Can Cancellara ever be a GC contender ?

Chuck · Postby **Chuck** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:10 pm

A lot of us here love this guy, great TT rider, Paris Roubaix winner and great team man (see his work for Sastre at last years tour).

My question is can he ever become a contender for overall honours at a grand tour. He's got the TTing skills ala Indurain, Armstrong, Ullrich (he may in fact be stronger than some of those guys at this discipline). He has a brilliance also that can see him ride away from fellow pros in the flatter stages/races.

He's not hopeless in the hills either (see again last years tour and his brilliant ride in the Olympic road race), but it's obviously where he'd need to improve were he to move his focus onto overall honours.

So what do you think, could he do it ? would he want to do it ?
Interested to hear other peoples opinions.

sogood · Postby **sogood** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:15 pm

I thought that POWER is everything.

moosterbounce · Postby **moosterbounce** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:27 pm

No...but oh lordy how I wish he'd do a nudie calendar

gsxrboy · Postby **gsxrboy** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:02 pm

He can ride fast though !

http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/racesta ... ologue-484

On a Specialized now instead of a Cervelo !

Redbull · Postby **Redbull** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:50 pm

luv the 'ard men like him and Jens.

Trouble is there is more than one hill on one more than one day.

RICHARDH · Postby **RICHARDH** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:32 am

My Dad was talking to me about this a while ago, its basically what Rogers has done though Rogers has always been able to limit his time lose in the mountains. Sparticus would have to lose a bit of weight (read muscle mass) and really work on his technique. Look at Rogers his lost a bit of his TT ability (though not enough not to win a Nat. Championship) and gained a little on his climbing ability. I dont think Cancellara has the same make up though and i dont think you will ever see him go down this path i reckon he will concentrate more on the One Dayers and maybe some Stage Racers.

ni78ck · Postby **ni78ck** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:27 pm

does any one know how old he is? i was thinking if he is relatively young, than yes maybe his focus will turn to winning an overall event!

Chuck · Postby **Chuck** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:14 pm

ni78ck wrote:does any one know how old he is? i was thinking if he is relatively young, than yes maybe his focus will turn to winning an overall event!

27

Ant. · Postby **Ant.** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:19 pm

Turns 28 next month.

I think he's happy in his niche. Would you rather be known as probably the best time trialler (such as Cancellara, he stands alone in this field really), or a pretty good allrounder (such as Evans and a dozen other contenders)?

ni78ck · Postby **ni78ck** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:21 pm

Chuck wrote:
ni78ck wrote:does any one know how old he is? i was thinking if he is relatively young, than yes maybe his focus will turn to winning an overall event!
27

i guess its not that late for him. LA won his first TDF at 27