Why Cadel needs to be shown a little more R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Roar Guru By Tinea Pedis, 16 Jun 2012 Tinea Pedis is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, Cycling, Tour de France
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BMC's Cadel Evans of Australia, negotiates a curve during the fourth stage of the 64th Dauphine cycling race, a 53.6 kilometers individual time trial between Villie-Morgon and Bourg-en-Bresse, central France, Thursday, June 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)
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The Tour is upon us and British cycling fans, fleeing from their team’s inevitable Euro heartbreak are cock-a-hoop with Brad Wiggins’s defence of his Criterium du Dauphine title and form.
As well they should be, he is certainly looking the strongest favourite to take out La Grande Boucle.
I know, both in-person and virtually, a lot of British citizens.
And while I love the fact that cycling is booming in popularity with them, what is starting to grate is the repeated “Cadel is a boring rider”. It is certainly not solely their nationality making this claim, but in my case they are the overwhelming protagonists.
My first thought, after the amazement has died down, is one of “what does Cadel have to do to get respect?” A Thomas Voeckler he is not, nor will he ever be. As in spite of Thomas’s inspiring attacks and panache in last year’s Tour, the best it was able to net him was fourth overall. Cadel instead played to his strengths and rode away with the grand prize.
This is not to say that Cadel is not capable of attacking. Ever since the 2009 World Championships win (and subsequent move from Silence Lotto to BMC) Cadel has raced with a much keener eye and ability to take it to his rivals.
2010 saw attacks in Liege, the Giro d’Italia (netting him the stage win on the now famous Strade Bianchi), Fleche Wallone (again resulting in a win) and of course that last ditch effort in the World Championship road race, thrilling the local Australian crowd and proving that this new, attacking Evans was no flash in the pan.
2011 was more of the same, however this time the attacks came when it mattered most – in the Tour. Taking time on his rivals in stage one and attacking again on stage four, pipping Alberto Contador for the win.
Then there was the race-defining chase of Andy Schleck’s breakaway on stage 19, on the front at the base of the Galibier and staying there all the way up it, in the process dropping riders of the ilk of Contador and Sanchez. Not a single turn was given by another rider. Cadel gritted his teeth and figured “if you want a job done properly, do it yourself”.
This year has already seen Cadel incessantly attacking in his lead up races. Stage 1 of the recent Criterium du Dauphine saw a bold attack 4km out with Kashechkin and Coppel – neither of which could pass him in the sprint to the line. Incredible given the fact they had 500 metres to do it!
Cadel then took on four Sky riders in the descent off the Joux Plane – none of them could stay with him. He took second on the stage and dished out another lesson that riders like the Schlecks would do well to remember – you gotta race them downhill too.
What is the point of listing all this?
What I’m hoping to portray is that none of this presents as the actions of a rider who deserves to be classified as boring.
Those in the public eye will always suffer from the risk of being type cast, cycling is no exception. Whether it’s Harrison Ford looking to prove he’s not only Han Solo or Laurent Jalabert, showing fans he was not just a sprinter. Cadel has done the same. I’m just wondering where the flack is coming from?
Are my British friends simply too new to cycling and not aware of this history? Or missing the ironic fact that what they’re accusing Cadel of, what they think makes him “boring”, is precisely the tactics employed by Brad Wiggins? I’m unsure.
Whatever the case, I’m am certainly at a loss at what more the poor chap needs to do to earn some good old Aretha Franklin style R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
- Explore:
- Bradley Wiggins, Cadel Evans, Cycling, Tour de France
June 16th 2012 @ 2:58pm
zacbrygel said | June 16th 2012 @ 2:58pm | Report comment
Hi everyone, please read my article on Lance Armstrong’s latest doping scandal. Comments are greatly appreciatted.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/06/15/doping-claims-lance-armstrong-ridiculous/#
June 16th 2012 @ 5:04pm
Maria said | June 16th 2012 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Cadel Evans has earned the respect of many by winning races. To my mind the one time when he won the respect of cyclists and the public more, was when he rode the TDF IN 2010 and finished in Paris with a fractured elbow. That shows what a fighter he is. He didn’t care where he finished, so long as he did finish. Many of the public, not only Australians, cheered him along to the very end.
June 16th 2012 @ 8:43pm
Derek said | June 16th 2012 @ 8:43pm | Report comment
Cadel sure does get lots of respect by the British commentators on Eurosport. Well at least the commentators which are heard in OZ. I think it has more to do with the rivalry between Britain and OZ that anything else. I am sure Cadel could not give a hoot !
June 16th 2012 @ 9:36pm
Leather poisoning said | June 16th 2012 @ 9:36pm | Report comment
Cadel Evans is a brilliant strategist and brilliant all round rider. Wiggins is the form rider but yet to prove he is as good strategically. He has a superior team to Evans ably led by another brilliant Aussie, Mike Rogers, who is almost as good as evans. All being equal wiggins should win due to his team, and his form. Schlecks are finished imho.
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June 16th 2012 @ 11:50pm
Tony said | June 16th 2012 @ 11:50pm | Report comment
The results speak for themselves. I dare any one to take him on. Our sunday morning group ride on the great ocean road did 2 years ago, We managed to stay with him at a gentle pace of 40 km/h. He needed to hurry back home and left us in the dust. He may not be flashy but he gets the job done ! I assume Wiggin’s is of the same ilk. Hard working and has great strengths in TT and a great team going uphill. I think it will be the one that makes the least mistakes and has lady luck on their side. Both have had bad TDF’s before and know what they need to do to get to the finish. Is that boring, go watch some other sport. Rant Over. GO CADEL!
June 17th 2012 @ 6:24pm
Doug said | June 17th 2012 @ 6:24pm | Report comment
I havent heard any one call Evans “boring” before. Though it does sound like the kind of thing someone would come up with when they dont have a clue about grand tour cycling and desparately wants to dislike a GC contender. The peloton is never going to let a break away with Evans in it escape – so what is the point using up his legs and those of his team mates trying to do it. A couple of years back Evans was actually told to bugger off back to the peloton after he had crossed to a break away. Someone with no hope of winning the GC can make all sorts of ridiculous attacks and hope to end up making a name for himself – but they arent going to be riding into Paris wearing yellow.