The most over-rated cyclists... - Page 4

Gees people have got you biteing hook line and sinker

Quick update on the fellas.

Hincapie signed with BMC for next year. It must have been due his recent win against continental pros and Cat 2s in the US Pro Championships.

Cunego signed an extension for 2010 due to his stellar 2009. Why wouldn't Lampre want him back, seeing how competitive he was this year in the big events?

Sastre is resting after coming up just short in defense of his Tour win. Rumor has it he is upset with the Cervelo doctors and wants back on the Saxo program.

Millar's mug is on Cycling News everyday, as he is the chief blogger for the Vuelta. I'm not sure any cycling fans asked for this, but it's what we got. He did finish top 15 in the prologue, so expect a one-hour documentary on Versus soon.

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Lance Armstrong’s Last Words, August 10, 2007 - “We're proud of our record. We won eight Tours, a Vuelta, a Giro and other races and not one positive test," Armstrong said. “I’m not sure if there are many other teams who can say that right now. Couple that with our ethical record, despite all the gossip and nonsense that goes on.”

Yaroslav Popovych :

Maybe not overrated as such – more like a rider who never really built on his potential.

I thought that this guy was really going to deliver at the very highest level but it seems that
he was happier to work as domestique to Armstrong and then Evans.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Hahahahahaaaaa.....

Boonen... sans cocaine is sadly lacking... somebody give that guy a fix...

Yeah, I don't understand how they can EVER pick him or anyone over Cancellara in a TT...

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-Meek
"Some people train to look pretty. I just train so I can be the strongest man there is. And then again, I'm already pretty." -Magnus Samuelsson

I know the worlds won't change his personality but can we take cadel out of this thread now?

:d:d:d:d:d

NOPE!

no doubt about it... great and deserving win by Evans at the worlds but the last time i checked Evans was/is billed as a stage racer and in his chosen and designated and team supported position he has been found wanting.. win at the worlds changes none of that.

I could be wrong but i think this might be his first professional win and it's a big one no doubt, but even in the single day win column he's been found wanting..

His first professional win? It might be his first single day win but he has won a heap of stages in tours and has a few good overall wins in Pro tours.

Aussie's love a winner, particularly the media and band wagon jumpers.
Aussie's also love an underdog. More so if the underdog gets up for a win, without a win the underdog will fade from favour. If they don't then live up to expectation they quickly get placed into the 'has been' basket.

The above more relates to the band wagon as opposed to the ones that follow the sport (whatever their interested sport) to a greater depth.

Empirical evidence would suggest this is an accurate reflection of reality on a daily basis.

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No one remembers what you do, only how you made them feel.

I didn't realise that your weren't allowed to win a one day race if the public sees you as a stage racer. That's probably why no one chased him at the worlds the other day. I'll pass it on to Cadel when I see him next, expect an apology.

Seconds and thirds in the big tours don't count much either. Don't know why he bothers.

yes, absolutely i was absolutely wrong.. he actually has quite a few professional wins.. stages in stage races... see i have no problem at all admitting when i'm wrong... unlike some other people..

has not won a single win in a classic though..

i know you were being sarcastic, but the ironic thing is that, that IS likely why no one bothered to chase him... ahhh... it's just Cadel we don't have to follow that loser... lol... and did so at their peril... and it is because he's just not the kind of guy that has managed to deliver on the big day... he has stage wins in stage races, but has not won a single classic and even in stage races he's also never managed to get up there on the top step.. sure he's gotten onto the podium during one of the weakest periods in the Tour de France in recent memory, but is that something to be proud of? i guess so... lol..

lets look at how the podium from 2008 did this year shall we... ?

Carlos Sastre - 1st in 2008... 17th in 2009 26:21 down... WTF!!
Cadel Evans - 2nd in 2008... 30th in 2009 45:24 down... nice!!
well we all know what happened to Bernard Kohl who was third...
4th/3rd in 2008 was Menchov... 51st in 2009 and 1:17 down.. at least he had excuse he won the Giro against real competition...

even 2007 was a weak year.. Contador shouldn't have been able to win the tour de france in that year... the next year should have been the 1st year that he was really in contention for the win... the competition was so weak thought that he manage to get the win anyway (after Rassmusen was x'ed out, Vino was out that is)... and we see what happens to guys like Evans when presented with a real race... folds like a deck of cards...

i'm not saying that he's a bad rider.. he's a very good rider... but looking at his results from this year... we see he's strictly a second tier quality of rider, but he's billed as a top tiered rider meaning that he IS over rated.

and sure i give all credit to him for taking the win at the worlds, he took the initiative, he put his head down and he did the work, but lets be real.. he benefited from the much stronger riders behind him looking at each other... that was probably the biggest contributing factor that allowed him to win... let's be real now..