2014 Season Snapshot by Rider

[barmaher]

Kittel

High Points: Beating Cav repeatedly, 4 Tour stage wins. 3 Giro stage wins. Yellow jersey
Low Points: Not many, guess he just confirmed he is a one trick pony
Marks out of 10: 8/10 He is top dog
2015 Expectations: He will remain top dog.

Nominate Greipel

 

[LaFlorecita]

OK, so I am realising the folly of my idea. It takes a lot longer to do this than to describe a rider in three words.

We now have 3 riders on the go.....Kittel, Aru and Greipel.

If you're doing them, don't nominate others please!

If you post and see someone else was quicker, maybe copy their nomination or something?

 

[Arredondo]

Kittel

High Points: Beating Cav repeatedly, 4 Tour stage wins. 3 Giro stage wins. Yellow jersey
Low Points: Not many, guess he just confirmed he is a one trick pony
Marks out of 10: 8/10 He is top dog
2015 Expectations: He will remain top dog.

Nominate Greipel

High points: Winning a Tour-stage, regular amount of victories
Low Points: no real big victories, some bad luck (crashes), didn't show the level he had the years before, fairly passed by Kittel and chasing down by some other sprinters
Marks out of 10: 7/10, due to the amount of victories (16)
2015 expectations: He will remain one of 5 best sprinters around, but is passed by Kittel, and he has to watch out for the likes of Bouhanni and Demare. Will get victory of 10-15, plus a stage in a GT.

Nominate: Purito Rodriguez

 

[barmaher]

High points: Winning a Tour-stage, regular amount of victories
Low Points: no real big victories, some bad luck (crashes), didn't show the level he had the years before, fairly passed by Kittel and chasing down by some other sprinters
Marks out of 10: 7/10, due to the amount of victories (16)
2015 expectations: He will remain one of 5 best sprinters around, but is passed by Kittel, and he has to watch out for the likes of Bouhanni and Demare. Will get victory of 10-15, plus a stage in a GT.

Nominate: Purito Rodriguez

High points: Very nice win in Catalunya....decent riding in Vuelta
Low Points: Giro crash, poor Ardennes campaign, Vuelta and Lombardia and WCRR all suggest he is a notch below 2013.
Marks out of 10: He was still a very good rider, but considering how he has done in recent years, I give him a 4/10.
2015 expectations: The decline has started. He may hit the jackpot in a 1-day race or a stage race. But I predict he wins nothing of note.

Nominate Maxime Monfort

 

[JosephD]

High points: Very nice win in Catalunya....decent riding in Vuelta
Low Points: Giro crash, poor Ardennes campaign, Vuelta and Lombardia and WCRR all suggest he is a notch below 2013.
Marks out of 10: He was still a very good rider, but considering how he has done in recent years, I give him a 4/10.
2015 expectations: The decline has started. He may hit the jackpot in a 1-day race or a stage race. But I predict he wins nothing of note.

Nominate Maxime Monfort

High Points: Top 15 in Giro and decent performance on Zoncolan (8TH)
Low Points: Didn't do anything else this year
Marks out of 10: 4/10 due to invisiblilty
2015 Expectations: Another year of anonymity beckons especially with the success of Gallopin and Wellens to force themselves above Monfort in the pecking order if they weren't already there at the start of 2014.

Nominate: Julian Arredondo

 

[sam171]

High Points: Top 15 in Giro and decent performance on Zoncolan (8TH)
Low Points: Didn't do anything else this year
2015 Expectations: Another year of anonymity beckons especially with the success of Gallopin and Wellens to force themselves above Monfort in the pecking order if they weren't already there at the start of 2014.

Nominate: Julian Arredondo

High Points: Giro stage, Mountains Jersey at giro
Low Points: Invisible at the Vuelta
Marks out of 10: 7...announced himself as the next climbing colombian
2015 expectations: mountain stage wins in grand tours, top 10 in ardennes

Nominate Philippe Gilbert

 

[Roude Leiw]

High Points: Giro stage, Mountains Jersey at giro
Low Points: Invisible at the Vuelta
Marks out of 10: 7...announced himself as the next climbing colombian
2015 expectations: mountain stage wins in grand tours, top 10 in ardennes

Nominate Philippe Gilbert

High points: ardennes classics, with win at Amstel, Fleche Brabanconne, top 10 placings in LBL and FW

Low points: invisible through much of the summer

Marks out of 10: 8 as also very decent season end and improved his cq score significantly

2015 win a monument

Nominate Demare

 

[Jspear]

High Points: Giro stage, Mountains Jersey at giro
Low Points: Invisible at the Vuelta
Marks out of 10: 7...announced himself as the next climbing colombian
2015 expectations: mountain stage wins in grand tours, top 10 in ardennes

Nominate Philippe Gilbert

High Points: Amstel Gold, Brabantse Pijl
Low Points: Can't say much...despite having two in the group - not getting a medal in the worlds
Mark out of 10: 6/10 - had some good placings, but not like earlier years.
2015 Expectations: Maybe one really good win...nothing special.

Edit got beat:
Nominate: Demare

 

[Afrank]

Demare:
High points: 2nd at GW, overall and stages of Picardie, National RR, multiple late season wins. Also 12th at PR isn't too bad I guess.
Low points: invisible at Tour (aside from a 3rd on stage 4)
Marks out of 10: 7/10
2015 expectations: continue to move forward as a sprinter, place well in some GT sprints, maybe win one. Win some stages in some higher profile races (i.e. TA, Romandie, Dauphine, etc.).

Nominate Bouhanni.

Very good thread BTW.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Arnaud Demare:

High Points: National champion, second in GW, 15 wins total
Low Points: Not many big victories, failed in the Tour
Mark out of 10: 7/10 - had a decent season especially counting victories, but didn't live up to expectations in the Tour
2015 Expectations: A season similar to this one

Nominate: Nacer Bouhanni

Good thread OP

Edit: Lol

 

[nobilis]

Arnaud Demare:

High Points: National champion, second in GW, 15 wins total
Low Points: Not many big victories, failed in the Tour
Mark out of 10: 7/10 - had a decent season especially counting victories, but didn't live up to expectations in the Tour
2015 Expectations: A season similar to this one

Nominate: Nacer Bouhanni

Good thread OP

Edit: Lol

High Points: Many wins in GTs, Points Jersey in the Giro, Improved a lot in the tough finishes and the hilly ones. Very good at the Worlds despite the tough course.
Low Points: His clash with Marc Madiot made him miss the end of the season
Mark out of 10: 8/10
2015 Expectations: His move to Cofidis will guarantee him a tour start, where he should challenge the best sprinters and maybe have a shot at the green jersey. He should also test himself in the spring classics.

Nominate: Tim Wellens

 

[Afrank]

High Points: Many wins in GTs, Points Jersey in the Giro, Improved a lot in the tough finishes and the hilly ones. Very good at the Worlds despite the tough course.
Low Points: His clash with Marc Madiot made him miss the end of the season
Mark out of 10: 8/10
2015 Expectations: His move to Cofidis will guarantee him a tour start, where he should challenge the best sprinters and maybe have a shot at the green jersey. He should also test himself in the spring classics.

Nominate: Tim Wellens

Wellens
High points: 4 top 10's on stages of the Giro, Eneco Tour overall, podium ster ZLM Toer, 4th in Lombardia. Basically had a breakthrough this year. 748 CQ points vs. 132 in 2013.
Low points: Not many, rather anonymous in the first half of the season I suppose.
Mark out of 10: 9/10
2015 Expectations: GT stage win perhaps, will have a go at getting some high placings in the other one day classics and monuments.

Nominate, Rui Costa.

 

[Jspear]

Wellens
High points: 4 top 10's on stages of the Giro, Eneco Tour overall, podium ster ZLM Toer, 4th in Lombardia. Basically had a breakthrough this year. 748 CQ points vs. 132 in 2013.
Low points: Not many, rather anonymous in the first half of the season I suppose.
Mark out of 10: 9/10
2015 Expectations: GT stage win perhaps, will have a go at getting some high placings in the other one day classics and monuments.

Nominate, Rui Costa.

High Points: Tour de Suisse, podium @ PN and GP Montreal
Low Points: Tour de France
Mark out of 10: 5/10
2015 Expectations: Tour de Suisse win. Top 15 in a GT. Maybe win a one day race

Nominate: Mark Cavendish

 

[classicomano]

High Points: Tour de Suisse, podium @ PN and GP Montreal
Low Points: Tour de France
Mark out of 10: 5/10
2015 Expectations: Tour de Suisse win. Top 15 in a GT. Maybe win a one day race

Nominate: Mark Cavendish

Highest Point: 109 kilo's in January.
Low Points: Crashing out of Le Tour.
Mark out of 10: 4/10
2015 Expectations: after being humiliated by Kittel once again he will try his luck as a hilly sprinter, and fail.

Nominate: Moreno Moser.

 

[MatParker117]

High Points *nervously whistles*
Low Points This Season
Marks out of 10 2/10
Expectations for 2015 A return to form

Nominate Elia Viviani

 

[Jspear]

High Points *nervously whistles*
Low Points This Season
Marks out of 10 2/10
Expectations for 2015 A return to form

Nominate Elia Viviani

High Points: Tour of Turkey, GP Coppa Bernocchi
Low Points: No Giro wins, Tour
Marks out of 10 4/10 - an okay year for him but nothing to big.
Expectations: Win several stages in smaller races. Maybe a win in the Giro.

Nominate: Fabian Cancellara

 

[Afrank]

High Points: Tour of Turkey, GP Coppa Bernocchi
Low Points: No Giro wins, Tour
Marks out of 10 4/10 - an okay year for him but nothing to big.
Expectations: Win several stages in smaller races. Maybe a win in the Giro.

Nominate: Fabian Cancellara

Cance
High points: Podium San Remo and PR, win in Flanders. National TT title...again.
Low points: Most of GT/stage racing. TT's outside of National. Worlds.
Marks out of 10: 7/10, saved by RVV win and PR, MSR podiums. Doesn't have the same legs to be a major player in stage race TT's it seems.
Expectations: Monument win (either RVV or PR, I hope PR), MSR podium...again, another shot at the coveted rainbow stripes.

Nominate: Alexander Kristoff

 

[Roude Leiw]

Cance
High points: Podium San Remo and PR, win in Flanders. National TT title...again.
Low points: Most of GT/stage racing. TT's outside of National. Worlds.
Marks out of 10: 7/10, saved by RVV win and PR, MSR podiums. Doesn't have the same legs to be a major player in stage race TT's it seems.
Expectations: Monument win (either RVV or PR, I hope PR), MSR podium...again, another shot at the coveted rainbow stripes.

Nominate: Alexander Kristoff

High Points: Win MSR, Cyclassics, 2 Tour wins, kind of dominated the sprints in his home races
Low Points: Well, considering his season, i do not want to be picky
Marks out of 10: 9/10, I consider this his best season so far
Expectations 2015: Is he able to confirm 2014?

Nominate: Adam Yates

 

[Afrank]

High Points: Win MSR, Cyclassics, 2 Tour wins, kind of dominated the sprints in his home races
Low Points: Well, considering his season, i do not want to be picky
Marks out of 10: 9/10, I consider this his best season so far
Expectations 2015: Is he able to confirm 2014?

Nominate: Adam Yates

High Points: Tour of Turkey overall, 5th in Cali, 6th in Dauphine, GP Industria & Artigianato Larcianowin win. Basically showed himself to be a breakthrough talent in his first year as a pro.
Low Points: Is there any? First year in the pros and he's already going head to head with some good riders. Excellent season for a first year pro!
Marks out of 10: 9/10. Maybe even 10/10, could his season have gone much better compared to what was expected of him?
Expectations 2015: overall or podium in a US race, defend his turkey title. Go for some GT results like Barguil with stages in 2013 or top 10 GC in 2014.

Nominate:....Betancur....

 

[Apeman]

High Points: Tour of Turkey overall, 5th in Cali, 6th in Dauphine, GP Industria & Artigianato Larcianowin win. Basically showed himself to be a breakthrough talent in his first year as a pro.
Low Points: Is there any? First year in the pros and he's already going head to head with some good riders. Excellent season for a first year pro!
Marks out of 10: 9/10. Maybe even 10/10, could his season have gone much better compared to what was expected of him?
Expectations 2015: overall or podium in a US race, defend his turkey title. Go for some GT results like Barguil with stages in 2013 or top 10 GC in 2014.

Nominate:....Betancur....

At first this seemed like a boring one to do. Suprised me though. Totally forgot about his "high points" already.

High Points: Winning 2 Stages and the final classifcation in Paris - Nice.
Low Points: Everything after P-N, but his "virus" that folded him from the Tour and finishing last on nearly every single stage in the Vuelta stand out most.
Marks out of 10: Hard one... 4/10 Considering his talent and P-N. Could have achieved so much more this season if he wasn't so hard to handle.
Expectations 2015: Grow up, loose weight, start racing properly again (like in P-N).

Nominate: Wilco Kelderman

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Kelderman:

High Points: Natural progression on his last season. Did a good Giro and Dauphine.
Low Points: Needs to win something
Marks out of 10: 8/10 - Is on the right track and objectively a very good season for a 23-year-old.
Expectations 2015: Continue his progression. Fail a bit in the Tour if he's doing it? Should probably do the Giro again.

Nominate: Magnus Cort

 

[Roude Leiw]

Kelderman:

High Points: Natural progression on his last season. Did a good Giro and Dauphine.
Low Points: Needs to win something
Marks out of 10: 8/10 - Is on the right track and objectively a very good season for a 23-year-old.
Expectations 2015: Continue his progression. Fail a bit in the Tour if he's doing it? Should probably do the Giro again.

Nominate: Magnus Cort

High Points: tour des fjords with stage win and overall 2nd, good tour of danemark with stage win too, sprints at the Tour de l'Avenir
Low points: none, considering his age
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Expectations 2015: discover world of the pro tour, bag a win or 2

Nominate: Lars Boom

 

[Amsterdam]

High Points: tour des fjords with stage win and overall 2nd, good tour of danemark with stage win too, sprints at the Tour de l'Avenir
Low points: none, considering his age
Marks out of 10: 9/10
Expectations 2015: discover world of the pro tour, bag a win or 2

Nominate: Lars Boom

Lars Boom:
High points: His fabulous win on the wet cobbles in the legendary TDF stage 5. 2nd and very good in Eneco Tour. His transfer to Astana.
Low points: His crash in Paris-Nice. Because of that he missed some classics and preparation and was poor in Flanders and Roubaix.
Marks out of 10: 8/10 Such a tour stage makes up for the rest.
Expectations: I hope he can get a podium in Roubaix. If it's a wet Roubaix I think he can do it.

Nominate: Rohan Dennis

 

[PirazziAttacksVino]

Lars Boom

High Points: Tour Stage 5, Eneco Tour
Low Points: Injury hampering his Spring Classics, Anonymous first half of the season
Marks out of 10: 7/10 thanks to getting his first Tour stage win and again performing well in Eneco
Expectetions for 2015: Because he'll be the absolute leader in the classics a Top 5 in P-R and Top 10's in other classics, another podium in Eneco, bombthe Tour descents with Nibs

Edit: faster than me
Nominate: Rohan Dennis

 

[del1962]

Lars Boom

High Points: Tour Stage 5, Eneco Tour
Low Points: Injury hampering his Spring Classics, Anonymous first half of the season
Marks out of 10: 7/10 thanks to getting his first Tour stage win and again performing well in Eneco
Expectetions for 2015: Because he'll be the absolute leader in the classics a Top 5 in P-R and Top 10's in other classics, another podium in Eneco, bombthe Tour descents with Nibs

Edit: faster than me
Nominate: Rohan Dennis

Rohan Dennis

High Points: ToC Podium and stage win, Comonwealth Silver ITT
Low Points: Fell ou with team and moved
Marks out of 10: 5/10 Nothing great but enough solid performances
Expectetions for 2015: To win a non WT Stage race or podium a WT Stage race

Nominate: Chris Horner