The Friday Rumour.
10 July 2009

Team Sky
The Team Sky rumour mill is getting better and better. Latest ‘definite’ is Kevin Pauwels from Belgium. Currently with the Cervelo Test Team, Pauwels was a revelation in this year’s Giro and he has ‘issues’ with his current team. He’s going to be good in the mountains in years to come, and is frighteningly intelligent. In between training and racing he is studying for a post-graduate degree. He wants to secure a future after cycling and, like he told us recently, “What else would I do, play game-boy all evening?”

Astana dynamics
Did you notice how Alberto Contador sat directly behind Lance Armstrong all through the crosswind sections of Stage 5 to Perpignan? It was a direct instruction from Johan Bruyneel, who told Contador to stick on the old warrior’s wheel and not move. Bruyneel and Armstrong both think that Contador is physically the best rider in the world at the moment, but while Contador looks very mature, they both know he isn’t and is prone to making beginner’s mistakes. Neither is Contador very crafty and he tends to take everything, including people, on face value. He should be ok though, as Bruyneel is as crafty as a politician’s expenses claim.

The ‘new’ Cadel
Silence Lotto keep hammering this one. Every press release they do emphasises how the ‘new’ Cadel Evans took his bad luck on the chin, how he spoke pleasantly to journalists after each stage, how he’s nice to children and helps old ladies across the road (sorry, couldn't help myself.)
Evans’ Jeykell and Hyde personality hasn’t won him many friends. Off the bike you couldn’t wish to meet a nicer guy; he’s kind, thoughtful and friendly. But he gets so uptight about his job. It doesn’t go down well in the bunch, or within his team. Even his coach, Aldo Sassi, who has known him for years get’s exasperated sometimes and says, “The Cadel you see on the TV isn’t the real Cadel, the one I know. If I could change one thing it would be how he is during a race. He would get far more from cycling if he could relax a little.”
Anyway, Silence-Lotto have addressed this and are busy creating their ‘new’ Cadel. But to be honest we miss the old Cadel. Hopefully it’s only a matter of days now before the forced smile cracks and he threatens to chin someone. Deck him Cade!