Cavendish this season

[Flying_Monkey]

So, very early in the season, but Cav is yet to win a race yet, and today he gets beaten by Theo Bos in a straight-up sprint in the Classica de Almeira.

Now I know Bos is a superb track sprinter, but is this a sign that:

1. Cav is not quite fully fit yet after his unexpected dental surgery and longer than planned layoff; and / or

2. He is going to not have it all his own way this season; or

3. Last season was the high point of an overhyped career?

 

[raindog]

With the amount of wins he got last year we can hardly call it overhyped.

 

[Skip Madness]

I'd guess it's (1). From what he's said about his dental problems it has been a major setback which will have ballsed up a lot of his training, I'd have thought.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I agree. But I also hope it's 2, largely because this will be good for cycling.

 

[Keith Oates]

Can't agree with that FM, I think it's good to have a British rider that we can support and is consistently getting the wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[walker]

or 4.

there is something more in store at the end of the season he is aiming for?

I've got a sneeking suspicion that he might be looking to win more one dayers this year than last and not so much in the tours

 

[bottombracket]

Go Cav!!

I agree with Keith!

I'm sure he will be 'marked' more heavily in every race this year - he has team mates doing marking rivals for him.

He (and his new buddy Erik Zabel) have stated that his main aims for 2010 are the Green Jersey in Paris and the World Champs in autumn...

http://www.velonews.co.uk/2009/12/26/mark-cavendish-a-pedal-powered-manx-missile/

 

[rich p]

I'm pretty hopeful that it's the tooth that is the root () of the problem but I also hope that he has to fight harder this year for his wins.
I'm not sure who will be his main rivals though if he gets as sharp as last year. He seems to have the measure of Hushovd, Bennati, Boonen et al - Petacchi too old(?).
Chichi?
The biggest problem he may have is losing Big George as organiser in chief.

 

[Keith Oates]

I agree with your comments about 'Big George' rich p, even Cav said after the win in Paris that George played a big part and IIRC on the final bend when he attacked, Cav said after the race 'George was smoking'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[raindog]

The biggest problem he may have is losing Big George as organiser in chief.

Yes, the Columbia lead-out will probably not be quite as good this year.
But I think he was already 'fighting hard" last season for those wins. He regularly beat pretty stiff opposition in those sprints. Anyway, Boonen seams to be back to his old self this year so that'll be one more he'll have to beat.