Cavendish, Merckx and the total TdF Stage Wins Record

[jamesdak]

I hope he does break it!

[PQJ]

I'm a long-time fan of the Manx Missile and would love to see him both win more stages and break Eddy's record. Alas, I don't think he will ever beat the record. And while he may win 1 more stage, he'd be lucky to do so. Put a fork in him; he's done.

[beeatnik]

Tiger has a better chance of catching Jack N. and we know how that's been going. Tho he'll likely break Sam Snead's record.

[redir]

The sprint trains didn't really start until the late 90's with Cipollini and Saeco team. Merckx didn't have that kind of support. I think Cipo won a couple races the year he was 38 years old. But the competition at the sprint in the Tour is pretty tough. I don't think he well beat Eddy's record but he might get another one.

[azrider]

I don't like or dislike either rider in any way over the other.

But no way Cav breaks it.

As others have said, the massive lead out trains that were built around him/for him were huge part of his dominance. Now that he's on lesser team those lead-outs aren't as strong and the wins ain't coming......he hasn't even been close!

Plus without any wins it'll be hard to find contract with super strong team next year.......I say no way he breaks it.

[bikingshearer]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Tiger has a better chance of catching Jack N. and we know how that's been going. Tho he'll likely break Sam Snead's record.

Cavendish is likely to break Sam Snead's record?

[beeatnik]

Originally Posted by bikingshearer

Cavendish is likely to break Sam Snead's record?

Equal odds for that or Merck's record.

[MattTuck]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Equal odds for that or Merck's record.

made me chuckle.

[cloudguy]

Originally Posted by bikingshearer

That's my take. what's yours?

Cavendish won't get the record and I'm glad. But Sagan will likely one day, which seems appropriate, given his free-lancing well-rounded style.

[oldpotatoe]

Something in me very much does not want Cavendish to catch Merck, much less pass him. I have nothing against Cavendish, and I have long been impressed with his ability to come out of seemingly nowhere to blast by everyone in a sprint.

I think Cav's ship has sailed...methinks retirement is close for the Manx-er.

[nooneline]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

I think Cav's ship has sailed...methinks retirement is close for the Manx-er.

me too. he's not the kind of rider who can sidle back into a leadout man role or superdomestique. he's been struggling to get it together.

that said - he's certainly surprised me before. i really didn't expect him to win four stages two years ago. he could have another renaissance and grab a few more stage wins. just probably not another four.

[steelbikerider]

After seeing his (non)sprint today, I will be surprised if he gets a top 3 this tour.

[weisan]

I have no doubt that Cav still have a formidable sprint but when it comes to Le Tour, anything less than tip-top form is not going to get you anywhere and there are no such thing as luck or consolation prizes, not at this level.

Kittel... Degenkolb...they all know that. But that doesn't mean they stop trying.

[MattTuck]

Originally Posted by steelbikerider

After seeing his (non)sprint today, I will be surprised if he gets a top 3 this tour.

Thought the same thing when I saw that. He may get everything just right in one of these and cross the line first, but hard to see how it would be anything other than the stars lining up just right.

[redir]

Cav was well positioned today actually, very well positioned. That last turn is what cut him off. This guy knows how to win a stage and any fan of cycling knows that a sprint like that is as much a luck of the draw as it is a team effort. The winner of a TDF sprint stage finish like that is almost always under the 'stars being right'.... I think that is evident in watching the Dutch rider squeeze through today.