Mark Cavendish, the best UK cyclist?

Hah, have you seen sky's team section on the website? you can click on a rider and they have to walk forwards in a self conscious manner and stand there like a plum.

http://www.teamsky.com/profile/0,27291,17543_6636468,00.html

Yeah, Dowsett is shaping up nicely.

I was shaping up to be the next Didi the Devil...

Until they made me sign that fucking register.

At least Renshaw will get some wins now.

You think he's going to stay? I don't, despite the contract to 2012 I think they will want to dump some salaries as HTC aren't renewing sponsorship for 2012.

Their DSs have started talking themselves up as more of a development squad with good links to national associations and are pointing at Degenkolb, Goss as sprinters and Van Garderen just won one too.

Don't forget that Cuddly Bob is a billionaire so the team isn't totally reliant on sponsors.

You think he's going to stay? I don't, despite the contract to 2012 I think they will want to dump some salaries as HTC aren't renewing sponsorship for 2012.

Their DSs have started talking themselves up as more of a development squad with good links to national associations and are pointing at Degenkolb, Goss as sprinters and Van Garderen just won one too.

Goss is almost defo off to Green Edge.

*'[I]Cyclingnews *understands that Team Sky would also like to sign Cavendish's key lead-out men Bernhard Eisel and Mark Renshaw. However, both are under contract with HTC-Highroad for 2012 after agreeing new deals at the end of the 2010 Tour de France.'[/I]

You think he's going to stay? I don't, despite the contract to 2012 I think they will want to dump some salaries as HTC aren't renewing sponsorship for 2012.
Their DSs have started talking themselves up as more of a development squad with good links to national associations and are pointing at Degenkolb, Goss as sprinters and Van Garderen just won one too.

No idea. It just means he won't necessarily always be last leadout guy.

You guys are missing the point. It's not just about a leadout train, it's about who the team focuses on in each stage. There's far more to securing a sprint win than then last 5k and obviously same goes for trying to secure GC places. HTC were there ONLY for Cav. Sky will not be.

I think that Cav should concentrate on 24-hour time trials. That's where his real strength lies.

HTC says "hell no, he won't go"

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/htc-highroad-dismisses-reports-of-cavendish-moving-to-team-sky

Peiper doesn't say anything to categorically prove he's not going though does he?

He knows as much as us by the look of it.

This armchair is dead comfy.

This armchair is dead comfy.

Never mind 'armchair pundit'

Every time I see an andyp post I mentally imagine it being delivered by:

It's meant as a compliment!

I think that EBH has a tremendous knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. If there's a final hurdle to fall on then he'll fall.

Shingles, the week before TDF. He is a bit special.

Wiggins or Cav, both Sky soon

http://www.manx.net/tv/youtube/video/L8ycGVqVF4o/cavendish-reaction-1

Dot = Legend.

Cavendish is going to be live on BBC Radio 5, in a bit.

He was on radio 4 at 8.30 this morning as well....

Did cav manage to not saying anything bad on BBC this morning?

Is this the post-Tour and Pre-Sky announcement media blitz then?

Must be, although he's saying nothing other than 'he's decided'. Im enjoying the interview.

Did cav manage to not saying anything bad on BBC this morning?

He was pretty polite actually! Only bit of semi controversy was him saying that 'normal' race fans would not be able to see the olympic road race at the most exciting spots in Boxhill and the Mall (which is probably true).

cav on the today programme this morning
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9554000/9554359.stm

after a recent trip to Belgium and Holland the gossip is that he's going to the new Quick Step.

Is this the post-Tour and Pre-Sky announcement media blitz then?

yup