Tour de France Stage 5 reaction: Winner Cavendish accuses ASO of trying to derail the HTC train

@Sideburn it's cos you followed the I with a bracket
It's a goook smiley though - not seen that one before.

My last comment on Cav is that I'd say that what you see is what you get with him - that's what people who deal with him tell me anyway, same goes for Geraint Thomas. One of the things that struck me last week when we were at the Tour was that Cavendish genuinely seemed to be liked and respected by people involved with the other teams we were talking to.

Wiggo a 'nice guy'? Damned by faint praise - he seems a bit more complex than that!

Not too sure how that Smiley got there instead of an 'I'

Not sure that Millar R was grouchy he just said stuff that came across as grouchy. I think it was his sense of humour. I Remember him once saying that Glasgow was a terrible place where it always rained. This was interpreted as a general attack on Scotland and did not go down well; I think he was proud of his Scottish ancestry (as am I). I think he has made comments about cycling since retiring that have been interpreted as negative. But his general demeanour was dull. Anyone know what Robert Millar is doing now? Not commentating I suspect...

Some interesting comments made - I am a Cav supporter - cycling is full of different characters, different styles, abilities - hell, that's what makes cycling such a cracking sport. Different facets. Cipollini was a similar sort of charismatic whirlwind. I do think it is a good move to make the stages trickier, but Cav has proved that he is the fastest road sprinter on the planet, AND can hack it in difficult finishes. From what he said about the finishes this year, I get the impression he relishes the challenge - just watch him adapt to those situations and have those others push him.
Keep it up, Cav. Keep it up, G, Wiggo, Swifty and David Millar - I'm genuinely proud to be British and loving the tour so far.

'Arrogant, jumped up, to use two terms often thrown in his direction? No. Simply someone who on his day can ride a bike faster on the road than anyone else on the planet, has the results to prove it, and isn't afraid to speak his mind.

As I said, I like him.'

this. 100%. Stands and applauds.

Maybe if you had been brought up with the brilliance of Robert Millar; an outstanding rider but dull as dishwater when it came to post race comment you would be more appreciative of Mark's tell it like it is attitude. I get frustrated when athletes give clipped professional answers to questions, what is the point? A good example is the post F1 interviews, a waste of time. Would agree that Hushovd in particular is a great sportsman and orrator, others present well but David Millar? Maybe it's the surname? snore. Bradley Wiggins gave almost a one word answer to a long question in the pre-race presentation snore.

I'm all for Brits winning. I just prefer my athletes to show a bit of humility when they do, and aren't petulant when they don't (or when they do actually). I'd love Wiggins to podium, and I can't get enough of Geraint Thomas. Because they both seem like nice guys. Cav just seems like a massive nob. I was the same with the boxing the other day, I half wanted Haye to win as he is a brit, but the other half wanted him to get a hiding for being a nob.
I suppose the media does have a large part in this, I have to say I am pretty bored of ITV4 still going on about him getting docked on the intermediate the other day, and I daresay they will be going on and on about his ASO bashing speech for the lion's share of the programme tonight. I suppose I'll just have to suck it up tho.

Fair play to ASO for mixing it up a bit and making it interesting and huge amounts of 'well done old bean' to Cav for winning a sprint like that against Mr toughbastardnumerouno. That alone makes me happy that Cav is a Brit. Sometimes though you just can't satisfy the Britbashing crowd

Agree with sideburn and mrmo - this is just Cav saying that ASO have shuffled the pack a bit in setting the route. He doesn't say anything that suggests he's complaining about the change in course, just that it's different from previous years. And to be honest, I think he's totally justified in complaining about the over sensitivity towards contact in bunch sprints - he's no primadonna and he likes to get stuck in, like all the great sprinters over the years, and it is probably safer that way for the reasons he states. I'd rather have shoulder to shoulder (or helmet to shoulder) action than the football-style, hands in the air, appealing to the ref for a fowl rubbish that is now being forced in.

It is interesting, though, that even when Cav's not saying something controversial, everyone assumes he is. So perhaps it isn't Cav making it the 'Cavendish Show', but the fans and media? Either way, I think he's great value - every sport needs characters to keep it interesting, and Cav is certainly a character (whether he's being an idiot or a genius, and he manages both at times).

The ASO do need to clarify what is allowed in a bunch sprint and when it is allowed.
Without that clarification, what do the riders do? It's not just Cavendish, but everyone involved in close racing.

Stage 5's sprint shows how good Cavendish is. He doesn't need the HTC train to win. We have a brilliant sprinter and all most of you do is knock him. Maybe it's because you can't be as good as him - shame, live with it.

I love the bunch sprints and I'm sure the French aren't too keen on Cav winning as many as he does. But you've got to hand it to the guy - he still wins difficult ones!

For those of you bemoaning the Cav show... I'm afraid there are a lot of us that do enjoy it! I think it's great that we have a British born natural winner with a bit of fire in his belly!

When I listened to it last night it didn't seem as clear cut as cav winging, more a statement that the aso have changed the game a little.

Is it just me? I did not take Mark's statement as a criticisim of ASO just a statement that some finishes have been made more interesting. Thought the sprint finish was superb, thought the British involvement even more superb. No obvious potential overall winner this year? Bring it on

I'm fast getting bored of the Cavendish show. It is ALL about him.

Deal with it and earn me some money....

True Antonio, but the organisers have to keep the Tour interesting and a spectacle, it may have lacked bunch sprints but it certainly hasn't lacked interest - that's more what the organisers are interested in rather than trying to do down Cav.

Equally, so what if he shoots his mouth off a bit, at least he's not bland and most importantly he backs up his words by delivering where it counts. Just hope all that spontaneity isn't stifled if/when he goes to Sky.

we wait for yonks for a true heroic brit in the tour then we get the guys who try to pull him down. Sprints and bunch finishes are as much a part of the tour as anything else otherwise why have green jerseys, polka dot, white and yellow, they are awarded on merit for gods sake.

i would much rather watch a week of stages resembling spring classics than traditional bunch sprints. Far more unpredictable and far more entertaining.

Oh do belt up, you chippy little nob. Bunch sprints are *dull*, the first week of the Tour is famously boring that's why the organisers have shuffled things. It's not always about you.