2012 Winners and Losers

[Mad Elephant Man]

Then what do you need caps for? Cav not winning the WC was no fail because it was purely-parcours based.

Of course, I do not disagree with that, all I said was he failed to defend the title, which is completely factual. Last year he won the WC which was part of him having a better season than this year when he did not. His season was disappointing, a failure.

 

[El Pistolero]

I would say Gilbert was a loser this year. Hopefully he can come back strong next year.

 

[Pentacycle]

John Degenkolb is definitely a winner. He's won 12 times this year, and he's shown a big classics potential in MSR and the Worlds.

If he takes this year's form to next spring and the Tour he'll be one of the favourites until Roubaix, and for the green jersey in July.

 

[ILovecycling]

1st overall, Giro d’Italia
1st, Regularidad, Giro d’Italia
1st, Combatividad, Giro d’Italia
1st overall, Volta a Cataluña
1st overall, Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 9, Giro d’Italia
1st, Stage 3, Volta a Cataluña
1st, Stage 16 (ITT), Giro d’Italia
1st, Stage 3 (ITT), Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 2, Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 4 (ITT), Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Stage 3 Tour de San Luis
1st Stage 5 Tour de San Luis

This is what he lost

In our hearts he only gained

 

[LaFlorecita]

In our hearts he only gained

Yes

 

[El Pistolero]

John Degenkolb is definitely a winner. He's won 12 times this year, and he's shown a big classics potential in MSR and the Worlds.

If he takes this year's form to next spring and the Tour he'll be one of the favourites until Roubaix, and for the green jersey in July.

Milan-San Remo yeah, but the Ronde van Vlaanderen was a lot harder than the WC this year. He still looks a bit too heavy to me.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

Yes

Not my heart, although I don't think any cyclist gained anything in my heart this year. A awful lot lost a lot in my heart though.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Quick draft:

Probably forgot some.

Losers:

1. (by a far margin): Schlecks
2. Cobo
3. Hushovd
4. Cancellara
5. Evans

Notable exclusions: Cavendish

Winners:

1. Wiggins
2. Boonen
3. JTL
4. Rodriguez
5. Van Garderen

Notable exclusions: Moser, Sagan, Henao

Edit: Forgot Degenkolb. He's definitely at least on the list of notable exclusions, and perhaps he even deserves a top 5 spot on the cost of Van Garderen.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Not my heart, although I don't think any cyclist gained anything in my heart this year. A awful lot lost a lot in my heart though.

I know .

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

I know .

Gustav Larrson would be the exception, he did something good.

 

[Pentacycle]

Milan-San Remo yeah, but the Ronde van Vlaanderen was a lot harder than the WC this year. He still looks a bit too heavy to me.

I only said he would be one of the favourites, just like Vanmarcke, Breschel and Van Avermaet were last spring before the Ronde. Still, it turned out they also couldn't quite follow Pozzato's attack in the end.

Degenkolb is lighter than Boonen for example, which would make him better at hills(which he showed in Valkenburg) so I'm very curious what he'll do next year.

 

[El Pistolero]

I only said he would be one of the favourites, just like Vanmarcke, Breschel and Van Avermaet were last spring before the Ronde. Still, it turned out they also couldn't quite follow Pozzato's attack in the end.

Degenkolb is lighter than Boonen for example, which would make him better at hills(which he showed in Valkenburg) so I'm very curious what he'll do next year.

Really? When? Was he also better than Kolobnev on the hills because his fourth place?

I'm pretty sure Degenkolb's fat percentage is higher than Boonen's.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

I would say Gilbert was a loser this year. Hopefully he can come back strong next year.

See... he ain't a blind fanboy.

Well done, my brother.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Obvious winners would be Valverde, Wiggins, Gerrans, Moser, Boonen and Nordhaug. Some less obvious ones, but:

Winners:
Daniel Moreno - whilst still being a sidekick, has managed to come 5th in a GT, make the top 20 for the year on CQ, and amass seven wins including a pretty good stage race.

Arkaitz Durán - after being forced to return to the amateur level with his tail between his legs, the Vitorian has proven without a shadow of a doubt he is too good not to be a pro. At recent count, his team (Azysa Telco'm) had the highest number of victories of any team on the Spanish amateur scene. The next highest number of victories for any team was 18 (held by two separate teams). Arkaitz alone has more than that this season, and has gifted other races to teammates too.

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg - before this season he was an interesting prospect that many knew the name of, but nothing more. With 14 victories in .1 and .2 races this year, he has become a sought-after commodity.

Maximiliano Richeze - the Argentine sprinter has come way back in from the cold with a rejuvenated season. Yes, he's been facing weaker squads than back in the Panaria days, but he's gone from being "isn't he that guy who did the Giro a few years ago?" to being a potential WT rider again.

 

[Netserk]

Loser: Victor Cabedo

 

[pdluz7]

In our hearts he only gained

Winner and Loser (I did not watch the spring classics)
1. Were present and achieve their goals.
Joaquin PURITO Champion UCI World Tour (great winner in vídeo and great loser in photo Vuelta 17)
Philippe Gilbert Champion World
Tony Martin Champion World ITT
Alberto Contador Champion Spanish Vuelta (great winner in my heart)
Wiggins Champion Tour de France and olympic ITT. (great winner in paper, without large images)

2. Arrived and won
Ryder Hesjedal champion Giro d'Italia
Vino olympic champion road.

3. big losers
Mark Cavendish was not Olympic champion, and neither disputed the points jersey in the Tour de France
Andy Schlek I forgot

 

[LaFlorecita]

Loser: Victor Cabedo

Nooo

 

[movingtarget]

I don't like the words winner and losers.

Best seasons : Boonen, Rodriguez, Wiggins.

Unhappy seasons : Evans, Menchov, Goss, Hushovd and Cancellara.

 

[Afrank]

1st overall, Giro d’Italia
1st, Regularidad, Giro d’Italia
1st, Combatividad, Giro d’Italia
1st overall, Volta a Cataluña
1st overall, Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 9, Giro d’Italia
1st, Stage 3, Volta a Cataluña
1st, Stage 16 (ITT), Giro d’Italia
1st, Stage 3 (ITT), Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 2, Vuelta a Murcia
1st, Stage 4 (ITT), Vuelta a Castilla y León
1st Stage 3 Tour de San Luis
1st Stage 5 Tour de San Luis

This is what he lost

He also lost his 2010 Tour title.

 

[LaFlorecita]

He also lost his 2010 Tour title.

How could I forget that one

 

[Bavarianrider]

Losers
Hushovd, Frändy, Evans, Contador

 

[greenedge]

Winners:

I think Froome should be considered one as his performances this year prove he should lead Sky at the TDF.
Wiggins- won a great amount of races.
Gilbert- he got his rainbow wish, that saved his whole season.
Valverde- rode superbly throughout the year.
Vino- won Olympic gold.
Gerrans- won M-SR.
Boonen- dominated.
Sagan- owned.
Hesedal- won a GT.
Greipel in my view also ends the season as a winner. Sure he only rode 1 GT but he got 3 stages there. Also nabbed wins throughout the season.

Young people who had good seasons includeinot, TJVG, Demare, Quintana, Uran/Henao, Moser and Degenkolb.

Losers:

Evans- though it pains me to say it.
Hushovd- had a season he would like to forget.
Cancellara- crashed at his important races.
Contador- would be considered as a loser by everyone for losing his titles but he won the Vuelta/ dove deeper into La Florecitas' heart.
Basso- he rode well to support Nibali but failed at the Giro/ made me fail in the CQ game.
Frank/ Andy- no GT win for them except for the 2010 TDF. One facing a possible ban and the other a wasted season.

 

[movingtarget]

Winners:

I think Froome should be considered one as his performances this year prove he should lead Sky at the TDF.
Wiggins- won a great amount of races.
Gilbert- he got his rainbow wish, that saved his whole season.
Valverde- rode superbly throughout the year.
Vino- won Olympic gold.
Gerrans- won M-SR.
Boonen- dominated.
Sagan- owned.
Hesedal- won a GT.
Greipel in my view also ends the season as a winner. Sure he only rode 1 GT but he got 3 stages there. Also nabbed wins throughout the season.

Young people who had good seasons includeinot, TJVG, Demare, Quintana, Uran/Henao, Moser and Degenkolb.

Losers:

Evans- though it pains me to say it.
Hushovd- had a season he would like to forget.
Cancellara- crashed at his important races.
Contador- would be considered as a loser by everyone for losing his titles but he won the Vuelta/ dove deeper into La Florecitas' heart.
Basso- he rode well to support Nibali but failed at the Giro/ made me fail in the CQ game.
Frank/ Andy- no GT win for them except for the 2010 TDF. One facing a possible ban and the other a wasted season.

Yes I forgot Gerrans. Did well. Albasini also quite good and for the others I forgot Frandy completely, that's how forgettable they were. Horror year for them.

 

[hiero2]

Mark Cavendish is a loser.
No WC, no Olympic RR gold, no Green Jersey.
Failure of a season.

I will agree that Cav had a bad season but he still won races his biggest mistake was signing for Sky .

I agree with both. Cav is not a "loser" in that sense. But it was sure not a good year, nor the year he could have had. Sky was a mistake. Now he knows that.

Rodriguez is a winner for taking Il Lombardia, and for the tremendous performance at the Vuelta.

Ryder is a winner for finally getting a GT. I'll be rooting for you in 2013, Ryder!

Contador is both a winner, and a loser. He lost a lot, he won another GT. Good on him.

 

[hiero2]

John Degenkolb is definitely a winner. He's won 12 times this year, and he's shown a big classics potential in MSR and the Worlds.

If he takes this year's form to next spring and the Tour he'll be one of the favourites until Roubaix, and for the green jersey in July.

Yeah, Degenkolb - I'll vote for him as a winner.