Should Mark Cavendish swallow his pride and retire?
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Really depends on the length of the hill. I think sprinters can be quite competitive if the length of effort is short enough.PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 20230
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Wasn't Greipel the German hill climb champion once upon a time? Most British hill climb events require good 1-5 minute power, so ideal for a sprinter/pursuiter.DeVlaeminck said:I'd actually quite like him to target the British Hill Climb Champs - could he win it if he took it seriously? I'm guessing not and I'm guessing he really couldn't be bothered trying anyway but it'd be an interesting challenge.
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Well, maybe not impossible as I guess he has very good short term power (hill climbs generally being well under ten mins, if not five), but in my opinion - I think he's a bit too bulky for his height. He's pretty much my height and weight (175cm/5'9" and ~70 kilos), and there's people my height who are easily sub 60 kilos. I obviously don't mean to say he is fat (neither am IDeVlaeminck said:I'd actually quite like him to target the British Hill Climb Champs - could he win it if he took it seriously? I'm guessing not and I'm guessing he really couldn't be bothered trying anyway but it'd be an interesting challenge.
), some people are just a heavier build at a certain height than others.
For context, Ed Laverack (2019 winner) is a couple of cm taller and races around 59 kilos - nearly 16% lighter.
If that's Cav's racing weight and he's only ~10% or so body fat at that weight, he is really going to struggle to get to a properly competitive weight without sacrificing a lot of power.
I know it's only my personal experience but it would be next to impossible for me to lose another 10 kilos, certainly without losing a lot of power - just the way I'm built (fairly wide shoulders for my height) means I will never really get that light. His build looks fairly similar to me. Then like I said there are people the same height who sit at 60ish kilos naturally, that's what you're competing with.0 -
Hmm but how competitive is it in Germany? I get the impression it's something like 10 mile TTs, very popular in Britain...phreak said:
Wasn't Greipel the German hill climb champion once upon a time? Most British hill climb events require good 1-5 minute power, so ideal for a sprinter/pursuiter.DeVlaeminck said:I'd actually quite like him to target the British Hill Climb Champs - could he win it if he took it seriously? I'm guessing not and I'm guessing he really couldn't be bothered trying anyway but it'd be an interesting challenge.
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And Laverack won last years' at 430 watts for 11.5 mins - 7.25 w/kg. Cav would need to do 510ish at his stated race weight to match which is not really credible.
I like the guy and want to see him do well, but to be honest I don't really see UK hill climbs being his natural next step...0 -
No idea to be honest, and I doubt Cav would be interested in hill climb events to be honest :-)bobmcstuff said:
Hmm but how competitive is it in Germany? I get the impression it's something like 10 mile TTs, very popular in Britain...phreak said:
Wasn't Greipel the German hill climb champion once upon a time? Most British hill climb events require good 1-5 minute power, so ideal for a sprinter/pursuiter.DeVlaeminck said:I'd actually quite like him to target the British Hill Climb Champs - could he win it if he took it seriously? I'm guessing not and I'm guessing he really couldn't be bothered trying anyway but it'd be an interesting challenge.
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No, I agree. Just giving my opinion...phreak said:
No idea to be honest, and I doubt Cav would be interested in hill climb events to be honest :-)bobmcstuff said:
Hmm but how competitive is it in Germany? I get the impression it's something like 10 mile TTs, very popular in Britain...phreak said:
Wasn't Greipel the German hill climb champion once upon a time? Most British hill climb events require good 1-5 minute power, so ideal for a sprinter/pursuiter.DeVlaeminck said:I'd actually quite like him to target the British Hill Climb Champs - could he win it if he took it seriously? I'm guessing not and I'm guessing he really couldn't be bothered trying anyway but it'd be an interesting challenge.
Cav is someone who's famously struggled with his weight (also like me!) and has nothing to prove so dieting down to 60 kilos to win a HC is probably not going to be his priority.0 -
Think I heard on BBC radio 2 that Cav is joining Joe Wicks on this Children in Need fund raiser this evening.0
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It is starting to feel like the end.
Not too many places let that could offer him a space.
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I think he would be a good pick up for Alpacin. They won the Pro Conti Tour so get an invite to every WT race. There's not a lot past MVDP. I know they are fairly sprinter heavy, but Cavendish would be a good road captain. And MVDP seems to have the tactical nous of a house brick.Twitter: @RichN951
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That could be a good call. But last year he looked so far off the place, that I can't see him being of any use at all on the road.RichN95. said:I think he would be a good pick up for Alpacin. They won the Pro Conti Tour so get an invite to every WT race. There's not a lot past MVDP. I know they are fairly sprinter heavy, but Cavendish would be a good road captain. And MVDP seems to have the tactical nous of a house brick.
I'm sure he'll get, at least, a consultancy role at BC. He's going to have options, probably not the ones he wants though."Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago0 -
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But it was Renshaw using Head & Shoulders...PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 20233
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Cavendish back at quickstep.
Didn't see that coming.
https://www.deceuninck-quickstep.com/en/news/4681/mark-cavendish-agrees-to-re-join-deceuninck-quick-step0 -
Blimey. That’s a shock.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.0
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Pat Lefevre was quoted as considering signing him about 6 weeks ago, so not a shock really.gweeds said:Blimey. That’s a shock.
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Superb.kingstongraham said:Cavendish back at quickstep.
Didn't see that coming.
https://www.deceuninck-quickstep.com/en/news/4681/mark-cavendish-agrees-to-re-join-deceuninck-quick-stepFelt F70 05 (Turbo)
Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
Scott CR1 SL 12
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DQS not known for sentimental spending . Must feel he has something to give ."If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm0
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Or his salary is being paid by e.g. Specialized, Oakley or Richard Mille (Alaphillipe wears one)0
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What has happened to Olympic qualifying now? Cav clearly wanted a crack this year but didn’t make the cut, is the 2020 selection just carried over? (Track)0
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Do the 6 days not count?
Was just thinking out loud; I thought the main problem was the numbers in the team, he was still very competitive/best uk choice in some of the events. Isn’t the madison back in?
If some of those in the squad were now out of contention for whatever reason then he’s not far back.0 -
Mad_Malx said:
Do the 6 days not count?
Was just thinking out loud; I thought the main problem was the numbers in the team, he was still very competitive/best uk choice in some of the events. Isn’t the madison back in?
If some of those in the squad were now out of contention for whatever reason then he’s not far back.
They don't count for Olympic qualificationTwitter: @RichN950 -
I drank my own body weight of Jupiler lager from a plastic beaker at the Ghent 6 whilst watching Cav and Keisse one freezing November evening. I’ll fight any official who says that doesn’t count for at least something.RichN95. said:Mad_Malx said:Do the 6 days not count?
Was just thinking out loud; I thought the main problem was the numbers in the team, he was still very competitive/best uk choice in some of the events. Isn’t the madison back in?
If some of those in the squad were now out of contention for whatever reason then he’s not far back.
They don't count for Olympic qualification
I wouldn’t be surprised if Cav’s negotiation for his 2021 contract went something along those lines...4 -
Why has someone flagged this post? Weird people!ocdupalais said:
I drank my own body weight of Jupiler lager from a plastic beaker at the Ghent 6 whilst watching Cav and Keisse one freezing November evening. I’ll fight any official who says that doesn’t count for at least something.RichN95. said:Mad_Malx said:Do the 6 days not count?
Was just thinking out loud; I thought the main problem was the numbers in the team, he was still very competitive/best uk choice in some of the events. Isn’t the madison back in?
If some of those in the squad were now out of contention for whatever reason then he’s not far back.
They don't count for Olympic qualification
I wouldn’t be surprised if Cav’s negotiation for his 2021 contract went something along those lines...1 -
Maybe misclick?PTP Champion 2019, 2022 & 20230
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Who's she?m.r.m. said:Maybe misclick?
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