Cav to retire. Boooooo
 

Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish, and Peter Sagan were the biggies when I started following cycling. It's all younger riders now. Good times.

Pretty incredible run by Cav and wonderful to not have him retire ~4 years ago after his bout with mono.

Such is the nature of things. Every year, the peloton evolves. Older riders retire, under-performing riders don't get new contracts, and young riders move up to the elite ranks to fill those spots. Spectacular performers come and go. IMO, the current crop of young stars are pretty awesome.

I really enjoyed the epic battles between Cav and Sagan, back then. Froome, not so much.
But it's time for those guys to leave with some grace.
They've been supplanted by a bonanza of young talent.

Cavendish is leaving with grace. These last few years he has acquired some humility and carried himself well. An asset to the teams he's been on and races he's ridden, even when the podium has been out of reach, let alone the top step. The old Cav was not someone I would have sought out but the new Cav seems a guy I could genuinely like.

I liked him from the beginning. Even early on, he always said what he was thinking, which was a delight to those of us who valued honesty over fakery. Reminded me of Greg Lemond in that respect. And of Muhammad Ali, who was hated for the same crime of not faking humility. Why should they? Each was the greatest in his time.

People are weird.

Some reflection from G on that announcement:
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/...nouncement/amp

What are they saying in spin class? I bet the old gal can still bounce out a few watts and shush the young whipper-snappers now and then. Maybe not all day, very day, but now and then when it matters. Am I right? :lol: :50:

We saw the TdF peloton go by along the Seine in 2011, when I was fairly new to following bike racing and my wife wasn't into it at all, though she patiently waited with me. I snapped off a few photos in the seconds that it took for the cyclists to pass, and happened to catch Cav doing his usual thing of looking way ahead.
When Cav announced his retirement, twelve years later, my wife was the one who told me and sent me the video link. She keeps saying she'll miss him!
Cav has had incredible highs in his career, and also crushing lows, which he has dealt with admirably.
His retirement announcement was pure class, and in his final season he seems to be a very happy man.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6672273f79.jpg
TdF peloton, Paris, 2011, Cavendish in green.

I hold my own!!!! Thanks for asking!!!!

Sweet win for Cav on his last Giro stage. Thomas did a very nice job helping make that happen for his ex-teammate.

I'm going to mis Cav, and I'm also enjoying him wrapping up his career, more than I imagined I would. I can't wait to see what he does in the TdF.

any word if Cav is still retiring after his collar bone break cut his tour short? It's unlikely he could win a stage next year, huh?

Whether or not it is likely he could win a stage next year ('24) is unclear. Astana clearly thinks he could, and have stated they would have him back for another go should he decide to try.

By all reports I've seen he did still have the speed required this year. A break/bit of luck here or there on a couple of stages this year before he crashed out, and he might have had his stage win.

We shall see.

Not only is Cav not retiring, but the fallout from the Quickstep chaos includes Astana signing Morkov....

...That could be interesting.....

It really will be!!!!

There's a new documentary on Cav, and it's on Netflix. We watched it a few nights ago. It is REALLY good, in depth and beautifully made. I had no idea of the depths he had gotten into during his off years. His comeback is really quite inspiring. I kinda wish they didn't include commentary from Lance Armstrong though, there are much better people to comment, in fact everyone else they included is much better.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81568626

Here's a trailer!