Is Cav truly great?

[dellzeqq]

he's a great. Sure a lot of his TdF wins were built on HTC lead-outs, but he's shown he doesn't need a team at his beck and call. And he's not just super-fast, he's very clever. His picking of a line and timing are just a wonder to watch.

 

[beastie]

he's a great. Sure a lot of his TdF wins were built on HTC lead-outs, but he's shown he doesn't need a team at his beck and call. And he's not just super-fast, he's very clever. His picking of a line and timing are just a wonder to watch.

Cav's awareness of the race is unmatched. When he reviews finishes in interviews post race the amount of detail is impressive. Along with a great tactical brain as well.

 

[tigger]

So I guess what we're saying is, despite cycling being a multi dimensional sport, it doesn't matter if you only excel in one area, you can still be considered a great rider?

 

[thom]

So I guess what we're saying is, despite cycling being a multi dimensional sport, it doesn't matter if you only excel in one area, you can still be considered a great rider?

It's true, bike races over different terrains favour different types of riders. However, the thing that's common to all of them is that the guy who crosses the line first is the winner. He doesn't organise races and pick routes, he just rides them and wins them, which is the point of cycling.
Like I said before, I think he's only half way through his career and maybe it's a bit soon to judge him fully yet. He may be able to get better still.

 

[rich p]

So I guess what we're saying is, despite cycling being a multi dimensional sport, it doesn't matter if you only excel in one area, you can still be considered a great rider?

That's a bit like saying Maradonna's not a 'great' cos he was crap in goal.
Cav is a great sprinter - that's it.

 

[Peteaud]

I think the 2010 Champs Elysee win is the most spectacular:



His HTC lead out is spent having done all the work to bring back the breakaway. Cav was swamped amidst Hushovd's and Petacchi's lead outs amongst others, not well placed.
Then Tony Martin pops up from nowhere and drags Cav to around fifth place going into the final corner. A phenomenal job. But what comes next is exactly as you say, he just leaves them for dead.

The TdF has finished on the Champs Elysee since 1979. Nobody has won it in consecutive years until Cav came along. He has it 4 times in a row now.

That was amazing to watch (watched it live on the day)

Yes he is a great.

 

[tigger]

That's a bit like saying Maradonna's not a 'great' cos he was crap in goal.
Cav is a great sprinter - that's it.

Nah you didn't read my post Rich. I was actually clarifying the opposite of what you just said there. Also, I'm not sure if the Maradonna analogy is a good one anyway. He was handy at pretty much every other aspect of the game. He may even have been good in goal, I just don't think I've seen him play there!

 

[rich p]

Nah you didn't read my post Rich. I was actually clarifying the opposite of what you just said there. Also, I'm not sure if the Maradonna analogy is a good one anyway. He was handy at pretty much every other aspect of the game. He may even have been good in goal, I just don't think I've seen him play there!

I read it but may have misinterpreted it! There's certainly an analogy with Maradonna and cycling re cheating and drugs though!

 

[BrumJim]

Anyone who has the number of TdF wins alone is up there as a 'great'. Having said that I'm surprised how easily he gets dropped sometimes on an innocuous climb considering the M-SR win. There was a quote recently when Voigt said how well Cav was climbing in some race but it's not apparent at the moment.
Maybe he's sandbagging and he'll climb the cauberg like a gazelle next weekend!

I think that he just didn't want to put too much effort in on the climb. He's not in any danger of being eliminated, so he was just saving his energy for the sprint finishes later.
We saw that today. He really wanted to finish first on the last stage. His overall position in the GC meant nothing, whereas showing off his Rainbow Jersey in the best way on his last chance meant so much more, so better off doing really badly on the climbs, than hitting the last day with a bit too much tiredness in those legs.

 

[rich p]

Sandbagging then Jim!
But can he do 10 times up the Cauberg in the Worlds. Put a tenner on at 22/1!

 

[Grizzly]

O.K! He is the current world champion, 23 TdF stage wins (which is more than Lance) and look at his success in the Madison. Green jersey winner and his 4 wins on the Champs Elysees in a row? My figures could be wrong, but not by much not by much. Cav is not just great but he is also great to watch!

 

[dellzeqq]

So I guess what we're saying is, despite cycling being a multi dimensional sport, it doesn't matter if you only excel in one area, you can still be considered a great rider?

I guess what we're saying is that cycling has different specialisms

 

[BJH]

In his area of specialisation he is undoubtably great.

Not unusual for a sprinter to opt to save themselves on a hilly stage they know is unwiinnable for them. As he frequently says, he never actually has easy days he is either struggling up hills trying to conserve as much energy as he can and then on sprint days working his ass off to stay on a Superfast train running at a pace to first pull back any breakaway and then go so quickly that no one else can attack.

To then be able to produce the burst of acceleration he does - yes he's truly great.

Reigning world champ at least for tonight and we should be proud of him.

 

[arghill]

I think the 2010 Champs Elysee win is the most spectacular:

Totally agree

Even on occasions where he does not have his own lead out he has shown many times he can find a way to win.

Not sure if there are any Basketball fans here, but when Michael Jordan used to be passed the ball with 10seconds to go and a point down you knew something magical was about to happen. Watching Cav come in to a sprint finish is the same feeling, you know something amazing is about to happen and regularly it does !

To answer the question IMHO yes he is a great, both statistically and for edge of the seat entertainment value