Thursday, March 28, 2024

Giro d’Italia 2012 – Stage 2: Herning 206km. Cav is King!

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsGiro d'Italia 2012 - Stage 2: Herning 206km. Cav is King!

The Giro d’Italia 2012 – Stage 2 and Cav is King. If these were Medieval times I’d have to throw myself on his mercy. Prostrate myself at the foot of the steps to the Sky bus, next Monday in Frosinone. Trust that in the joy of his re-confirmation as King of Denmark he’d be merciful.

How could I doubt him? The Primavera?  Gent-Wevelgem?  Mere abberations. QuickStep, desperate Italians, gravity, devious Belgians – purge all that from your memory.

Give him a flat parcours, wind from the North Sea? – that doesn’t matter;  breakaways? – that’s what Big Stannard and the boys are for; tight packed peloton on tricky roads?  – a mere bagatelle.

Last kilometre madness? Step forward King Mark of Cav. Cav is King!

Cav is King
“King Mark of Cav”. Photo©Team Sky.

He ducked the last bend crashes and as tireless Thomas finally ran out of gas, the king calmly skeked over his left shoulder to see where the next human wave of swerving madness was coming from.

Left turn, hop aboard, kick – and everyone, and I do mean everyone, looks pedestrian.

I can’t accept any criticism; he’s the king, cool as a cucumber, brutally powerful, supremely confident – how can you slag him ?

How could I doubt him ?

Cav is King
To be fair, Cav did tell us last year he fancied his chances on this stage. Cav is King.

Tyler Farrar, Matt Goss, Thor Hushovd made to look like third cats – there’s nothing else to say.

And as for the up and coming young Italians…

Vik, I know he was overweight and doesn’t have Super Mario’s patter.

And as for that nonsense about him losing his nerve now that the bairn is here…

Dave, I know that’s all he can do – and will ever do.

Ivan, I know there are definite Chav tendencies and the media is obsessed with him.

But join me, bow your heads and accept it.

When it’s a flat parcours with a demented finalé;  “Cav is King!”

Amen.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

La Vuelta a España 2012 – Stage 11: Cambados – Pontevedra 39.4 km ITT

We're in Cambados, mulling over how could we overlook Fred? He won the TT in the Tour of Switzerland - beating Cancellara in the process - then pushed TV hard for the polka dot jersey in le Tour.

La Vuelta a España 2012 – Stage 1: Pamplona – Pamplona, 16.5km TTT

The Rabobank boys sat on their "hotseats' in Pamplona for over 30 minutes, as team after team came close to their time of 19 minutes and 1 second for the opening stage of the 2012 Vuelta, but failed to surpass it.

Le Tour de France 2017 – Stage 8: Dole – Station des rousses, 187.5km. Lilian Calmejane ignores the cramps and takes the solo win

It’s not often you see Direct Energie’s main man, Jean-René Bernaudeau in tears – unless someone spills something nasty on those John Wayne cowboy boots he always wears. But there were red, puffy and wet eyes for him yesterday as he hugged his big boy Lilian Calmejane at the Station Des Rousses high in the Jura mountains.

Le Tour de France 2010, Stage 20; Paris: Cav, of Course

This morning at 07:00 we had Serge Gainsbourg with 'sea, sex and sun,' it's noon now and we've got Jane Birkin, '69, annee erotique.' Do these people never give it a rest ? We're nearly at the stage start, Dave has done the biz all the way up from Bordeaux.

At Random

British Road Race Championships 2022; Cavendish is Champion Again!

Mark Cavendish was in the break ALL day on this wet, windy, tough, gnarly day - major respect to the man on his second British Championship win on Scottish roads.

Scottish National Series 2014 – Event 1, Gifford

This year the winner of the Gifford Road Race 'A' event this year was also clearly the strongest rider on the day; Tom Bustard (Velosure - Giordana RT) was the first to make a serious attack on the first lap, pulling a break of several riders clear which cemented itself as more riders made it across over the next couple of laps.

Le Tour de France 2009 – Stage 6: Gérone > Barcelona, 181.5km

Less than one week into its debut Tour, the Cervélo Team scored a sprint victory today with Thor Hushovd in the 181.5km sixth stage to Barcelona. Hushovd battled through rain and slick roads that saw team captain Carlos Sastre fall without major consequences.

Louis Modell – Living and Winning in France

A long time ago, Dave, Victor, Ivan and I raced in Brittany; when we saw this young gentleman had two wins on roads we remember from our youth we just had to have a word. Like many of our interviewees - they are helping almost 40 young riders this year - Louis Modell is a beneficiary of assistance from the fabulous Dave Rayner fund.