This is an intervention, Cadel. You have a victim complex, and you need to stop sabotaging yourself. It’s not that surprising—competitive cycling is largely an exercise in masochism—and the best riders tend to be the ones who’ve learned how to wield self-administered agony with the most unmitigated glee.
But Cadel—oh, Cadel. I’m hoping you know something I don’t. Look at the names BMC has signed so far—Alessandro Ballan, Karsten Kroon, George Hincapie, Marcus Burghardt—these aren’t people who are going to get you over the Tourmalet. Sure, Hincapie should be on everyone’s TdF shortlist—especially with this year’s cobbles—but what good is getting through the first week within sight of the lead going to do you when your squad goes to shambles on the first Cat 2 climb?
You aren’t on this squad to win the Tour, Cadel. Or the Vuelta. Or the Giro. You’re here to make sure BMC gets invites to as many big races as possible. Continental squads need all the star power they can get, and the Arc en Ceil, cursed or otherwise, will always be a draw. I hope your Worlds Win/teamwork at Lombardy has given you a taste for one-days, because you’re going to be doing a lot of “Tour tune-up” in the classics this year
I should also mention that you’re more than just another Rainbow Jersey—you are the are the knockaround clean guy who loses to dopers. I cannot overstate how essential this is to Team BMC—after all, their bikes bore a pair of blood-bosted Americans to a Tour title and an Olympic medal, under the very same team boss—Andy Rihs—who currently pilots BMC.
Now I’ll readily admit that you could do worse that being a Biological Passport Incarnate for an upstart classics squad with mottled past. It’s certainly a step up from your current role as Lotto’s co-leader/scapegoat/advertisement (depending on recent results).
But I just want to make sure you’re going into this with open eyes. Unless BMC cleaned up at the Astana fire sale and just hasn’t announced it yet, you’re going to have the same miserable, lonely battle up every col and pass at the Grand Tours—you’re just going to be one, two, and three years older.
So, Cadel, as long as you’re clear on this, I wish you the best of luck in all your coming endeavors. Do the Rainbow Jersey proud and keep it rubber side down. Maybe win Amstel or something, just to show them you can.
I totally disagree about you dissing BMC. I reckon the support of Ballan, Kroon and Hincapie is zero after some serious mountains but have you look further than that?
Frank and Frei are some very promising climbers. I reckon 16th in the Dauphine and 12 in Romandie are really not that good but they are young. If they can keep up their progression they are going to be the helpers Evans always wanted to have.
Think Evans knows that as well. He wouldn’t be so stupid to just go would he?
i agree, w/jonathon on this, i am not gonna knock BMC. BMC has made a major move to make a GC run, recruited well, and at this point looks to be a descent sophmore at the prom. sure, knock the domestique, but he is the most weathered veteran, sure knock ballan, but he is a worthy threat in Cadels back pocket, and Kroon is reputable. Listen, lets agree to this, Cadel coulda done much worse, like stayed at the belgian team and who has not supported him an ounce. Also, since you diss BMC so, who would you have druthered he go? Astana? Caisse? Rabobank? is there even a french team worthy a GCr? In my estimate, and only time will tell, i think he made a good move.
The New Year hasn’t even collapsed on him yet Cosmo, I hope it’s the commentators kiss of death your giving him!
Rainbow jersey, Tour win, or not, you’re always welcome to have VB with me mate.
Promise my pair of Bichon’s wont hassle your little bitch either!
But 100% support, “tell him he’s dreaming” (quote from iconic Australian movie ‘the Castle’, now a ubiquitous cultural reference, unfortunately it’s a relates to 2nd hand goods, emmm)
I wouldn’t exactly say I’m “dissing” BMC. They have good classics team roster —I didn’t say that outright, but the palmares of the four riders I mentioned speak for themselves. I also specifically said Hincapie is an asset for anyone’s Grand Tour campaign.
But I don’t think anyone can win the Tour with a team full of strongmen. Even if Frank and Frei are on the team next year—which I’m not entirely sure of—I’m hesitant to bank on brilliance in their Grand Tour debuts. The only guy I see w/serious experience as a GT domestique Alexandre Moos.
I agree that BMC has made great recruiting moves to reach the next level, and I’m genuinely interested to see if they can match the Continental team performance standard set by Cervelo this season. But I think it’s pretty ridiculous to look at this transfer as a golden ticket to Tour glory for Cadel.
i’ll keep this short, maybe not glory, but anywhere is better then silence lotto at this point
I think that you’ve hit the mark smack on Cosmo (again). I really, really hope that we soon hear of some skinny mountain goats signing up to join Evans. He needs one or two guys who can still be there when the final selection is made. Guys like Horner, who I can’t help but think is going to have a very busy 2010 collecting water bottles and ferrying messages around.
Personally, I’d love to see Simoni join Evans. I think that Simoni could teach Cadel a thing or two about smack talk, help add a “bit of bastard” to Cadel’s racing, and be there when it is needed in the big mountains.
I know, I know “Tell him he’s dreamin'” – great reference rainbow!
@Cosmo.
You are probably right about the golden ticket thing. But I think Evans can never win a GT because he can’t get it mentally around. (If you still understand what I mean) Even with the support he would have by Shack or Saxo? he wouldn’t win a GT. Or at least not the Tour. What he did with his dog was an example of that.
That’s why I think he should focus on the Giro next year. With the team he has he would have a perfect line-up for again a podium finish. A nice catch because he’s getting old.
btw. Frank and Frei were riding for BMC this year. Why would they leave?
as a belgian cyclingfan I feel i must tell you silence lotto did more then one effort to help cadel. for example: popovych, kohl, dekker, lloyd,… all of them did not succeed for many reasons…..
thanks