How did he do it?

[gbs]

Congratulations to my fellow Manxman on all his achievements this year.

The WRR finish leaves me genuinely puzzled. The BBC iplayer presentation switched frequently from overhead shots (understandable) to head on shots (incomprehensible). Eurosport seemed to be have the same input. With a few metres remaining I had the impression that he was boxed in and off the wheel of team GB and yet miraculously he squeezed through. None of the commentary, live or retrospective, that I heard offered any analysis.

By how much did he win? Looked like a few cms to me.

They should have been dancing in the streets of Douglas last night.

 

[raindog]

By how much did he win? Looked like a few cms to me.

half a wheel

it was good wasn't it?

Shame about the Sky kit though.......

 

[gavroche]

definitively World Champion SPRINTER and congratulations to Cav.

 

[PpPete]

When he was forced off the wheel he was supposed to be following, he very quickly found someone just as good.... his HTC team-mate Matt Goss.
Never forget that he is tactically astute and has proved he can still win races without the usual "train".... like when Renshaw got thrown off the tour for head-butting.

 

[RedRider]

He was on the wheel of Matt Goss and there was a rider to his right who sat up leaving a gap to move into. Pretty patient riding I reckon, seems so cool amongst the mayhem. There's a good overhead view of the move from about 2.45 here:
[media]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/15052887.stm[/media]

 

[smokeysmoo]

He peddaled fastest

Seriously though, full respect to MC on his win. I thought he was screwed when he was boxed in against the barrier, but he found his gap and went for it, top man.

Wonder if he'll win SPOTY this year. If he was a footballer I've no doubt he would have been duly recognised by now, but he is only a cyclist isn't he!

I do feel if he doesn't win it this year after his acheivements I doubt he ever will

 

[GilesM]

This clip from Eurosport on Youtube shows it really well, there's a great overhead shot that starts at 7:45, clearly shows how the gap appeared and he took it, oh and he is the fastest sprinter in the world so that helped a wee bit . Remember that many of the front runners at 200 to 400m to go are lead out men who will sit up (die) as their job is done, he knows this, so he would have known to expect the gaps to appear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI9vHMudU08

 

[Tompy]

This way of reading a sprint, finding gaps and knowing which wheels to follow, it's instinctive - I don't think it can be taught.

 

[GilesM]

This way of reading a sprint, finding gaps and knowing which wheels to follow, it's instinctive - I don't think it can be taught.

Not sure if it's instinctive, but I would say it's second nature to the world top sprinters who have spent many years perfecting the art of winning bunch sprints, the natural part of Cav's ability is his double kick and pure speed.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

According to Cyclingnews, its his coach, Rod Ellingworth, wot won it.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/comment-why-rod-ellingworth-is-mark-cavendishs-extra-man

 

[monnet]

Not sure if it's instinctive, but I would say it's second nature to the world top sprinters who have spent many years perfecting the art of winning bunch sprints, the natural part of Cav's ability is his double kick and pure speed.

It's instinctive - practice helps but even at the lowest level some people just have a knack of knowing where to be, when to be there and when to open up. Of course the kick helps and Cav's double kick certainly helps.

It's like in football - some players just know where to be or which pass is right. Us mortals can learn the basics and do a respectable job but the best just have a gift.

 

[Smokin Joe]

definitively World Champion SPRINTER and congratulations to Cav.

Some sprint, eh?

166 miles long. Reg Harris would have faded.

 

[Paulus]

According to Cyclingnews, its his coach, Rod Ellingworth, wot won it.

http://www.cyclingne...dishs-extra-man

Cav has been getting a lot of help and advice from the ex German sprinter Eric Zabel over the last season or two.

 

[GilesM]

It's instinctive - practice helps but even at the lowest level some people just have a knack of knowing where to be, when to be there and when to open up. Of course the kick helps and Cav's double kick certainly helps.

It's like in football - some players just know where to be or which pass is right. Us mortals can learn the basics and do a respectable job but the best just have a gift.

Sort of, but it's definately experience and knowledge that tells you the wheel to follow, he knew Matt Gos was the man to follow, that wasn't instinct, it was several years racing with him, and it takes several failed attempts before you learn when to go, this is definately the case in uphill and/or head wind sprint, the line looks much nearer as you start the sprint than it does as you die 100m out and everybody flys by.

 

[monnet]

I agree that there are certain practicalities that you gain from experience but it's instinct that tells you when to jump into the gap etc.

Cav has always said he sees a sprint like it's in slow motion. Other, top level riders, have said he is worryingly cool in the most stressful part of a race. These are things you're born with, a natural reaction. I've been in more than enough sprints to know I can get the right wheel but it's as much luck as judgement if I get anything from it (but then I'm no sprinter anyway) and I certainly never see it in slo-mo.

I think the point (which I tried to make in the football example) is you are born with an innate ability and practice hones it rather than the other way round. Practice doesn't make perfect - talent+practice make perfect.