Cavendish V Greipel

[ft_critical]

Pippo doesn't think the world's will be the stage:

...the circuit in Geelong is too tough for him [McEwen] and for most of the other pure sprinters. I don’t know if Cavendish has seen the course but I think he will also be in for a shock.

[toolonglegs]

PS Would seem Cavendish only claim to fame is stages of The Tour De France (no Green Jersey-just envy)

Well it is really the only claim he needs .
Next year if he forgots about his teeth he may have a better season... .

I agree with FT that even thou we keep hearing "sprinters race"...3500 meters of climbing in the last 180km is a pretty solid stage in a big tour.But I suppose it will depend on how the race unfolds...you can be sure many teams will do everything they can to drop the sprinters!.

[MichaelB]

I think you are right there TLL, it will be interesting to see who the key marked riders are - Gilbert, Canc, etc.

It will be a big tactical day for sure.

Looking fwd to the telecast indeed. Morning ride, shower, BBQ lunch and couch time

[toolonglegs]

Will I have to stay up late at night to watch a bike race...sounds like slumming it down under to me .

If Cav gets thru the Vuelta unscathed then he will have some pretty good climbing legs (for a sprinter) come the worlds...be surprised if he rides the whole thing thou.
Looking for to Saturday night thou...Spanish TTT starting at 10pm...fiesta!!!

[MichaelB]

HTC lose another leadout train man - Hansen has followed Greipel to OPL ..... (according to cyclingnews.com) for a 2 year contract....

[toolonglegs]

SO...Green jersey at a grand tour about to be added?.

[brentono]

World's
Greipel=43rd
Chav=DNF

[Chuck]

Yeah Cav take your 15 Tour stages, 5 Giro, 3 Vuelta and green jersey, and your Milan San Remo and shove it. 43rd at WC's

[toolonglegs]

Blahahahahaha!.

[Parrott]

As far as who is the better sprinter I'll go with the decision of HTC, after all they have all the data to go with each rider. Cav is still there, Griepel ain't.........

[ft_critical]

It's on! It will be awesome. If Greipel doesn't perform he can't gripe.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-coming-to-tour-down-under

[brentono]

As far as who is the better sprinter I'll go with the decision of HTC, after all they have all the data to go with each rider. Cav is still there, Griepel ain't.........

Here's the best Sprinter.

[brentono]

It's on! It will be awesome. If Greipel doesn't perform he can't gripe.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/cavendish-coming-to-tour-down-under

[MichaelB]

So, they have both finally gotten their first wins of the season, within a day of each other !!!!

Let the bravado campaign begin.

The real argument is now, was the sprinting quality at the Volta Catalunya less than that at the Tour of Oman .....

3

2

1

......

[ft_critical]

You would think that it would really be on for Tirreno-Adriatico as prep for Milan-San Remo which we know is a win race for Cav and for Andre. Except that the big guy had a shizen moment.

“Just a shizen moment,” said Greipel. “There was a hole, but I didn’t see it and I lost the handlebar. I am lucky that we were not so fast.”

So far Cav v Greipel is really under-delivering as a rivalry

[Rouleur]

So far Cav v Greipel is really under-delivering as a rivalry

Cav & Greipel rivalry has NEVER delivered. Greipel couldnt come round Cav when he was neo pro lead out man. From then Cav has just got quicker and quicker, and mopped up an impressive stream of results. Has there ever been a head to head whith both on form where Greipel even got close?

The only reason the Cav v Greipel thing is interesting is because they dont like each other.

The really exciting contenders will come good & new ones emerge over the next few years, and this season i hope. Haussler / Boss / Mathews / Goss (if they change teams) / Haedo / Sutton / Farrar.

Pretty disappointing Tirreno from Cav tho. I'm tipping a non bunch sprint MSR.

[AUbicycles]

Cav & Greipel rivalry has NEVER delivered. Greipel couldnt come round Cav when he was neo pro lead out man. From then Cav has just got quicker and quicker, and mopped up an impressive stream of results. Has there ever been a head to head whith both on form where Greipel even got close?

Lets not forget, Greipel didn't get to ride the TDF yet and he has more victories that Cav... If Cav gets to race the worlds most popular race and gets the attention, it puts Greipels victories in the shadows. But lets see what happens now that they have the chance to be rivals - if Cav can put a bit more thought into his comments - that would be appreciated.

[jules21]

Pretty disappointing Tirreno from Cav tho. I'm tipping a non bunch sprint MSR.

it does seem that Cav is nowhere yet in March but the 'experts' seem to be tipping a bunch sprint, saying that the sprinters' teams will work to keep everything together over the Poggio. someone like Haussler has got to be a good chance if the pace is hot (that's not my view, it's his from his blog on CN).

[brentono]

Vauxhall Cavalier, large family car sold primarily in the UK
... possibly overweight for present conditions.
Apart from the crappy handling near the limit,
definitely not the fastest wheels on the planet.
Cav... Vehicle Slang or Abbreviated word for "Can I have?"