2 people winning 10 stages between them has made today a very different stage than it would normally be. Especially as those 2 must be massive favourites for the last 2 days.
It turns out Cavendish and Merckx have known each other for years - Merckx told a story earlier in the tour that Cavendish was one of several riders who used to sleep at his place when he was riding criteriums when he was starting out as a pro.
For the first time in years, I'm genuinely looking forward to the final stage into Paris (until now, it's just been a question of hoping for an unlikely breakaway to come good).
I'm delighted at how much Deceuninck-QuickStep have invested in Cavendish this year, as evidenced by their position in the team competition, and not since 1991's Belgian Grand Prix, when I was willing Andrea diCesaris to catch and pass Senna's McLaren (only for his engine to blow, because no-one from Ford had mentioned that the new Cosworth needed more oil than the version previously used), have I wanted an individual to cross the finish line first more than Mark Cavendish.
For the first time in years, I'm genuinely looking forward to the final stage into Paris (until now, it's just been a question of hoping for an unlikely breakaway to come good).
I'm delighted at how much Deceuninck-QuickStep have invested in Cavendish this year, as evidenced by their position in the team competition, and not since 1991's Belgian Grand Prix, when I was willing Andrea diCesaris to catch and pass Senna's McLaren (only for his engine to blow, because no-one from Ford had mentioned that the new Cosworth needed more oil than the version previously used), have I wanted an individual to cross the finish line first more than Mark Cavendish.
Just finished listening to his Profile on Radio 4 (what can I say, I'm a pretentious twat), really good about Mark Cavendish, if anything could make me want him to win tomorrow's stage more, I don't know what it is...
Just finished listening to his Profile on Radio 4 (what can I say, I'm a pretentious twat), really good about Mark Cavendish, if anything could make me want him to win tomorrow's stage more, I don't know what it is...
I’m not sure of the circumstances behind it and in a normal workplace I think you would probably say he should not have reacted like that. I do think sport is slightly different and understand many might disagree with that, but passion and sheer determination and doggedness can lead to winning, but can also lead to over reaction when things don’t go so well. I know a rider who was in a break in the Women’s Giro when she started getting shift problems and had to stop and get a bike change while the break carried on up the road and she ended up back in the main peloton. The cause of the problem was the mechanic had not charged her Di2 and it had started running out of juice and shutting down certain functions. Women’s racing is quite different to men’s racing in that regardless how your team leader is doing your overall position is still seen as important to future contracts. If I had been her I think I would have been apoplectic with rage, she just shrugged it off as a mistake and one of those things.
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I'm delighted at how much Deceuninck-QuickStep have invested in Cavendish this year, as evidenced by their position in the team competition, and not since 1991's Belgian Grand Prix, when I was willing Andrea diCesaris to catch and pass Senna's McLaren (only for his engine to blow, because no-one from Ford had mentioned that the new Cosworth needed more oil than the version previously used), have I wanted an individual to cross the finish line first more than Mark Cavendish.
Hope we get a better result then we got last Sunday
Listen. On BBC Sounds.
Clip below for those who havent seen it
Should add though that Cavendish has already apologised for it
I know a rider who was in a break in the Women’s Giro when she started getting shift problems and had to stop and get a bike change while the break carried on up the road and she ended up back in the main peloton. The cause of the problem was the mechanic had not charged her Di2 and it had started running out of juice and shutting down certain functions. Women’s racing is quite different to men’s racing in that regardless how your team leader is doing your overall position is still seen as important to future contracts. If I had been her I think I would have been apoplectic with rage, she just shrugged it off as a mistake and one of those things.
Gettting a bit emotional thinking about it, just impossible seven months ago