All Universe, Man of the Year and Champion for Peace Philippe Gilbert says he’s ready for the 2012 season. He can’t wait to ride the Tour de France with BMC and winner Cadel Evans.
According to the Belgian, things look rosy and he made no mention of possible conflicts between his goal of stage wins and Evans’ priority of a second yellow in Paris.
“Already I knew Cadel Evans from being teammates with him before,” said Gilbert. “But I can feel he is different now. He’s more relaxed. He’s won the Tour already and it’s not the same Cadel as I knew from 2009.”
Relaxed — sure, what not? What Tour contender isn’t pretty relaxed in January with La Grande Boucle over six months away? Let’s see how mellow Evans is during the first crazy week of the Tour when Gilbert and perhaps Thor Hushovd are running their own games instead of taking care of him.
Life could get un-relaxed in a hurry.
We turn to master race tactician RadioShack-Nissan’s Chris Horner for his take on the situation at BMC. “The most valuable guy on any tour team is the last guy going up the climb with you. Nobody was with Cadel going up the last climb,” says Horner. “One has to question how those two multi million dollar riders are going to benefit Cadel in the Tour.”
For the record it should be noted that in saying that Horner has a look of incredulousness on his face. As an experienced grand tour rider, he looks at that roster and those egos and separate agendas with shock and amazement.
“Will those two riders help Cadel win the tour de France? No. Could BMC have bought six fabulous climbers for that kind of money. Absolutely,” says Horner. Now, the man has zero interest in the one day classics so his comments cover the Tour only.
Cadel Evans probably is relaxed about this time of year. We don’t expect that to last until July in France.
Matt,
you're obviously a big fan of Johan Bruyneel and Chris Horner. While I absolutely share your sympathy for Chris it doesn't make me hope (or believe) that Johan will be able to repeat with Andy S. what he did with Lance A. Simply because Andy S. is no Lance A.. As long as Cadel and Berto don't crash out of the Tour no Schleck will win this year's TdF no matter how often Johan makes them ride their TT bikes in training. But it's their aim – because Becca wants it that way – to win the TdF with Andy and not with anyone else. So all those really strong guys like Chris, Klödi, Fabian won't help because Cadel & Co. can concentrate on Andy S and dispose of him in the ITTs.
So relax, calm down and keep cool. And let those guys do the mind games and competition bashing that Team RNL pays for that job. If on July 22nd the podium in Paris will prove I was wrong and turn out that money can buy TdF wins – and as you state correctly that does not apply for BMC – I will endure four weeks of adulation for Johan on your website. Until then let's praise what makes this sport so appealing: The best should win!
Keep up the great work!
STS
STS, thanks for the nice compliment. I don't see Andy winning the Tour even if Alberto doesn't make the trip in his steak-related court case. But what I look forward to — and guarantee — is that Bruyneel will have Schleck and company racing far more aggressively in the Tour. Win or lose, that's going to make the best bike race in the world even better. Matt