The Olympic Thread

[AustrianAndyGull]

German?

Wash your mouth out man!

[oldpedant]

It wasn't their tactics that cost them the race, it was the tactics of rival teams in not doing their share of the work to try and stop Cavendish.

So the other teams should have done more to help make sure that Cavendish won?

[AustrianAndyGull]

Hey come on, it's cycling at the end of the day. No one's bothered.

[Southampton Gull]

So the other teams should have done more to help make sure that Cavendish won?

Duh !!

Did you miss my point entirely?

[cambgull]

You're starting to sound like Matt now, SG...

[oldpedant]

Duh !!

Did you miss my point entirely?

Duh !!! No you missed mine.

Why shouldn't other teams try to stop Cavendish winning? They were not there to help the GB team. You implied that the pesky foreigners didn't do what we wanted them to.

The GB team's plan had been widely publicised, had been used in other events before, and the assumption was that they were so invincible that Cavendish was bound to win. Other teams tried to disrupt that plan and in that they were succesful. Even the GB coach Brailsford has said since that if the race was rerun today, they would employ exactly the same race plan. So in my opinion, they've no-one to blame but themselves.

[happytorq]

The point is that it looked like other teams refused to 'help' GBR even though, in so doing, their ruined their own chances of getting a medal. It looked as though the British team were expecting the field to help in the Cavendish coronation, and when it became apparent that they weren't going to do that, they had no answer.

I don't blame the Australians, Germans etc for not wanting to help the Brits but it seems daft that they didn't when they scuppered their own chances of a medal at the same time

[Southampton Gull]

You're starting to sound like Matt now, SG...

Well if someone fails to understand a perfectly reasonable observation and comes up with a totally benign point in return they barely deserve any respect do they?

He still doesn't get it despite a second chance so..................

[Southampton Gull]

The point is that it looked like other teams refused to 'help' GBR even though, in so doing, their ruined their own chances of getting a medal. It looked as though the British team were expecting the field to help in the Cavendish coronation, and when it became apparent that they weren't going to do that, they had no answer.

I don't blame the Australians, Germans etc for not wanting to help the Brits but it seems daft that they didn't when they scuppered their own chances of a medal at the same time

Exactly right, Chris. Goss of Australia would have had as much chance as Cav and likewise the German whose name excapes me if they'd shared the workload, instead they refused and in doing so ruined any chance they had in the process.

[EmetEdadsBeard]

Am I the only one who's totally disinterested? I loved the 1968 Mexico Olympics, the scratchy black and white pictures commented on by David Coleman, the fact that there was something on telly while we got ready for school! I also enjoyed Munich '72 and Montreal '76, but once the Americans and Russians used it as a political tool I lost interest (and I used to sprint and do both high and long jump in my schools athletics team so its not as though I had no interest in the sports televised).
The final nail s in the coffin for me were firstly the mass coverage of 'sports' like womens floor gymnastics, dancing to piano music with a few tumbles thrown in, the introduction of rhythmic gymnastics with a bloody ribbon and beach ball, synchronised swimming (almost drowning to music). Real sport isn't done to music and does not have an 'artistic impression' mark.
Then (and I dont know why this suddenly became allowed) the American professional basketball 'dream team' were allowed to compete, quickly followed by pro tennis and footballers when the Olympics were originally staged for amateur competitors only.

Massive waste of money as well, who is going to benefit except Londoners, and all they are doing is moaning because its disrupting their normal routine.
No pleasing 'em.

[happytorq]

No pleasing 'em.

Or you, apparently

Olympics rule. Just seen the best interview with the 15 year old Lithuanian who won a gold. She was speechless...

also she lives in Plymouth. Go GBRbyadoption!

[oldpedant]

Well if someone fails to understand a perfectly reasonable observation and comes up with a totally benign point in return ..

Benign? Did you mean 'banal'?

[Yellow4life]

That 15 year old is going out with someone who I know, incredible though!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Got to admit it's growing on me the Olympics. I still hate cycling but most of the other events are ok.

[Modgull]

Thought the GB women's team were really good value against Brazil tonight. Indeed, I think both GB teams have shown the overpaid Pemier League reps in the England team how to deliver.