Mark Cavendish

Elliott · 9th July 2008, 16:28

The Manchester based youngster just won his first Tour de France stage. Congrats!

vanthaman · 9th July 2008, 16:35

well done Mark

Rams · 9th July 2008, 18:18

More Manx than Manc

The first of many I predict

manxmanc · 12th July 2008, 18:57

Aye he's a local lad.

Well done...

Is the young Peter Kennaugh riding in this?

manxmanc · 13th July 2008, 12:18

He's won another leg n'all now.

vanthaman · 17th July 2008, 16:12

just won his 3rd stage

francobaresi · 19th July 2008, 12:55

Whatever drugs they're giving this lad, I want some!

4 stages won now

manxmanc · 21st July 2008, 18:04

He's apparently retired now..

Going to the Olympics.

CrazyBelgian · 21st July 2008, 19:32

Yes it's for the best imo, he already completed the giro and the first 2 weeks of the tour, better to have a rest now and get back into shape for the olympics.

WeWonItTwoTimes · 21st July 2008, 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

Yes it's for the best imo, he already completed the giro and the first 2 weeks of the tour, better to have a rest now and get back into shape for the olympics.

Yup, I agree.

There are some people in Britain who feel his decision to withdraw shows a lack of respect for the Tour de France. I think this opinion shows a lack of cycling knowledge and is also born out of the usual British attitude towards successful people.

CrazyBelgian · 21st July 2008, 19:58

He's a young guy you know, you have to be carefull not to burn him.

4 stages in the tour is a massive result and when he comes back in the next couple of years he will get a lot more and might even compete for the green jersey.

WeWonItTwoTimes · 21st July 2008, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

He's a young guy you know, you have to be carefull not to burn him.

4 stages in the tour is a massive result and when he comes back in the next couple of years he will get a lot more and might even compete for the green jersey.

Yup, that's what some people fail to understand. He's only 23 and needs to work on his strength to help him get over the mountains. For example Friere, the current green jersey holder, only completed one of his first five Tour de France.

CrazyBelgian · 21st July 2008, 20:06

Are you British WeWonItTwoTimes? You seem to know a lot about cycling, didn't know British people found it interesting.

WeWonItTwoTimes · 21st July 2008, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

Are you British WeWonItTwoTimes? You seem to know a lot about cycling, didn't know British people found it interesting.

Yes I am, for my sins

. There is a reasonable amount of interest in cycling in Britain, no where near as much as there is in Belgium though.

How has the Tour gone for you Belgians? A bit disappointing?

Boonen's non-participation was obviously a huge blow for you guys and Steegmans hasn't really looked like winning a stage.

Devolder was going quite well in GC up until his withdrawal yesterday.

manxmanc · 21st July 2008, 20:57

WWITT ever heard of a young lad called Peter Kennaugh?

WeWonItTwoTimes · 21st July 2008, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by manxmanc

WWITT ever heard of a young lad called Peter Kennaugh?

Yup, he's still a junior at the moment but looks a real prospect for the future. Another Manxman, you guys are doing bloody well.

manxmanc · 21st July 2008, 22:13

yeah I've noticed, probably the air or summit!

Rams · 21st July 2008, 23:00

Freire has always been a decent climber for a sprinter. In fact he didn't even start off as a sprinter. Cavendish is much more in the Mario Cipollini mould.

Ruben · 21st July 2008, 23:30

Fantastic Tour from Cavendish, didn`t expect him to do so well. I also think he`s more in the Cippo and Petacchi mould than the McEwen, Freire, Hushovd and O`Grady mould. Don`t know if he can ever climb good enough to win the green, but it`s the sort of thing he`ll improve on during the years. It was planned all along though that he wasn`t going to Paris. His main goal is the olympics and he is still young, no reason to drag him across the Alps just for the fun of it.

Rams · 21st July 2008, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruben

Fantastic Tour from Cavendish, didn`t expect him to do so well. I also think he`s more in the Cippo and Petacchi mould than the McEwen, Freire, Hushovd and O`Grady mould. Don`t know if he can ever climb good enough to win the green, but it`s the sort of thing he`ll improve on during the years. It was planned all along though that he wasn`t going to Paris. His main goal is the olympics and he is still young, no reason to drag him across the Alps just for the fun of it.

He finished this year in the Giro, so I think in 2009 he will make Paris in the green if he can stay fit.

Ruben · 22nd July 2008, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rams

He finished this year in the Giro, so I think in 2009 he will make Paris in the green if he can stay fit.

Ok, I didn`t know that. Only really watch the Tour tbf, and saw that he came in about last in the Pyrenees. He made it within the time limit though, so good enough really.

CrazyBelgian · 22nd July 2008, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeWonItTwoTimes

Yes I am, for my sins

. There is a reasonable amount of interest in cycling in Britain, no where near as much as there is in Belgium though.

How has the Tour gone for you Belgians? A bit disappointing?

Boonen's non-participation was obviously a huge blow for you guys and Steegmans hasn't really looked like winning a stage.

Devolder was going quite well in GC up until his withdrawal yesterday.

It will become more popular if Cavendish continues to win like he did this year.

Yeah when you compare it to the last couple of years it has gone fairly bad for Belgium.

Steegmans isn't good enough to be the last sprinter, he's better in preparing the sprint for Boonen. Too bad he couldn't participate.

Devolder was aiming for a top 10 finish but he was already in great form for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in April, so way to early and now he's really out of form. He lost a lot of time on the Tourmalet and just after it when CSC were riding like crazy. And now he has withdrawn because he wants to focus on the world championships.

We still have a team: Silence-Lotto, who are trying to win the tour with Evans, but I don't like Evans.

Tribec · 22nd July 2008, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

It will become more popular if Cavendish continues to win like he did this year.

Yeah when you compare it to the last couple of years it has gone fairly bad for Belgium.

Steegmans isn't good enough to be the last sprinter, he's better in preparing the sprint for Boonen. Too bad he couldn't participate.

Devolder was aiming for a top 10 finish but he was already in great form for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in April, so way to early and now he's really out of form. He lost a lot of time on the Tourmalet and just after it when CSC were riding like crazy. And now he has withdrawn because he wants to focus on the world championships.

We still have a team: Silence-Lotto, who are trying to win the tour with Evans, but I don't like Evans.

If the UK pro team comes about, then I suspect that pro cycling could become quite popular over here. I'm still not sure where we'll find a UK rider to win the tour, which is the intention, but you never know.

Ruben · 22nd July 2008, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

It will become more popular if Cavendish continues to win like he did this year.

Yeah when you compare it to the last couple of years it has gone fairly bad for Belgium.

Steegmans isn't good enough to be the last sprinter, he's better in preparing the sprint for Boonen. Too bad he couldn't participate.

Devolder was aiming for a top 10 finish but he was already in great form for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in April, so way to early and now he's really out of form. He lost a lot of time on the Tourmalet and just after it when CSC were riding like crazy. And now he has withdrawn because he wants to focus on the world championships.

We still have a team: Silence-Lotto, who are trying to win the tour with Evans, but I don't like Evans.

Do you think Boonen should have been allowed to start?

CrazyBelgian · 22nd July 2008, 12:41

I don't know. He was stupid for using cocaine but it's not performance enhansing, he just used it when going out or something. But I understand the decision of tour direction. But it's always more exciting if a countryman can compete for a victory.

On the other hand Stefan Schumacher was caught for using cocaine too, don't know when that was, but he's in the tour, won a stage and had the yellow jersey.

Ruben · 22nd July 2008, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyBelgian

I don't know. He was stupid for using cocaine but it's not performance enhansing, he just used it when going out or something. But I understand the decision of tour direction.

I understand it as well, he is a role model and all that and it was a good way to show their definitive stance on all kinds of doping.

On the other hand Stefan Schumacher was caught for using cocaine too, don't know when that was, but he's in the tour, won a stage and had the yellow jersey.

He`s tested positive for amphetamines I believe, twice. Last time in 2007. I agree the same stance that was applied to Boonen should have been applied to him.

9th July 2008, 16:28	#1 (permalink)
Elliott Likes Loan Stickies Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,566	Mark Cavendish The Manchester based youngster just won his first Tour de France stage. Congrats!

9th July 2008, 16:35	#2 (permalink)
vanthaman Winner of the RedCafe Mickey Mouse Cup 2006 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: in front of laptop Posts: 12,105	well done Mark

9th July 2008, 18:18	#3 (permalink)
Rams extremely handsome, intelligent and talented poster Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: midtable anonymity Posts: 26,652	More Manx than Manc The first of many I predict

12th July 2008, 18:57	#4 (permalink)
manxmanc Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IOM Posts: 4,276	Aye he's a local lad. Well done... Is the young Peter Kennaugh riding in this?

13th July 2008, 12:18	#5 (permalink)
manxmanc Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IOM Posts: 4,276	He's won another leg n'all now.

17th July 2008, 16:12	#6 (permalink)
vanthaman Winner of the RedCafe Mickey Mouse Cup 2006 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: in front of laptop Posts: 12,105	just won his 3rd stage

19th July 2008, 12:55	#7 (permalink)
francobaresi Sleep inducing poster Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,699	Whatever drugs they're giving this lad, I want some! 4 stages won now

21st July 2008, 18:04	#8 (permalink)
manxmanc Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IOM Posts: 4,276	He's apparently retired now.. Going to the Olympics.

21st July 2008, 19:32	#9 (permalink)
CrazyBelgian Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,297	Yes it's for the best imo, he already completed the giro and the first 2 weeks of the tour, better to have a rest now and get back into shape for the olympics.

21st July 2008, 19:58	#11 (permalink)
CrazyBelgian Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,297	He's a young guy you know, you have to be carefull not to burn him. 4 stages in the tour is a massive result and when he comes back in the next couple of years he will get a lot more and might even compete for the green jersey.

21st July 2008, 20:06	#13 (permalink)
CrazyBelgian Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,297	Are you British WeWonItTwoTimes? You seem to know a lot about cycling, didn't know British people found it interesting.

21st July 2008, 20:57	#15 (permalink)
manxmanc Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IOM Posts: 4,276	WWITT ever heard of a young lad called Peter Kennaugh?

21st July 2008, 22:13	#17 (permalink)
manxmanc Reserve Team Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: IOM Posts: 4,276	yeah I've noticed, probably the air or summit!

21st July 2008, 23:00	#18 (permalink)
Rams extremely handsome, intelligent and talented poster Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: midtable anonymity Posts: 26,652	Freire has always been a decent climber for a sprinter. In fact he didn't even start off as a sprinter. Cavendish is much more in the Mario Cipollini mould.

21st July 2008, 23:30	#19 (permalink)
Ruben First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oslo Posts: 5,088	Fantastic Tour from Cavendish, didn`t expect him to do so well. I also think he`s more in the Cippo and Petacchi mould than the McEwen, Freire, Hushovd and O`Grady mould. Don`t know if he can ever climb good enough to win the green, but it`s the sort of thing he`ll improve on during the years. It was planned all along though that he wasn`t going to Paris. His main goal is the olympics and he is still young, no reason to drag him across the Alps just for the fun of it.

22nd July 2008, 12:41	#25 (permalink)
CrazyBelgian Reserve Team Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,297	I don't know. He was stupid for using cocaine but it's not performance enhansing, he just used it when going out or something. But I understand the decision of tour direction. But it's always more exciting if a countryman can compete for a victory. On the other hand Stefan Schumacher was caught for using cocaine too, don't know when that was, but he's in the tour, won a stage and had the yellow jersey.