Yes

All time great - Yes, absolutely. The greatest of all time? Lets wait and review his palmares when he hangs up the cycling shoes and starts criticising everyone else coming through (see Cippollini for reference).

For me I'd like to see a few more classics wins under his belt by the time he retires and I think he'll achieve this before he is done.

As for his outspoken views - I love em. I like guys who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Well they got it nailed on for stage 4. I think the main difference was that they didn't take up the leadout to early so had I think the full team leading him out from the looks of it. So the stronger faster leadout men such as Kennaugh and G were able to lead him to where he wanted to be.

I do think though that one the 2 stages he has won he has gone out for it from what seems a much greater distance than normally and then held off any attack in the last metres.

Doesn't tend to be, but I go out when I can. I have a Kona Cadabra. Keep meaning to try and joing a local club and get out more. Been to Llandeglla countless times and up to the 7 staines last year which was just awesome. I'd love to afford a DH rig but haven't got the time to do it justice. All the balls more than likely lol

Get out with Mutt ( i presume you know him) every now and again

As for the pro circuit I watch the DH stuff when ever I can find it. Be great to see Danny Hart take his WC jersey as far as he can. Especially now that it seems the reign of steve Peat and to some extent the Athertons has come to an end or started to waver.

That tail whip he did as he came in for the WC win was just absolutely awesome!!!!!!!!!!!

Plus I don't like Aron Gwin. He's american and I can't bloody stand them lol

Yeah that was me. I'm having a bit of a disaster lol

I'm with you there fella

There's just no one to challenge him at the moment. And if you ever look at his power output stuff it's just amazing that he's so fecking good.

Like you I love his outspokenness. If you actually listen to him and ignore the arrogance the stuff he says is pretty much spot on to be honest. Especially on some of his interviews he comes across as a very informative and thoughtful racer who loves his job and his role within the cycling system.

As a side note he was being a domestique again today and doing the water bottle runs for the lads. That tells me everything I need to know about him. Imagine cuddles, pip, spartacus or even contador doing that??? It would never happen.

Sky are not HTC. Their train is not and will never likely be as good. Does Cav need a train to win? No........but, he won't get as many wins.

How can they improve the train? Hard to say (unless they sign Renshaw) but Cav needs a lead out man who he trusts completely.

We've seen a few times Sky men at the front looking round for Cav. Where is he? Usually fixed on Mark Renshaws wheel. This has lead to a bit more confusion at times as Renshaw is not riding for Cav anymore so Renshaw is not willing to weave through the pack as he once did with Cav fixed behind him.

Then what happens? More sprinters/teams get to the front and make it a messier effort for Cav to get through.

Cav simply has to start trusting his new team to get him into the place he needs to be or Sky splash the cash and buy Renshaw.

I agree with you that his wins seem to be where he takes it up a bit earlier than he once did. Is this because he is changing his tactics or just because circumstances are forcing him to do so i.e. he either gets stuck in a bunch or goes as soon as there is a chink of light?

Boonen not off to Le Tour. Surprising

He says to concentrate on the Olympics but........does this mean they can focus the team around someone who has been tipped as an outside bet for the tour? Das Panzerwagon?

That is a very good point. Very good indeed...