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.
Doug
Guest
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.
Tony
Guest
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!
Leather poisoning
Guest
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. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Frenky
Guest
I agree with you that, looking at Evans' victories Gesink (and many others) isn't/(aren't) even allowed to stand anywhere near Cadel Evans.. Although the point I was trying to make that as an Australian you might have perceived Cadel's career a bit different than I might have. Believe me though when I say that he is respected for his results in The Netherlands and Belgium when I'm reading articles on their sport sites. When it comes down to upcoming Tour, then I do believe that a Gesink, VDB, Sammie Sanchez, Nibali, Valverde deserve the respect to be mentioned. The Tour de France is a race on it's own and cannot be compared with any other race.. Let alone that previous results of this season are decisive to the position you deserve in the GC.. Whoever that 'dark horse' may be.. I hope he can make life for Wiggins and Evans more difficult.. makes life interesting. Can't wait till the start of the Tour.
Derek
Guest
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 !
midfield general
Guest
You're right, I think Gesink is a real dark horse. And Cadel needs other GC guys like Gesink, Nibali or the remaining Schleck to isolate Wiggins in the mountains. That's the only way any of them have a chance to stop Sky from dominating IMO. Oh well at least if Wiggo wins then we can claim some credit, as he has Rogers and Porte by his side, his coach is an Aussie and if I'm not mistaken his mom is an Aussie as well. As for lack of respect for Evans - is this article making a mountain out of a mole hill? I read a lot of Uk and US websites and mags and I haven't noticed anything like disrespect towards Evans
falcore
Roar Rookie
Wholeheartedly agree. I'm not a particularly insightful road cycling fan,but even I can see that in recent years Cadel gets tagged pretty heavily. Watching him during some of those stages: he know's he' losing time to someone; he has to do something about it; noone is gonna help him. Sporting drama at it's finest. And as an avid mountainbiker I have a lot of respect for soemone who has reached the top in two drastically different sports.
Tinea Pedis
Roar Guru
Frenky, you're right that Gesink is certainly not being mentioned as much as he might deserve with regards to being a contender for the yellow jersey. Which if I were him I would run with, as Cadel has said in the past how demanding the press can be during the Tour. So let them chase after Wiggins and Cadel, let him spend every moment off the bike recovering and saving his energy for a tilt at upsetting the apple cart. With regards to giving him the same sort of respect that I feel Cadel isn't being given, I'm sorry. His palmares, compared to Cadel's, simply does not stack up. Nor do any of the others you've mentioned except for maybe Valverde (however coming back from a doping ban will tend to sour people's disposition towards you).
Maria
Guest
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.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
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/#
matt
Guest
Nothing boring about winning.
Shea
Guest
Hope cycling gives up on you first.
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
What a fantastic article! Cadel demands respect through his actions and conduct and I think you nailed it on the head my friend.
Wallah
Guest
Great post. One thing cadel now knows is to get respect you have to earn it and has now done it by winning the tdf. In the process of getting there he became quite introverted and frustrated I think that hurt his reputation. Winners are grinners and I have no don't he will become recognized by all as the legend rider he is. His overall skills are world class. I also agree we need some great posts on the potential of other riders. Who is up for it as I for one will read every word. This years tour should be Cracka let's enjoy it and praise all that lead it because they are all legends in what is the worlds toughest event. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
It is a good point you make about each nation loving and respecting their own cyclist. However, there have been a few that have transcended that due to incredible career performances (Armstrong, Merckx, Hinault, LeMond, Indurain, Boonen, Cavendish, Gilbert). With regards to other contenders, Gesink is a strong one but he's a bit of an unknown at the Grand Tours. He has 3 top 10 finishes (including a 5th at the Tour in 2010) but he was very ordinary last year. As for the others: -Van den Broeck is a great climber and a strong time trialler but he hasn't been able to put it all together at a Grand Tour yet. Belgium is begging for another Tour de France winner but I doubt it'll be him. -Frank Schleck may well be the best climber in the peleton at this year's Tour but he'll get completely annihilated by the time trials (he's even worse at them than Andy). -Valverde is an interesting one but I think he's expended too much energy in the early months of the year to be any real threat. There are three I've got my eye on: -Steven Kruijswijk: same team as Gesink but also a genuine shot -Pierre Rolland: Won the Alpe d'Huez stage last year at the Tour whilst finishing 10th overall and winning the White jersey, had a solid classics performance and can time trial. I think France has finally found a GC contender in him. Would have done better if he hadn't had to work so much for Voeckler -Rein Taaramae: Another young guy like Rolland. Can time trial, won a stage of the Vuelta and finished 11th at the Tour last year. However, the main battle will be (assuming they both stay upright) between Wiggins and Evans.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
Good insight Frenky, I'd love to read an article about Gesink. I am not a cycling die-hard so I don't actually know that much about him. Would be great if you could put one together.
Frenky
Guest
People in France love 'Titi' Voeckler (why?).. They kissed the ground on which Richard Virenque was walking on while he was/is one of the biggest doping cheats. It is the pride of a nation and being part of that nation which increased their support in any of own national cyclists. You want people to admire a cyclist in the same way you do, even thought that's not always possible.. Due to my nationality, I have more interest in the performances of (e.g) Robert Gesink. All I read here is the upcoming battle between Evans and Wiggins.. but where can I find the r-e-s-p-e-c-t for the latest results of Gesink? Yesterday he finished 5th in the time trial in the Tour de Suisse.. and if he shows today that he still has his climbing legs (as he already showed in the Tour of California) then why isn't he on the list of main contenders. As a conclusion.. I do not dislike this article and do understand the article.. but remember that this can be said from any cyclists/country's point of view.. I gave the Gesink example; but as far as i'm concerned I could've changed the cyclist into Vandenbroek (VDB) / Valverde / F. Schleck.. Also possible main contenders, of which VDB is in my eyes the most dangerous one for Evans and Wiggings top spot.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
Great post. All the haters out there of Cadel Evans are focusing their abuse on Cadel pre-2009. Ever since he won the World Champs, he is a completely different rider and person. He's much better with the media (and more interesting) and he's a much more aggressive rider, who rides with panache. That ride on the Galibier stage at last year's Tour will go down in history as one of the greatest efforts ever made. Not only did he cut one of the best climbers in the world, Andy Schleck's, lead in half, he also dropped Contador (weakened after the Giro he may have been), Sanchez and Voeckler. He's finished top 5 at every Grand Tour at least once. He's a world champion and he's won plenty of one day races and week-long stage races. If people out there can't respect him for that, how can they possibly respect Wiggins, who's resume isn't even half as long (ignoring his track results)? I really hope Cadel wins this year's Tour. Win it once, you're a champion. Win it twice, you're a legend.
hamleyn
Roar Guru
The day I see you win a Tour de France like Cadel Evans did is the day I stop mocking you for being a fool.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
And that person who won both (and shall remain nameless) is now (more than ever) under a serious doping cloud.