2014 Top 15 GC Racers in the World?

[Afrank]

I think we could see great success from Quintana in stage races in 2014. This year he won Pais Vasco and Burgos, did well in Catalunya, and of course his 2nd at the Tour. If he decides to do the Giro that opens up the door to do the Vuelta as well. Either for the win or to train for worlds, either way you have to consider him as a threat for the podium. I could see him following a similar path to Nibali this year in his build up to the Giro and then Burgos followed by Vuelta.

With Nibali focusing on the Tour I think he could make the classics a bigger goal in the early season instead of stage races. Will still probably be in the top 5 stage racers by year end though. Especially if he decides to go ahead and go Giro-Tour...

Other then that I expect the usual suspect it will be the usual suspects; Rodriguez, Froome, Porte, Contador (had the consistency this year, hopefully will be a bit better), Valverde, maybe Martin, Etc.

 

[VeloHuman]

No surprise. Aside Giro, Uran had no big results.

That is of course due to his position at Sky etc. but still.

CQ also gives (imho) far too much weight to Continental level races with far less competition. For stage race ranking only, even JC Peraud is ahead of Uran, and Sylvain Chavanel ahead of Nic Roche, thanks to their lower division successes.

 

[greenedge]

Froome
Nibali
Quintana
JROD
Contador
Porte
Uran
Valverde
Mollema
Evans
Betancur
Talansky
Kreuziger
Kwiatowski
TJVG, Pinot, Costa, Shlecks, Hesjedal, Rolland, Henao

Probably goes down to Porte/ Quintana, Froome/ Nibali, JROD/ Contador to win the respective GT's though.

 

[Opalius]

Froome

Probably goes down to Porte/ Quintana, Froome/ Nibali, JROD/ Contador to win the respective GT's though.

True dat. Would like to see Kreuziger fully backed for the Giro though; he's still got unrealized potential

 

[42x16ss]

True dat. Would like to see Kreuziger fully backed for the Giro though; he's still got unrealized potential

Agreed. With full support at the TdF he may have gotten as close, or closer to Froome than Contador.

 

[hayzer114]

What has Porte actually done to show that he is capable of winning a grand tour??? He has had one good result in the Giro, he was meant to be the main challenger to Froome this year (teammates I know) and he blew early on. No doubt hes a good pacesetter but I question whether he has it to be in the tick of things for 21 days.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Add Fuglsang instead of Talansky and it's okay.

 

[theyoungest]

This year the best GC riders in the world were, according to CQranking:

1. [GBR] FROOME Chris SKY 20/05/1985 1595
2. [ITA] NIBALI Vincenzo AST 14/11/1984 1487
3. [COL] QUINTANA ROJAS Nairo Alexander MOV 04/02/1990 1076
4. [ESP] RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim KAT 12/05/1979 1048
5. [AUS] PORTE Richie SKY 30/01/1985 929
6. [ESP] CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto TST 06/12/1982 848
7. [ESP] VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro MOV 25/04/1980 793
8. [USA] VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC 12/08/1988 762
9. [NED] MOLLEMA Bauke BEL 26/11/1986 739
10. [USA] HORNER Chris RLT 23/10/1971 690
11. [POR] COSTA Rui Alberto Faria MOV 05/10/1986 669
12. [SLO] SPILAK Simon KAT 23/06/1986 577
13. [NED] KELDERMAN Wilco BEL 25/03/1991 566
14. [ITA] POZZOVIVO Domenico ALM 30/11/1982 560
15. [NED] WEENING Pieter OGE 05/04/1981 558

For next year I'd expect Kelderman to do a little better, Weening to do a little worse, and guys like Dan Martin and Pinot to step up. Maybe old fox Evans will enter the top-15 as well, certainly if he rides the Tour Down Under FTW.

 

[movingtarget]

Is beyond me how could Evans, Wiggins and Horner be in any list for 2014.

Horner won't have a team, Evans got lucky half the mountains were cancelled at this year's giro and Wiggins simply won't bother anymore.

So the Tour winners from 2011 and 2012 are not in the top 15 in the world. Really ? Even if they have gone backwards. If Wiggins did bother he would be in the top 15 easily, as for Evans, even if the mountains were all included in the Giro he would still have to be on this list even if he isn't the rider he was a few years ago. If he missed the Giro podium he would definitely still be in the top 15 GC riders in the world. Horner would also have to be in the top 15 at the end of 2013 whether he races again or not. It is ridiculous to say a recent GT winner is not in the top 15 in the world. Obviously if he retires he is not on the list.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

So the Tour winners from 2011 and 2012 are not in the top 15 in the world. Really ? Even if they have gone backwards. If Wiggins did bother he would be in the top 15 easily, as for Evans, even if the mountains were all included in the Giro he would still have to be on this list even if he isn't the rider he was a few years ago. If he missed the Giro podium he would definitely still be in the top 15 GC riders in the world. Horner would also have to be in the top 15 at the end of 2013 whether he races again or not. It is ridiculous to say a recent GT winner is not in the top 15 in the world. Obviously if he retires he is not on the list.

As far as Wiggins goes it makes sense not to consider him. The OP specified that it was about the "Potential to Podium GTs for 2014." Make that top 10. It won't change a thing.

As far as anyone knows, Wiggins won't even try and will target other goals next season.

 

[Afrank]

What has Porte actually done to show that he is capable of winning a grand tour??? He has had one good result in the Giro, he was meant to be the main challenger to Froome this year (teammates I know) and he blew early on. No doubt hes a good pacesetter but I question whether he has it to be in the tick of things for 21 days.

He's on Sky.

Nah, just kidding, kinda... He has shown a number of results this year though that hint at being able to win future GT's (paris-Nice, Pais Vasco, Dauphine, etc.). And while he did have one bad day at the Tour this year, he was riding strong at the end (6th on Alpe, 5th on Annecy).

Plus there's his top 10 in his first GT, which while I don't think means that much due to how he got in the top 10 to begin with, it does show that he's capable of being a rider for the GT's.

 

[RownhamHill]

As far as Wiggins goes it makes sense not to consider him. The OP specified that it was about the "Potential to Podium GTs for 2014." Make that top 10. It won't change a thing.

As far as anyone knows, Wiggins won't even try and will target other goals next season.

Because as we all know Wiggins is famous for his consistency of purpose, and doesn't change his mind about things seemingly like the wind.

I mean it's November still, of course he's currently got the potential to concentrate on the grand tours - whether he will obviously remains to be seen, probably not, but surely he must have the potential right now to do a top 15 in a GT. . .

 

[Gloin22]

Wiggins is already slowly concentrating on gaining specific 'track weight and mass' to get into Rio Track team..

Not sure in which world that equates to trying to ride a GC in the top stage races...

 

[barmaher]

He's on Sky.

Nah, just kidding, kinda... He has shown a number of results this year though that hint at being able to win future GT's (paris-Nice, Pais Vasco, Dauphine, etc.). And while he did have one bad day at the Tour this year, he was riding strong at the end (6th on Alpe, 5th on Annecy).

Plus there's his top 10 in his first GT, which while I don't think means that much due to how he got in the top 10 to begin with, it does show that he's capable of being a rider for the GT's.

Agree with this. Anybody that doesn't see that Porte is on a trajectory to get at least a podium in a Grand Tour in 2014 is not seeing things right, in my view. You may dislike him, and dislike Sky (like me), but his rides in Ax-3 as well as the two you mentioned, particularly in light of the work he did for Froome mark him out as a real GT rider.

And he can time trial very well.

He may fall away next year, but his performances and rides last year mean he is surely more likely to podium the Giro next year than to fail to do so.

 

[VeloHuman]

Agree with this. Anybody that doesn't see that Porte is on a trajectory to get at least a podium in a Grand Tour in 2014 is not seeing things right, in my view. You may dislike him, and dislike Sky (like me), but his rides in Ax-3 as well as the two you mentioned, particularly in light of the work he did for Froome mark him out as a real GT rider.

And he can time trial very well.

He may fall away next year, but his performances and rides last year mean he is surely more likely to podium the Giro next year than to fail to do so.

People also seem to forget that he was 7th in the Giro in 2010 when he wasn't even in his prime. Surely the way he has been riding lately is impressive enough to net him even better.

 

[roundabout]

No, it's the crappiest 7th place in the history of crappy 7th places.

Podium is maybe, a GT win would be really stretching things unless Sky move up yet another gear next year.

 

[Christian]

People also seem to forget that he was 7th in the Giro in 2010 when he wasn't even in his prime. Surely the way he has been riding lately is impressive enough to net him even better.

True but he was also in an epic break where Basso, Nibali and Evans all lost over 12 minutes. Still a great ride by him though

 

[ferryman]

Not sure where I would put him in the order but Andy has to be in there surely.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Not sure where I would put him in the order but Andy has to be in there surely.

Not if you look at the current situation, sadly. Based on the last 5 years, Andy would definitely be top 4. The same goes with Evans.

However, Fuglsang deserves to be on this list, when guys like Pinot and Costa are even mentioned. Fuglsang has managed 11th GC vuelta 2011, 7th TDF this year (looked much better than Mollema in the last week, time trials better too) + some good GC results in "minor" races like the Dauphine. Just saying that he's a better rider than Pinot, Talansky, and when they figure on this list, he deserves too.

 

[Arredondo]

Not if you look at the current situation, sadly. Based on the last 5 years, Andy would definitely be top 4. The same goes with Evans.

However, Fuglsang deserves to be on this list, when guys like Pinot and Costa are even mentioned. Fuglsang has managed 11th GC vuelta 2011, 7th TDF this year (looked much better than Mollema in the last week, time trials better too) + some good GC results in "minor" races like the Dauphine. Just saying that he's a better rider than Pinot, Talansky, and when they figure on this list, he deserves too.

Fuglsang better then Talansky? Don't know really. His 7th place this year at the Tour was the first time he did a proper GC in a GT. Can't see him do much better. While Talansky already has top 10's in Tour and Vuelta under his belt, and clearly i see him do much better in the future.

 

[Aapjes]

Fuglsang has managed 11th GC vuelta 2011, 7th TDF this year (looked much better than Mollema in the last week, time trials better too)

But Mollema was sick then. If Mollema isn't sick and doesn't fall off his bike during the TT, he can definitely improve this year. I don't see as much upwards potential for Fuglsang.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Fuglsang better then Talansky? Don't know really. His 7th place this year at the Tour was the first time he did a proper GC in a GT. Can't see him do much better. While Talansky already has top 10's in Tour and Vuelta under his belt, and clearly i see him do much better in the future.

I'm more suprised at rating Fuglsang over Pinot.

Imo there's no question at all that Pinot is really a category above Talansky and Fuglsang in terms of talent. I really don't understand how anybody could think otherwise.

 

[Arredondo]

I'm more suprised at rating Fuglsang over Pinot.

Imo there's no question at all that Pinot is really a category above Talansky and Fuglsang in terms of talent. I really don't understand how anybody could think otherwise.

In terms of Fuglsang you're right, but Talansky and Pinot are just other type of riders. Talansky is the born GC rider, with good climbing abilities and a strong TT. Pinot is a superb climber, but can also win a big classic in the future due to his explosiviness and his sprint. Pinot is more a rider who has a bad day in a GT, while Talansky is more regular (in normal conditions), but isn't a winner like Pinot.

There both good.

 

[Parrulo]

I'm more suprised at rating Fuglsang over Pinot.

Imo there's no question at all that Pinot is really a category above Talansky and Fuglsang in terms of talent. I really don't understand how anybody could think otherwise.

Location: Denmark

There, now you understand

Same for people that think Evans will be one of the top 15 GC riders of the world next year despite being yet another year past his peak while many young guns will be one year closer.

On the last week of the Giro Uran, Betancur, Caruso and Aru were already stronger than Evans. Hadn't stage 19 been cancelled and all of the mountains removed from stage 20 he would have been out of the top 5 easily.

 

[theyoungest]

I'm more suprised at rating Fuglsang over Pinot.

Imo there's no question at all that Pinot is really a category above Talansky and Fuglsang in terms of talent. I really don't understand how anybody could think otherwise.

Fuglsang started out his road career pretty impressively, certainly at the level that someone like Pinot has now. He's been a bit up and down since (mainly down) but if you're talking about pure talent, some of that must still be there, as he showed in this year's TDF.

Talansky is fairly limited as a climber, he can't handle short steep climbs, or stages with 4 or 5 climbs in a row. But he has good recovery, that's why he entered the top-10 of the TDF on the final day.