sad joke :D

    He only joined for 2 months to post this crap by the looks of it.
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  • TheBigBean
    TheBigBean Posts: 21,927
    Didn't someone try to raise some money on here for Cav?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,698
    ^That's true....
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  • dg74
    dg74 Posts: 656
    edited June 2021
    How beautiful was THAT today? First time in years I’ve actually felt any kind of emotion for a rider winning a race. I think Wiggins summed Cav up perfectly in either episode 17/18 of his podcast.

    Legend.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,344
    As a doubter I have to hold my hands up and say the today was utterly, utterly wonderful! I believe I had some dust in my eyes at the end.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
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  • amrushton
    amrushton Posts: 1,312
    So, lets say he gets to Paris and the dream is he takes another stage even Paris. Does he quit then? he would be back at the v.top of the sport with a team who will have got him around and led him out. It prob couldnt get better compared to the last 3 years. Or try for another year but could be up against a crop of young guys who are coming to the top of their game or end up like Ewan, smashed and out. i'd say finish and everyone will have the memory of the year he returned and fortune smiled on him.

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