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Don Quijote de la Peloton

Since they're moving into Castilla-La Mancha, we need to decide which rider who is most likely to name his bike Rocinante. My first thought was Roberto Laiseka, if it was one rider who looked rueful while on the bike, it was him. But on the other hand, Laiseka doesn't strike me as much of an underachiever. Not as someone who tilted at windmills either. Of course, he's not from La Mancha but I planned to ignore that anyway (not that many riders to choose from otherwise, I'm afraid). And maybe we should pick someone who is in the peloton at the moment.

I came up with two Don Quixotes:

1. Cadel Evans. When was the last time you said to yourself "Cadel Evans, that's a guy that makes me happy." The poor bloke is having a difficult time even making his own dog happy (I heard rumours from Katiek that Molly had signed with Team Sky, it's a developing story presumably), and even the most happy-go-lucky among us gets gothy when Cadel appears.

When it comes to results, he's often close but rarely on the top spot of the podium. We hear questions like "is this Cadel's year?", but it's never Cadel's year. Unless one counts the odd stage win and races like Coppi e Bartali and Tour of Austria. That makes him even more like the real Don Quixote, he too had some small and irrelevant successes.

Cadel Evans is also known for his occasional tilting at various windmills. The latest victim was our tall friend from Rabobank, Robert Gesink. To no ones surprise, Gesink rides a Giant, after all.

2. Leif Hoste. Not much to be said here, I think. Not the happiest person in the peloton. He's mentioned a lot during cobble season, but not because he's winning. Rather the opposite, more often is he the first among the losers than the winner. When he wins it is the Belgian TT championships, or at Driedaagse De Panne. But most of all we mention him when he waves his arms at the other riders.

So there you have them, my Don Quixotes of the peloton. Two riders from Silence-Lotto, seems to be very fitting.

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Cadel Evans

Does this guy have any friends either? We know he doesn’t have teammates, or at least, teammates that want to work for him. By his own account in an interview today, he querried: Where were my teammates? I was alone. Poor sap! I’d buy the guy a ‘pity’ beer.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Sep 14, 2009 7:43 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I have to think

that away from bike racing, he is a considerably different person. He certainly met and married a beautiful and witty woman.

On the bike, though… I think Evans probably spent too many years racing mountain bikes, and never really learned the social skills that go with road racing. It’s a very social thing – in order to win races and get what you want, you have to be able to influence the riders around you. Evans really has no ability to do this at all, and it has a big effect on his results. It’s true he had bad luck with the flat tire, but what happened after the flat had more to do with the outcome. Evans worked like a dog with Sánchez on his wheel, then Sánchez leaves him on the road. Gah, that should never have happened. Another rider would have made sure Sánchez cooperated. That happens over and over again with Evans – he just doesn’t have the knack of playing well with others that you really have to have in road racing.

by gavia on Sep 14, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well said Gavia. Wish I didn't have to agree, but I do.

Love the headline too Figurehead ;)
Just like to say a little more in support of Cadel off the bike. He’s given at least $AUS 100,000 to Australian children’s charities… and his support for Tibet… wow. I’ve said it here before but I think he’s in the wrong job. (Easy to jump on this last line I know).

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 14, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

Whatever I think of his social skills and ability to be popular with the peloton (not much), I do think he’s a nice bloke. And for me, that counts for a lot.

And I think he’ll be able to cope well once he retires. I just hope he can make his peace with coming very close to winning a grand tour 3 times, and never quite pulling it off.

p.s. love your quote seahorse. I’m re-reading cloudstreet. Tim Winton’s an amazing writer. His brother is a freak with the lap guitar too, I’ve seen him a few times (and only twigged recently that the laid back surfer dude from WA with the last name Winton was Tim’s brother. I can be a little slow sometimes).

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Sep 15, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

OK, I'm so impressed.

Love Tim winton – every one of his books. Did you buy the soundtrack that goes with ‘Dirt Music’? Some wicked steel/ lap all sorts of dirt music.
Went to a reading of ‘Breath’ with the man himself. Felt ridiculous and suitably awed. He’s a living treasure in my opinion. Thanks! You’ve made my day ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

PS. fish lamb is the most beautiful male ever constructed in Oz lit

but Luther Fox… I want to take him home…

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

We're incredibly discerning...

A shamateur and a musician…

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 16, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Dirt music is the one

Tim Winton book I haven’t read. I have a copy at home in my ‘when I have some free time’ pile.

I’m totally going to get to it though. And I looked the soundtrack up, it sounds awesome.

and Fish Lamb is amazing, although my favourite character is Quick.

I live about 5 mins walk from the harbour so I’ve been reading cloudstreet on a patch of grass looking out over the water. perfect way to do it.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Sep 15, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

'Dirt Music' is the one to make time for ;)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I will now you've reminded me

I’m re-reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell at the moment, which will take a while to finish.

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Sep 17, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

it will be all the sweeter for waiting

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 17, 2009 1:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good editing there..

Full sentence from Cuddles: ‘I was riding at the front, wondering where all my teammates were, we had three punctures in one kilometer’. Don’t think he’s bagging his team, I think he’s commenting on misfortune.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 14, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Aha, misunderstood, now I get it. Sorry Cadel.

But still, everything else stands, and he is a hot-headed whiney pants.

No I’m not a fan, but I’m upset about his misfortune with the flat. I’d prefer he had the position he was in to oust Valverde from his current position.

No horn, watch for finger.

by sminer on Sep 14, 2009 10:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hot heads can be fun..

I’m a luke warm fan who can’t help but view Cadel in a tragi-comic light.

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Heady

but brilliant angle.

I’ll have to support Evan’s nomination.

Don Quijote, however, had somebody on his side, the trusty, albeit not very bright, Sancho Panza. His team mechanic is an excellent match for this role.

Some people are born to be spectators, some people are born to make a spectacle and some are born to be mere fans.

by Chainring on Sep 14, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

LOL

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Of course, they need a Sancho Panza

I’m not so sure about the team mechanic tho, maybe Serge the bodyguard is a better Sancho.

Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.

by TheFigurehead on Sep 15, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

indeed

Very Sancho Pancho- ish if you ask me. Arnyone ever heard him speak? He’s a sort of stereotypical bluff Yorkshireman, which is at once both slightly surprising & totally right.

by civetta on Sep 15, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

can't type

but you know that

by civetta on Sep 15, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Love the post.

And great planning that silence-lotto signed one don quixote for the spring cobble season and another for the grand tours. Doesn’t get any better than that. Definitely “team quixote.” Lot of windmills in belgium?

by yeehoo on Sep 15, 2009 3:50 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

We have a new nickname

Bin “Cuddles”. Ring the bell for “Cattle”. Strike down “that whining Aussie”. From here on in, he has to be Don Qixote. Brilliant, aposite and stylish. And has the right mix of comedy and tragedy, support and contempt, pity and schadenfreude.

DQ will always be the nearly man – not a good enough TTer to blow the climbers away, and not (quite) strong enough in the mountains to hold his own. For a guy who is probably the fourth or fifith best bike rider in the world (certainly in GT terms), his Palmares will remain depressingly thin.

On the upside, he seems to have a broader view outside the biking world – which makes his temper tantrums all the stranger.

This is a flawed man – but the sort of flawed man we should all recognise and admire. He strains every sinew to maximise his ability, but that strain will never be enough – and deep down I suspect he knows it, but still never stops trying. Admirable.

by addict on Sep 15, 2009 5:13 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

don quixote is long and lanky,

and self deceiving in a poetic sort of way. Cadel is, if anything, cursed with an inability to deceive himself at crucial moments. He knows it hurts, and he knows how much more it will hurt, and he knows exactly how good the competition is.

by JFS_PGH on Sep 18, 2009 1:08 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am not sure

Cadel has a good enough singing voice to be the Man of La Mancha

I have seen Cadel a few times pre and post races. Listened to him chatting with fans, asked him to pose for photos, followed him on a bike when he was warming up, etc. and in those few circumstances he has always been pleasant, patient, and classy.

If he had a team, someone could have handed him their bike the other day. His biggest mistake was resigning with Lotto.

Moo

by Willj on Sep 15, 2009 5:41 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Brilliant. Cadel is Don Quijote

Truly I was born to be an example of misfortune, and a target at which the arrows of adversary are aimed… Don’t touch my dog!

by LurkerMcLurkerson on Sep 15, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It's alot better moniker than Cuddles :-)

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 15, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

This was a great idea and well-written

but you made a mistake. You didn’t include BB or someone ( aside from Cuddles) on whom people are prepared to waste time pouring pity/vitriol/scorn… ;) Loved it!

"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'

by Seahorse on Sep 16, 2009 5:17 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

my spouse says Cadel's attitude can be summed up as....

We need an Australian at the top of the pro peloton.

[looking around, not seeing anyone else around who’s got his experience, his legs, and looks more like an actual cyclist, instead of a factory worker.]

Dang. Guess it’s got to be me. Well, here goes, again.

by JFS_PGH on Sep 19, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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