London 2012

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's exactly what happened though.
Article says it perfectly when it asks why Germany weren't interested in getting Greipel to the front: They knew he wouldn't win in a sprint with Cav so didn't want to take their turn at the front to get to a sprint finish.

Maybe I'm wording it wrong in saying that they did it because they didn't want him to win, it's more that they knew they wouldn't win in a one on one with him so why bother trying.

Ok I get where you're coming from, although I still don't think Cavendish should have gone out and said that it just sounds like sour grapes to me.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

True true.
It's just his interview style though, him and Wiggins aren't ones to hold back in interviews.

 

[Saintjay]

Forget the mens road race. Now the womens road race is pretty good.

 

[04perryo]

you have to feel for Cav the reson he joined SKY (apart form HTC disbanding) was to win a few stages in the tour and also have Bradley wiggins leading him for the final sprint in the olympics sadly nobody was helping GB catch the breakaway the breakaway the germans were leaving it all for the brits so they were nice and fresh for Greipel to sprint away and win, i think they realised to late that GB werent going to catch the break. My unsung hero was David Millar for GB didnt get any praise and was leading GB a lot of the way. Anyone know what happened to cancellara?

 

[Sker]

Cameron van den Burg wins gold for SA and a new world record.

 

[lucky number 7]

France just beasted that ****

 

[TRF_Olyy]

My unsung hero was David Millar for GB didnt get any praise and was leading GB a lot of the way. Anyone know what happened to cancellara?

Millar's a champ, agreed.
Stannard, as well, put in a great shift.

Cancellara took the corner too fast and went straight in to the barrier. Apparently that corner is notorious amongst cyclists in London (according to twitter anyhow :lol: )

 

[Feicarsinn]

Millar's a champ, agreed.
Stannard, as well, put in a great shift.

Cancellara took the corner too fast and went straight in to the barrier. Apparently that corner is notorious amongst cyclists in London (according to twitter anyhow :lol: )

I'm the champ.




McGee (lol) is doing alright in the womens singles badminton. G'wan.

 

[TPenn]

I don't agree with that at all. Team GB got there tactics wrong they expected other teams to do work for them and when it didn't happen they didn't know what to do and I don't agree that anyone would give up there chance at an Olympic medal just so Cavendish wouldn't win.

They didn't get their tactics wrong at all, not really any more they could have done. If Millar had got into the break no one would have ridden with him because they know his strengths. If they hadn't chased then they'd have finished even further behind.

I still don't understand why Germany didn't even try. If they weren't interested in getting Greipel to the sprint (or didn't think he could win) then why pick him? Similarly, Australia's tactics were incredibly confusing. Get a man in the break, fair enough. Why on earth Michael Rogers then attacked and wasted all his energy trying to join up with O'Grady I have no idea. Again, in Matt Goss they had a genuine contender for the sprint, so why not give him a chance of contesting it?

If Australia and Germany had ridden with Team GB they would have had a great chance of winning the gold, at the worst they'd have probably been looking at a podium place. As it was, they shot themselves (and GB in the process) in the foot. They were both so concerned with not 'making it easy' for Cavendish that they completely fluffed up any chance of one of their own winning a medal. It was completely brainless, as evidenced by their sudden late panic to try and help Wiggins close the gap when they realised they'd got it completely wrong.

 

[donmcdazzle]

They didn't get their tactics wrong at all, not really any more they could have done. If Millar had got into the break no one would have ridden with him because they know his strengths. If they hadn't chased then they'd have finished even further behind.

I still don't understand why Germany didn't even try. If they weren't interested in getting Greipel to the sprint (or didn't think he could win) then why pick him? Similarly, Australia's tactics were incredibly confusing. Get a man in the break, fair enough. Why on earth Michael Rogers then attacked and wasted all his energy trying to join up with O'Grady I have no idea. Again, in Matt Goss they had a genuine contender for the sprint, so why not give him a chance of contesting it?

If Australia and Germany had ridden with Team GB they would have had a great chance of winning the gold, at the worst they'd have probably been looking at a podium place. As it was, they shot themselves (and GB in the process) in the foot. They were both so concerned with not 'making it easy' for Cavendish that they completely fluffed up any chance of one of their own winning a medal. It was completely brainless, as evidenced by their sudden late panic to try and help Wiggins close the gap when they realised they'd got it completely wrong.

It seems to me that team GB did get their tactics wrong (along with Germany) given they were nowhere near the medals. Relying on other countries to cooperate is surely a dicey option. Cavendish is so overrated too all he can do is bunch sprint. He is so hopeless on the hills and is a leech in the pack, I don't remember him doing any grunt work at the front so it is a bit rich having a crack at others. Australia had good tactics; their guy was in the break so they probably figured he was a better chance than their sprinter so had no incentive to try and catch him.

I reckon Germany were relying on GB to catch the breakaway and then maybe use their fresh(er) riders to advance Griepel a bit. Seem like the teams that relied on others came unstuck and those that rode for themselves went well.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cavendish is an out and out sprinter though, that's what he's rated for and that's what he's the best in the world at.
You rarely/never get a cyclist as good in the sprints as in the hills/lead out.


Agree on what you're saying about the tactics though - it was 50/50 whether the countries would ride like they would in the tours (everyone putting a shift in etc.) or whether they'd go for it themselves - Team GB must have thought it'd be like the tours (or at least epected the breakaway group to fail).

 

[donmcdazzle]

Cavendish is an out and out sprinter though, that's what he's rated for and that's what he's the best in the world at.
You rarely/never get a cyclist as good in the sprints as in the hills/lead out.


Agree on what you're saying about the tactics though - it was 50/50 whether the countries would ride like they would in the tours (everyone putting a shift in etc.) or whether they'd go for it themselves - Team GB must have thought it'd be like the tours (or at least epected the breakaway group to fail).

No doubting Cavendish is the best sprinter going. It just seemed odd he was basically being given the gold beforehand like he was unbeatable. I guess home countries tend to do that with their better athletes; our rowers had better win after all the stuff I'm hearing about them over here.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well South Africa finally got their first medal in this year's Olympics... Cameron van den Burgh winning the 100m breaststroke with a new World Record and a Gold Medal.

 

[TPenn]

It seems to me that team GB did get their tactics wrong (along with Germany) given they were nowhere near the medals. Relying on other countries to cooperate is surely a dicey option. Cavendish is so overrated too all he can do is bunch sprint. He is so hopeless on the hills and is a leech in the pack, I don't remember him doing any grunt work at the front so it is a bit rich having a crack at others. Australia had good tactics; their guy was in the break so they probably figured he was a better chance than their sprinter so had no incentive to try and catch him.

I reckon Germany were relying on GB to catch the breakaway and then maybe use their fresh(er) riders to advance Griepel a bit. Seem like the teams that relied on others came unstuck and those that rode for themselves went well.

Yeah, WORLD CHAMPION, Tour De France Green Jersey winner, Vuelta points jersey winner, Milan-San Remo winner and the greatest sprinter in the history of the Tour De France, including four consecutive victories on the Champs Elysees (where no one had won twice in a row before him) is definitely overrated. It's like saying Usain Bolt is overrated because he's rubbish at the Marathon.

Your right in that was Germany's intention, but that just highlights how badly they got it wrong. At least GB were trying to get their sprinter to the line. No point in having a fresh lead out if you're sprinting for 6th. To expect GB to do it by themselves and then piggy back on the end was ridiculous.

 

[SelimNiai]

Been enjoying the handball last couple of days, good, fast paced. I played it when I was in the South of France a few years ago. Lots of fun.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I also think that there may have been a bit of politics going on. Cycling is such a tight nit community and they travel everywhere together so there could have been a bit of Wiggins and Cavendish being outspoken and talking themselves up so the other cyclists thought that if they're so good they can go off and win on their own they don't need us.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Been enjoying the handball last couple of days, good, fast paced. I played it when I was in the South of France a few years ago. Lots of fun.

I don't get that sport really... There seems to be no tactical side to it. Dfensively, they just stand around the box and cover the shots by pairs or trios, and offensively you pass the ball around until you can shoot... Seems like any sport with less than 300 laws is suspect to us rugby fans.

Enjoying the cross-country equestrian comp at the moment. Never thought I would.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Watched a bit of the gymnastics and the diving - it's absolutely insane what they can do. Especially the floor (if that's what it's called) gymnastics - I know the floor is a bit springy, but to jump that high/do all those spins/flips is ridiculous.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Mike Tindall's missus now having a run.

 

[big ginger 8]

Watching the female weightlifting is very embarrassing (for me).