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Sam Bennett - no same day spoilers

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Comments

  • Posts: 19,205 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I dunno.

    that's not quite the same thing as him actually being in the tour going for the record



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,234 ✭✭✭✭dahat


    QS don't care much for the record it seems only Cav & his cheerleaders. While it would be great to see him break the record sentiment has no place at the top level of sport.

    One case of Covid changes everything though so all is not lost for Cav just yet.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,019 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Pretty embarrassing carry on from some of the British cycling media this week IMO. Using Cav beating a junior and a pro conti rider in a 3 up sprint as evidence for him to go to the Tour?

    and not mentioning Senechel winning the French equivalent for his argument…



  • Posts: 19,205 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I don't even like Cavandish as a personality tbh but the interest is huge and cycling sponsorship is all about getting exposure



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,149 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Maybe the Belgians are also quite happy to not have some sprinter take the record of Belgium's (Worlds) greatest cyclist. 😜



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  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,298 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    Cav knew he wasn't going if you listen to the post BC interview. He states it and then says it is unusual he didn't get a call and that he would still love to go. He has trained for it because he got lucky last year with Sam getting injured, followed by a relatively weaker sprint field. Britissh media making a mountain out of a molehill on this one. I dislike Pat immensely but Cav is no idiot, he knew on a good year, he was an understudy at best. It would be like me trainign for the Ras and then finding it surprising that no one from my team rang me to say I wasn't going, despite the fact that it was known to me and all around me that, barring something very unlikely, it really wasn't a prospect.

    Even watching the BCs, the other two bought into the media and never seemed to open up the sprint against Cav, who barely looked able to open up either after what was an impressive day in the saddle from him.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,339 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    It has been a joke, I've spent most of yesterday trolling brits who dont seem to understand that Jakobsen was always going to the tour, and cav to the giro, regardless of what happened. QS and Lefevre have been saying it since the start of the year, but sure that doesn't seem to matter to most of the UK media...

    Jakobsen has won 10 races this year, Cav has one stage in the giro and the race last weekend where the field was not great. And even if they caved and took him, whose place is he going to take? Is he going to work in the train for Jakobsen? Highly doubtful. They only way he was going to the tour was if Jakobsen got injured, and that is looking extremely unlikely at this stage. The 2 of them going would be a hindrance to the whole team, and the chances of them getting even one sprint stage would be lessened. At this stage i'd nearly prefer him to go and completely bomb, fighting with coquard to finish 6th.

    bUt CaV iS iN gReAt FoRm AnD iS tHe BeSt SpRiNtEr AnD bAd Eu AnD bReXiT......


    EDIT: Thought this was the general thread, not the one for Sam Bennett! But the comparison to bennett's omission is telling, he's been off form all year, the acceptance that the team cant carry passengers, and tbf, van poppel deserves a chance at being the sprinter based on his results this year. None of that on team cav though...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,149 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Also if your QS are you gonna pss of a top young sprinting talent for a fella that could be done any minute now.



  • Posts: 19,205 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    as said don't even like Cavendish and not saying that he should go on a merit basis but the situation of a guy with 34 TDF stage wins and needing 1 more for the outright stage record in by far the biggest cycling race in the world over Eddy feckin' Merckx to a guy with 2 TDF stages is not really comparable (never mind the fact that Cavendish has shown more than Bennett this year itself)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,019 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    I’m not arguing Sam deserves a spot. I haven’t seen anyone do that.

    Cav is behind Jakobsen. It really is that simple

    Anyway Declerq is out now so we’ll see if they bring him ahead of Senechel



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,791 ✭✭✭Paddigol


    Gotta say its a bit odd seeing people snigger at Cav getting left out, snigger at the wave of UK support for him and saying its the right call, and then expressing mild shock and outrage at Sam getting left at home. One fella on here got piled on last year for suggesting that Sam was far from the No. 1 sprinter the Irish media made him out to be. We're well capable of myopia here too.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,019 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    There isn’t an Irish cycling media though. A couple of journos but nothing like the UK (GCN led of course)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,149 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    Pure nonsense. No one is sniggering just not shocked that they guy QS said all season isn't going to the Tour isnt going to the Tour.

    Also Sam not going has been widely accepted in Ireland. If anything there is more disappointment that Dunbar, Mullen or Healy couldn't make it.

    Sam was the no.1 sprinter back when we said he was the no.1 sprinter an no one is saying it now.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,138 ✭✭✭De Bhál


    Mild shock maybe, but I haven't seen 'outrage' anywhere.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,814 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    Ah now. GCN had an entire YouTube video up discussing how he should be going to the tour, and pretty much all of British media was calling it an absolute outrage that he wasn’t picked.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,791 ✭✭✭Paddigol



    Pure nonsense?? How rude! I'm mortally offended 😂



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,224 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    I really hope this decision is with Sam's blessing. The last thing he needs is more bad blood in a team. I always assumed it would be in his contract to ride the Tour which is why I suspect he played a part in this but who knows. I feel very sorry for Mullen because while Sam has been below par this season Mullen has been excellent bossing any peleton he is in. I could see him as a road captain in the future.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,791 ✭✭✭Paddigol


    Yeah, its a bit OTT. I'm just saying we're no different here any time we get a whiff of international glory. To be fair, even leaving aside the Mercx record angle, the Cav story of the past 18 months is pretty gripping. It's always going to generate headlines/ stories.



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,224 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    It has been gripping but also plenty of insight into the man:




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56 ✭✭MrMojoRisin'




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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,814 ✭✭✭✭Squidgy Black


    Slim chance, he rode the national champs last weekend here, think it’s been said for the last few weeks that he won’t be in the squad but who knows with the way Covid has gone for them



  • Posts: 19,205 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Plenty of the biggest winners in cycling were not exactly nice people in their sporting days and were completely selfish, demanding and ruthless including the very greatest e.g.- Eddy Mercx (hated for the way he never gifted a stage, or how he would go for points for other competitions as well as taking the GC etc)

    Likewise Hinault shafting Le Mond etc

    100% sure that phone cameras would have picked up plenty more were they to exist in everyone's pockets back then.

    It's not difficult to understand Cavendish's drive there after coming back from the complete cycling wilderness there on what might possibly remain his last TDF

    As someone else said, it's very much part of the reason that they achieved so much in the first place.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,990 ✭✭✭c.p.w.g.w


    I thought Sam and Ryan were down for the tour, I saw a lineup up last week and they were both included in the squad for the tour



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,170 ✭✭✭CrowdedHouse


    I'm sure they were pencilled in earlier, Sam is struggling to hold on to his lead out men never mind win.

    Mullen is probably the real loser in this.

    Seven Worlds will Collide



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭G1032


    This for me. I'm shocked he wasn't selected. Can't believe it. But heard a theory somewhere else that is Jacobsen wins a couple of stages they'll get exposure and if he doesn't they'll still get it because it'll be non stop talk about Cav's omission. So win win.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 7,541 ✭✭✭G1032


    That's not very fair. He raced a super race in the nationals. I didn't see Hayter or Turner or Swift winning it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,019 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    yeah, slightly unfair. I love Cavendish. Always have. I just think the reaction this weekend has been insane



  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 9,224 Mod ✭✭✭✭mewso


    Sigh I know many winners are assholes. Fine. The video is just an example of why I don't care if he wins or not or goes to the Tour. There are enough winners out there that find a way to motivate themselves without being dickheads about it. I admire Cavendish and his record but when he behaves in such a way he should be called out. You'll never hear anyone on GCN talking about that video or his behaviour. I don't think the media should ignore this kind of thing. Otherwise we keep the "this is how winners do it" mahco guff alive.



  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,298 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    It isn't comparable, one of them has a chance to win stages/something, the other realistically doesn't.

    I don't recall anyone sniggering, he isn't the right person for the team this year for a variety of reasons. Lots here have said its unfortunate for Sam and even with Irish eyes, haven't heard anyone, including Sam saying it was the wrong decision. Mark on the other hand knew months ago that he wasn't going and the media and fan boys are kicking up a storm because he commented he is race fit for it.

    It was an incredibly entertaining race, and he won it on tactics and race craft but, nothing hinted that he would be up there for a stage win or the green jersey this year, partcularly when you look at the stages.



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  • Posts: 19,205 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I'm not a Cavendish fan but it's a bit overblown as a moment tbh

    In the "social media" age every small moment can suddenly be a definitive and momentous 100% judgement

    He addressed it on the day, literally a few hours later (see below)

    It's not as if he is anything in the slightest on the level of an Armstrong going out to destroy people's lives like a true sociopath / psychopath




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