A top rider that no one dislikes?

[icefire]

i vote for Dan Martin and Carlos Sastre....

Hard as it may sound, if you could read what Spanish fans post in Spanish forums you would cross Sastre out

 

[jaylew]

Same. I like Richie Porte. But for some reason it really gets on my tits that people call him young prodigy when hes 26. As a result, i find myself not cheering for him and downplaying his achievements (that giro young jersey was a fluke you know )

He's 25, but I hear what you're saying.

 

[jaylew]

I don't like Farrar. There, I've said it. I don't really know why, but I just don't. I'm disappointed every time he wins except when it's over Cav. I actually like his flaky teammate Tommy D but I've never liked Tyler, even going back to his Cofidis and Health Net days.

Perhaps it's the one-dimensional sprinter thing, I don't really know.

Thing is, this kind of stuff can change over time. I used to really dislike Ale-Jet but now I can take him or leave him. Same with Visconti but he's won me over a little bit with his racing style. Cunego I also disliked in his early years, but now I kinda feel bad for him.

I'm surprised to see Greipel, Horner, EBH, and Cancellara on that list as I'm sure I've heard negative comments about those guys around here though it seems like the Cancellara negativity mostly started with the Tour this year.

My votes would have to be for Voigt, Samu, and Gilbert as the star riders with the fewest haters. Cance would have probably made my list before this year.

 

[Nick C.]

Hard as it may sound, if you could read what Spanish fans post in Spanish forums you would cross Sastre out

what's the beef with Sastre? the sub-par results since last years Giro? the underracing after being over worked setting up the team last yea rand doing bad? his comments re: waiting for fallers and the ill-fated attack when Sanchez crased and Contador shooed him to wait? The always sitting at the back and getting caught out from time to time.

FYI: I am a huge fan of his and really '08 may be the only GT where a guy I wanted to win won so these are just thoughts that came to mind and the riding at the back in the mountains always drives me nuts about him though its way easier said than done to ride on or at the front when need be.

I

 

[Libertine Seguros]

if there are people who hate Amets Txurruka, I'd prefer not to meet any of them.

 

[Johnalex13]

I never hear anything bad about pipo?

 

[Sneekes]

I don't much like Farrar or Greipel either.

I think Voigt has to be the favourite - although Txurruka is a good shout too.

 

[Mambo95]

While not particularly relevant, this thread reminds me of Chris Boardman's quote about Miguel Indurain:

"Indurain makes me sick because he's actually a really nice guy. You can't actually work yourself up, there's no hate involved, no anger. He's a really nice bloke and a true champion."

 

[Mambo95]

I never hear anything bad about pipo?

Pipo Pozzato? You must be joking. The man has an enemies list to rival Richard Nixon's.

 

[patrick767]

Are there Menchov haters? There's a guy who's really earned his "Silent Assassin" nickname. You don't hear much about him and he doesn't talk, but every time you turn around, there he is, once again high in the GC standings with a shot at victory.

 

[Rocksteady]

I don't much like Farrar or Greipel either.

I think Voigt has to be the favourite - although Txurruka is a good shout too.

Voight/Vdv are good ones for me but I also don't think I've heard anything bad about the Canadian Ryders... oops I mean riders.

 

[Johnalex13]

Pipo Pozzato? You must be joking. The man has an enemies list to rival Richard Nixon's.

Aware me?

other then his silly tattoos and metro ways...what is there?

 

[Winterfold]

Gilbert has to have the best crossover of wins to likeness.

Jens is way cool, but he is an uberdomestique, I think the OP had people who appear at the top of the UCI ranking.

Plus Gilbert has the good grace to look like he doesn't have to move around in the shower to get wet.

 

[Mambo95]

Aware me?

other then his silly tattoos and metro ways...what is there?

I don't have it to hand, but in one of the British magazines a year or so ago, it had a list of cycling's greatest rivalries and one of them was Pozzato vs. .... followed by a list of about seven names. Cavendish was one, most were Italians.

He played a part in the Armstrong vs. Simeoni feud in 2004, (on LA's side) which won't have endeared him to some.

I think he's a stereotypical Italian poser and I don't really like him, but there will be plenty of people who actively despise him.

 

[allstar56]

Simple, Jens

 

[Johnalex13]

I don't have it to hand, but in one of the British magazines a year or so ago, it had a list of cycling's greatest rivalries and one of them was Pozzato vs. .... followed by a list of about seven names. Cavendish was one, most were Italians.

He played a part in the Armstrong vs. Simeoni feud in 2004, (on LA's side) which won't have endeared him to some.

I think he's a stereotypical Italian poser and I don't really like him, but there will be plenty of people who actively despise him.

 

[The Hitch]

Pipo Pozzato? You must be joking. The man has an enemies list to rival Richard Nixon's.

if there are people who hate Amets Txurruka, I'd prefer not to meet any of them.

Very Nice

 

[Arnout]

Igor Anton.

 

[Mambo95]

If you like him, then keep liking him. I'm just pointing out why he doesn't belong on this list. I'm not a fan, but I don't hate him or any rider (although Ricco gets close).

 

[ingsve]

Gilbert has to have the best crossover of wins to likeness.

Jens is way cool, but he is an uberdomestique, I think the OP had people who appear at the top of the UCI ranking.

Plus Gilbert has the good grace to look like he doesn't have to move around in the shower to get wet.

No, the ranking per se is not that important. I started with that to have something to go by but a guy like Jens certainly counts. He is very high profile and is certainly a top rider. I just can't be someone that is almost completely anonymous to people. Jens is certainly not anonymous.

 

[ingsve]

I just updated the OP with the different subtractions and additions mentioned in the thread. I also put a parenthesis around names that a borderline in terms of how well known they are. Some riders have certainly won some great wins but are so young and new that people haven't really gotten to know them well enough yet.

Look through the updated list and see if there is anyone you dislike so they should be taken off. You can also add new riders if there is anyone you think might meet the criteria.

 

[Sneekes]

Does anyone dislike Tommy Voeckler? I can't imagine many do.

 

[Zoncolan]

I just updated the OP with the different subtractions and additions mentioned in the thread. I also put a parenthesis around names that a borderline in terms of how well known they are. Some riders have certainly won some great wins but are so young and new that people haven't really gotten to know them well enough yet.

Look through the updated list and see if there is anyone you dislike so they should be taken off. You can also add new riders if there is anyone you think might meet the criteria.

Nibali-don't really know why, something rubs me the wrong way. Maybe the Ferrari rumours?
Hincapie-Pla d'Adet 2005. Also, talking himself up almost every year about winning roubaix.

 

[hrotha]

Does anyone dislike Tommy Voeckler? I can't imagine many do.

I'm sure some people find his camera shenanigans off-putting.

 

[Mich78BEL]

Can't imagine anybody disliking Gilbert, great versatile rider, attacks when he can, good mentality, work ethic, family man...