There's a first time for everything

Originally Posted by Runitout

He also attacked in the Tassie Tour in 1998 and 1999 - won each time with a go up Mt Wellington. Beat Nathan O'Neill in 99, (and maybe in the prologue too).

Originally Posted by Runitout

Bro, I'd agree with that about both Rogers and Cunego - and remember that Cunego was given a handy escape in the Giro that netted him lots of time. That's why Simoni was so dark - he gave cheap time to his teammate and had it used against him.

Rogers has never been able to hold it with the very top riders, but if they drop down to 400W, I think he will be in the mix. Depends on how well prepared they are this year.

Thunder - I recall another few times Evans attacked - for one, Lombardia 2004. IIRC, he went hard with a few K to go, but was chased back by Basso and Cunego. He wanted to go again with a couple of km to go but T-Mobile ordered him to lead it all out for Nardello - so he sat it out at the front... and Nardello dropped off the back.

He also attacked in the Tassie Tour in 1998 and 1999 - won each time with a go up Mt Wellington. Beat Nathan O'Neill in 99, (and maybe in the prologue too).

Originally Posted by thunder

cunego and nardello were dropped at one stage were not they, and they got back on the downhill

trying to remember who was in the final three, Basso, Evans, not Bartoli? Think Bartoli would have pantsed Cunego had it been a small kick, which Cunego won, but the warrior did not lose too many of those sprints.

Damn, forget it.

Originally Posted by oely

It was Boogerd, im almost certain

Originally Posted by thunder

the Austrian version or the Dutch one?

Originally Posted by thunder

cunego and nardello were dropped at one stage were not they, and they got back on the downhill

trying to remember who was in the final three, Basso, Evans, not Bartoli? Think Bartoli would have pantsed Cunego had it been a small kick, which Cunego won, but the warrior did not lose too many of those sprints.

Damn, forget it.

On Simoni, when it counted in the final week, Cunego was outclimbing Simoni, and that Tour there was only one tt about 35 km and the 10 km prologue where Mcgee handed the Italians there arses. The commissaires gave hi a 30 sec penality for a sticky bidon, which he vehemently denied ever even going back for a drink in the final 10 km. Still finished 8th (or was it 7th) with only one 35 km tt. Gonchar beat him by about 30 seconds in the tt.

Originally Posted by Runitout

There were five left at the end - Basso (who was strongest), Cunego, Boogie, Evans and Nardello. Evans had taken the lead and was ordered to slow to let Nardello back on - Nardello was to take the sprint. In the end Nardello dropped off the back and the others jumped - Cunego predictably pipped Boogie on the line, Basso who had broken the race apart came third. It was a good race, but Evans understandably looked upset. I don't recall him whingeing about it, though!

Originally Posted by thunder

those are his races. He could be a great rider for the Ardennes classics and Lombardy.

Pity he waited so long to cross to the road. Methinks he liked the big money in MTBs and now he will rue it.

If he was full time and turned pro at 19, his career might have looked more like Basso, sans the doping infraction. (This is not a statement of innocence for Evans).

Now he is what, 31? 3 more chances to win the Tour? Should have taken less money, and been on USPS in the early years of this decade and just sucked his pride. Now he could be a couple years ahead.

The collar bones and the mtbs will see his palmares a shadow of what they could have been. And ultimately his bank account.

Originally Posted by fscyclist

I think it would be great if he still raced MTB.

Originally Posted by thunder

those are his races. He could be a great rider for the Ardennes classics and Lombardy.

Pity he waited so long to cross to the road. Methinks he liked the big money in MTBs and now he will rue it.

If he was full time and turned pro at 19, his career might have looked more like Basso, sans the doping infraction. (This is not a statement of innocence for Evans).

Now he is what, 31? 3 more chances to win the Tour? Should have taken less money, and been on USPS in the early years of this decade and just sucked his pride. Now he could be a couple years ahead.

The collar bones and the mtbs will see his palmares a shadow of what they could have been. And ultimately his bank account.