In Thursday’s CyclingNews, former professional Robert Millar utilised his column inches to talk about Cadel Evans and his 2014 Giro d’Italia.
Millar didn’t bother to discuss the fantastic ride that Evan’s has put in so far at the first of this year’s three Grand Tours, not did he think it important to mention the wealth of experience that Evans has accrued over the years.
Indeed, the Scot, of whom I was a huge fan as a kid back in the 1980s, saw no point in considering the fact that Evans has a proven track record as the winner of one Grand Tour, none less than the Tour de France, the blue riband event of the world’s stage races.
A feat, it is worth noting, that Millar never managed himself – his best was fourth at the Tour in 1984 and two runner up placings at the Vuelta a Espana.
Instead of considering these salient points in regards to Evans’ chances of winning the Giro, Millar penned a one-sided and overtly negative article that leaves one wondering just what Evans ever did to the Scotsman.
Furthermore, it reads as further evidence of a vast underestimation of Evans’ talents that underlies a great deal of reporting where the BMC leader is concerned.
“Unlike the other pre-race favourites for the Giro d’Italia crown current race leader Cadel Evans hasn’t had any real bad luck to hinder his racing,” writes Millar.
“His team’s opening time trial was similar to main rivals Movistar, way better than Katusha’s struggles and compared to Garmin’s memories of Ireland it was a relatively stress free start.”
Yes true, but some members of Garmin, Katusha and Movistar rode so badly that you’d imagine a team of juniors would have fared better had they been plonked down there in the middle of the start list.
Millar then says that the reason that Evans has yet to crash is as much down to his skills as to good fortune, which is ungenerous at best.
He then goes on to discuss the chances of Evans having some bad luck with something approaching glee.
“It won’t last though because there a couple of things you learn when you ride a Grand Tour: one is that you will have a bad moment and another is that you are more likely than not to fall off at least once,” Millar writes.
Condescending? I certainly feel that it reads that way. Evans has ridden a Grand Tour or two as well, and the fact that Millar omits any mention of this is remarkable.
You don’t win a Tour de France on luck alone, and indeed you don’t come second on it either.
Nor do you win a Rainbow Jersey, nor a classic, on luck. Nor do you bring a Kazakh hardnut close to tears on the muddied white roads of Tuscany by not being one hell of a rider.
Millar then goes on to claim that Evans lost any moral stature, by what the Scot considered unfair play , after Evans and his teammate pushed on in the final climb of Stage 6 after two crashes saw several of the pre-race favourites hit the deck.
“More importantly it [Evans’ ride after the crash] signals to the other teams the moral level at which this Giro will be conducted and that might just be Cadel Evans undoing,” Millar continues.
“One hint of a problem, one mechanical, one puncture, one natural break taken and it could well be the signal for all hell to be let loose on BMC and the Australian.”
The “moral level”? I’ve never heard such tosh. If we’re talking about the “moral level” then let’s discuss Michael Rogers, Clenbuterol, ‘the list‘, and the UCI screwing that posse of pooches up. Or how about talking about Fluo Yellow and their inclusion in the race?
Maybe Robert Millar could have mentioned the fact that Anne Gripper considered Evans to be the cleanest of all the Grand Tour contenders of the era during which Gripper was the head of the UCI anti-doping department, having seen virtually no fluctuations in his blood levels during her reign.
Or he could have mentioned that Gripper – and Tyler Hamilton – considered his 2010 Tour de France win to have been a victory for clean cycling.
Of course, who’s to say who is or has been clean or not, though one could argue that if anyone will know, Gripper is a good bet. However, Evans’ form rarely fluctuates, and he was seen as boring and unadventurous, often being the bridesmaid, in an era when doping was rife. Yet after a spate of positive EPO results seemed to have forced riders either to put the needles down for a spell or to move to micro-dosing, Evans thrived.
His win in the World Championships was brilliant, brave and courageous, and who can ever forget that ride in the 2010 Giro on the Strade Bianche roads? Similarily, when he won the Tour in 2011 he rode intelligently and with great heart, winning over many a doubting cycling fan.
Finally, Millar speaks about what Evans will do if his BMC team crumbles and he’s left to his own devices, but in doing so he betrays a desire to overlook another obvious point, and that is that Evans has been on his own for so many years in races when the going gets tough.
He’s rarely had the luxury of a super strong team around him, a factor that has something to do with him having not won more big races than he has.
Perhaps Millar is touchy still, even after all these years, about that ‘Stolen Vuelta‘ in 1985, but the article he penned comes across as tightfisted at best, petty at worst.
Evans just lost the Giro lead on Stage 12 after a brilliant ride from Uran Uran, but that should not detract anything from the achievements of this quiet legend.
When he finally hangs up his cleats, he can look back proudly on an illustrious career that was carved out of the hard, black stone of the EPO era.
Chapeau, Cadel.
Kathleen Casey
Guest
I am really shocked by the nastiness of some of what I have been reading. I just dont understand where it is coming from or why!
markjohnconley
Guest
Spot on Lee!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Great to see riders looking tired again for a change too ;-) Yeah Uran Uran looked knackered today, which was a surprise. Great stage too, good to see the break stay away...
Tony M
Guest
I'm not an Aussie and BMC is not a favoured team for me but I'm definitely supporting Cadel Evans in the Giro. Why ? Because I have a great respect for the over sensitive and temperamental little "b----" He never fails for any apparent lack of effort and I don't see why he cant win it. After todays mountain stage if that's all Uran and Quintana have Cadel's in with a shout and who cares what Millar thinks ,he's clearly out of touch .
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Definitely not underestimated by the peloton, but on balance yes he is by the press. Millar's article had a snideness to it that was unnecessary. The point I was making but perhaps didn't communicate effectively enough for you is that Millar is better placed than just about any other journalist to appreciate Evans' talents and achievements, yet he just about failed to mention any.
Benj
Guest
I'm not sure anyone underestimates Evans be that peloton, press or public. He was touted as a favourite from the word go and there are numerous articles about how cleverly he's ridden to avoid 'bad luck' and how proactive he's been with the team on all stages and more importantly finishes. Millars article was looking at the issues that Evans faces (or faced) to hold onto the Rosa and the trial ahead that he'd avoided. His article was actually average at best but your article (which seems to be longer than the original offending one) seems to be looking for things to get offended about. The rule that Millar isn't able to comment on Cadel because he hasn't won a tour is pretty petty and will need most journalist to stop writing sport pages pretty quick.
Nellie 24
Guest
All I can say is that those 37 year old legs were stronger and faster over 41 k than more than 160 other riders! And only bettered by two. In my books, that's an achievement in itself. Those who might underestimate Cadel don't really know him. It's going to be very interesting and it won't be over for him until it's over. That's the Cadel way!
Nellie 24
Guest
I am confident Cadel's performance will speak for itself. Speculate all you like, but one thing I know is it won't be over for Cadel until it's over. Beware those who might think otherwise. A brilliant time trial - better in fact than more than 160 other riders. That deserves nothing less than respect. Those 37 year old legs are going pretty damn good if you ask me. It's not over til it's over and beware those who sell Cadel short.
damo
Guest
Yes, I was surprised & amused to read the comments attached to the Millar article in question, one guy stuck up for Cadel & then no shortage of "oh yeah, well Cadel isn't that flash" type comments. I don't expect sycophants, but with all the trouble cycling has with its "heroes", I am bemused by the idea that he apparently isn't universally loved.
Patrick
Guest
The amount of trashing on about Evans on internet forums is darn ridiculous. (see the cycling news forum itself for just a few examples) Furthermore, I've seen plenty of articles/comments lately about how pozzozivo is going to 'smash' evans in the mountains. This will only happen if evans is not on form, which he isn't. I simply can't understand this notion - evans beat him quite comprehensively in trentino, and was ahead of him on most mtfs at last years' giro. And yet people go on about how evans would have slipped from the podium if the mountain stages were run in full
damo
Guest
Hi Lee ! wow, I feel like a blog superstar chatting with the man himself, thanks for the reply! I agree with your summation, I guess I took it in isolation but I get the impression that Evans gets less cred than he should because he isn't controversial & doesn't act like a superstar. I suppose here in Oz we just all love Cadel, so unless you go out of your way to follow other cycling sources (I must admit, I am limited to The Roar & SBS mostly) then you don't get to read as widely & therefore don't see the negatives. What does surprise me as an amateur observer, is that I just took it as given that a TdF winner would be lauded, but am also surprised that a guy who is possibly one of the only 'clean' winners amongst all the tainted ones, isn't acknowledged as being a cycling legend. Like I said, I'm am an amateur observer at best, but I do really enjoy cycling myself & enjoy watching the elite level, your articles are great & it's good to get a real insight into the sport that is full of intrigue. Cheers!
Lee Rodgers
Expert
Damo, cheers for the comment, I think the thing about the article was that is contained barely a word on Evans' talents. It was a subtle pot shot, or several, from a guy who you might term taciturn at best, bitter at worst. That, and I'm tired of reading articles from journos criticising Evans who've never raced at anything approaching a decent level. Evans is one hell of a bike rider, and when the big dopers got pulled back he showed that. I think that deserves more respect than he gets, and whilst you are right, that the Millar article was not a blistering attack, it's another 'drip' in the pool of articles that under appreciate Evans and his achievements.
damo
Guest
I just read the article by Millar, it didn't seem too bad, but I admit he is pushing a point of etiquette & bad luck are something that everyone suffers or gains from, it's how that plays out that makes the difference. Although at times I find it amusing that pro cycling has this whole group etiquette thing going on (which other sport has so many athletes willing to cheat on each other, yet still not take advantage of a flat tyre ?) it is also part of the theatre & thus a factor in making the sport so intriguing. Reading the comments after the article was also amusing, it seems there is not a lot of love out there for Evans, perhaps he doesn't inspire affection with his quiet achiever manner.
njptower
Guest
It is possibly to Cadel's advantage to no longer be in the Pink. He is not the target for the next few days
Rob Gremio
Roar Pro
The Eurosport commentators were doing that based on the fact that at the two intermediate check points, he was well behind. At the end they were impressed with how he clawed back time on everyone except Uran. They were expecting Cadel to smash it and take time on pretty much everyone (which he did), so it was the expectation that Cadel would do really well that made them say what they said on Eurosport. No one could have anticipated Uran's amazing time, but they did praise Evans in the end for limiting his losses to Uran and for coming a very good third, especially given where he was at the two time checks.
Cadel Fan
Guest
Not really. Can't agree with your last statement. Cadel actually rode well. He performed as expected. Nobody gets a top three finish easily. HOWEVER Uran rode exceptionally well, well above everyone's expectations. See Cadel's own comments on this. But Cadel works on averages. He will be there plugging away, as he always does. And when Uran has a bad day, he will be on top. That's always been his modus operandi. No, Cadel is still the best chance for a podium finish.
Lee Rodgers
Expert
'Lee Rodgers' is not a nom de pen for Tim Renowden, Clare - I do actually exist! I think he's relaxed because he's older, for one, and that he knows exactly what he can do on a bike these days, and with that combo comes a calm. And Tim, yes I read it too! Unbelievable. Even the Eurosport commentators were hanging him out to dry with 3km to go, and then he comes third with a very respectable time. I think that whether he can win the Giro or not is not the main point here, it's the fact that any praise that goes his way is given so begrudgingly, and more often than not, it;s not praise that's going his way in any case.
Clare
Guest
Great article Tim, I am alwasy so bewildered when there is often nasty, ill-considered commentary/"journalism" about Cadel, thanks for including the facts that were missed. Let's hope the strongest team he has had to date protect and him in the mountains, and get the pink back... that would be a turn around for the books when he has so often got fantatic results with lesser support than his competitors have had. I've never seen him so relaxed in mediar interviews than the last few days which is good but perhaps being back where he is used to (ie. fighting to GET the jersey, not in it) is where he needs to be to be in Pink in Trieste!
Tim Renowden
Expert
Evans' talents as a rider are too often brushed aside by people who dislike his somewhat awkward public persona, but his palmares speaks for itself. Millar's piece reads, to me, like he's trying to stoke up some controversy. That's his prerogative, and he may well be right about Evans' vulnerability in the high mountains. But the same is true for any of the top contenders - it's so easy to have a bad day. CyclingNews loves trolling Evans - a quote from today's piece on the ITT: "However, the Australian had a terrible day in the saddle, as he struggled to negotiate the drying roads." - Evans beat everyone except Uran and Ulissi! That's not having a terrible day, it's being beaten by a rider who had a blinder!
Aljay
Guest
Evans lost the Vuelta several years ago when his chain dropped. Noone waited for him and I think, but am not certain, that he might have been wearing the leaders jersey at the time. If not for the time lost on that stage he definitely would have won it instead of finishing second. Several years ago in the Tour when it was he, Contador and I think Schleck attacking alone he had a problem again but the other rode away from him. I think that was the stage in 2011 where he brought the group back to them up the final climb. What goes around comes around. On the other hand, the ITT last night shows that Evans is not as much of a GT contender as we think he is.