Best descender in the world

[auscyclefan94]

Because today's syage is highlighted with a very long descent off the madeline I was wondering who do people think is the best desender in the wordl. Apologise if I miss anbody obvious pick for the poll.

 

[nevada]

How would you know ? the best descenders are never shown on the telly.

 

[Cerberus]

I think Hushovd is an obvious pick you missed. But as Nevada says it's difficult to say because they're frequently not heading the front group and therefore aren't shown. I'll go with Hushovd, but solely because I think he won a poll among the riders for best descender, not because I actually have a clue..

 

[Broken Spoke]

No Andy Schleck???

 

[Moondance]

I say The Canc. He's technically the best and most precise. Samuel Sanchez is just an incredible dare-devil who is unafraid to risk his life with every hairpin, while The Canc always looks smooth and under control.

 

[palmerq]

Sean Kelly wold always say in eurosport that the sprinters were the best decenders... Maybe he is right:S although i guess it is hard for us to tell from watching on tv because these guys never really get shown on the big decents like todays......

I voted nibali anyway..... I have no idea either :S

 

[Bernardus]

What a useless poll.

 

[Thee_chisa]

no menchov?

 

[Willy_Voet]

Other: Paolo Salvodelli

(You didn't specify past or present )

 

[Mambo95]

I voted other, because the Pros all say it's Hushovd

 

[L'arriviste]

Only evidence I have for saying that Cancellara is a great descender is that famous vid from last year's Tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

 

[ak-zaaf]

Other: Paolo Salvodelli

(You didn't specify past or present )

Gastone Nencini, Rini Wagtmans

 

[Martin318is]

what? no Cadel in the list? are you ill?

Serioulsy though, Thor is an obvious omission, but so is Robbie. I have seen numerous comments about him descending like a rock.

You can actually assess the skills some times. If someone is well off the back on the climb but back in the group early in the valley then you know they did something pretty scary

 

[saganftw]

how about having downhill TT in Tour?

 

[phlatties]

+1 on the salvodelli props. that kid could pin it.

 

[saganftw]

btw i think peter sagan is actually quite good descender if you watch some of his videos...havent seen him on the road though

 

[riobonito92]

Some Columbian or Guatemalan no-one has ever heard of - descending like the TdF but on open roads and bad pavement.

 

[Arnout]

Only evidence I have for saying that Cancellara is a great descender is that famous vid from last year's Tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxXqQqAc2pA

This fails to impress me. It's good descending, but its obvious he isn't giving it all and there's room left on both sides of the road in corners.

I see people saying Sanchez is just reckless but he is not. He only fell in a descent once (last Vuelta I believe, in the rain) but otherwise has very good cornering techniques, partly because of his motorsports interest.

 

[Wergeland]

Other. Really hard to know for sure, but I think Hushovd might be the best one.

 

[Mr. Gipsy]

Gastone Nencini, Rini Wagtmans

Lemond was known as a good descender, as was Kelly. Kelly made a great final descent at MSM to catch up with Argentin!

 

[meandmygitane]

Maybe the question is badly formulated or interpretated.

Maybe it should say "Who is the best descender where it makes a DIFFERENCE?"

It's the difference between scoring great goals in soccer and doing great trick shots on a empty goal: one wins matches and the other one don't.

When I see Hushovd riding away from a group and winning the race I might consider it the same way as I consider Nibali's descending skills - a winning weapon and a great entertainment for the (TV?)-spectators!

No offence mean't to any of the great descendeurs in the peloton.

 

[ericthesportsman6]

Salvodelli won GT's off descending alone. Today I have no idea who the best is, but I think Mikhail Ignatiev, Jose Ivan Gutierrez, and Erros Cappechi should be on the poll. Or maybe you should just rename the thread, "What GT contender or potential GT contender descends the best."

 

[Le breton]

Other: Paolo Salvodelli

(You didn't specify past or present )

And Frédéric Vichot!

 

[indurain666]

Other: Paolo Salvodelli

(You didn't specify past or present )

I couldn't agree Il Falco was the best

 

[Anonymous]

Jalabert was nifty going downhill, as was Salvodelli.

Nibali for me is the best at the moment.