Best neo-pro 2015?

[Hugo Koblet]

The season is almost over. And as usual, one of the most exciting things about a new season is seeing which new talents have a break through season. In 2015 we witnessed quite a few stellar performances from neo-pros. Now the question is: Which neo-pro has impressed you the most in 2015? I've lined some options up with a breakdown of their most notable results. Of course these only tell part of the story, so share your thoughts: Which neo-pro was the best of 2015?

Edward Theuns

Victories:
1st Ronde van Drenthe
1st Stage 5 4 Jours de Dunkerque
1st Stage 3 Tour de l'Eurométropole

Other notable results:
2nd Dwars door Vlaanderen
2nd Scheldeprijs
2nd Rund um Köln

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=16697&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Tiejs Benoot

Victories:
-

Other notable results:

5th Ronde van Vlaanderen
4th Paris-Tours
2nd Ronde van België
8th Eneco Tour
5th GP de Montréal

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=21244&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Julian Alaphilippe

Victories:
1st Stage 7 Tour of California

Other notable results:
2nd Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2nd Flèche Wallonne
7th Amstel GOld Race
2nd Tour of California
8th Clasica San Sebastian
10th Eneco Tour

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=18610&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Caleb Ewan

Victories:
1st Stage 2 Herald Sun Tour
1st Stage 3 Herald Sun Tour
1st Stage 3 Tour de Langkawi
1st Stage 6 Tour de Langkawi
1st Vuelta a La Rioja
1st Stage 2 Tour de Korea
1st Stage 3 Tour de Korea
1st Stage 5 Tour de Korea
1st Stage 7 Tour de Korea
1st Tour de Korea
1st Stage 6 Vuelta a España

Other notable results:
-

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=19651&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Adam Yates

Victories:
1st Clasica San Sebastian

Other notable results:
9th Tirreno-Adriatico
2nd Tour of Alberta
2nd GP de Montréal

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=18975&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Niccolo Bonifazio

Victories:
1st GP Citta di Lugano
1st Stage 6 Tour of Japan

Other notable results:
5th Milano-Sanremo
9th Vattenfall Cyclassics
4th GP Kanton Aargau

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=20102&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Simon Yates

Victories:
-

Other notable results:
5th Critérium du Dauphiné
5th Vuelta al Pais Vasco
6th Tour de Romandie

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=17893&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Alexis Gougeard

Victories:
1st Tour de l'Eurométropole
1st Prologue Tour de l'Eurométropole
1st Stage 19 Vuelta a España
1st Classic Loire Atlantique
1st Stage 3 4 Jours de Dunkerque

Other notable results:
4th Etoile de Bessèges
5th Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=20580&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Pierre Latour

Victories:
1st Stage 4 Tour de l'Ain

Other notable results:
3rd Route du Sud
3rd Tour de l'Ain
5th Vuelta a Burgos
7th Etoile de Bessèges

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=20156&year=2015&all=0&current=0

Miguel Angel Lopez

Victories:
1st Stage 4 Vuelta a Burgos

Other notable reults:
4th Vuelta a Burgos
7th Tour de Suisse

All results: http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/rider_palm.asp?riderid=23334&year=2015&all=0&current=0

 

[Brullnux]

Bonifazio isn't a neo-pro

Nor is Yates (both), Theuns, Alaphillipe or Gougeard

Edit: yep, OK see where I went wrong

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Bonifazio isn't a neo-pro

He's a 2nd year neo - like Alaphilippe, Gougeard and the Yateses

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Bonifazio isn't a neo-pro

I thought he's in his second season as a professional?

 

[Brullnux]

I thought neo pro meant in his first year?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

I thought neo pro meant in his first year?

No, you're technically a neo-pro for the first two years

 

[Brullnux]

Re: Re:

I thought neo pro meant in his first year?

No, you're technically a neo-pro for the first two years

My whole life has been a lie

 

[Brullnux]

Anyway, Alaphillipe for me

 

[robin440]

Emanuel Buchmann!!!!!

 

[Gigs_98]

IMO its between Alaphilippe and Adam Yates. I voted for Alaphilippe because in my opinion 2nd in LBL and Flèche Wallone, beating some of the best riders on such a finish counts more than a lucky San Sebastian win, only because GVA was hit by a motorcycle. Generally a lot of very good neo pro's this year. For example Ewan had a great season, especially his Vuelta win on an uphill sprint, beating Degenkolb, and Sagan, maybe the two strongest riders on this terrain.

 

[SeriousSam]

Alaphilippe

 

[Velolover2]

Alaphilippe for sure.

 

[nobilis]

Alaphilippe for me.
2nd in LBL and FW for any rider and not just a neo-pro, is a great achievement by itself. And that was behind Alejandro the Great. Add to that all his performances in the other classics and the 4th GT

 

[djpbaltimore]

IMO its between Alaphilippe and Adam Yates. I voted for Alaphilippe because in my opinion 2nd in LBL and Flèche Wallone, beating some of the best riders on such a finish counts more than a lucky San Sebastian win, only because GVA was hit by a motorcycle. Generally a lot of very good neo pro's this year. For example Ewan had a great season, especially his Vuelta win on an uphill sprint, beating Degenkolb, and Sagan, maybe the two strongest riders on this terrain.

I was leaning toward Yates for the quality of his victory, but your analysis convinced me to choose Alaphilippe.

 

[Jagartrott]

Re: Re:

I thought neo pro meant in his first year?

No, you're technically a neo-pro for the first two years

I think that's a pretty stupid definition.
The difference between a first and a second year can be sky-high.

 

[Jspear]

Is the poll working for anyone?

For me it's Alaphilippe. It will be interesting to see how he continues to develop.
2nd is Ewan. Yes a lot of his wins were in small races, but he also proved he can sprint well against some of the best.

 

[fauniera]

Re: Re:

I thought neo pro meant in his first year?

No, you're technically a neo-pro for the first two years

I think that's a pretty stupid definition.
The difference between a first and a second year can be sky-high.

Absolutely. Neo pro is first year pro, anything else doesn't make any sense. Benoot for me, Küng second.

 

[GP Blanco]

Benoot because he is a 'real' neo. By the way the poll isn't functioning.

 

[TMP402]

Re:

Benoot because he is a 'real' neo.

Same for me. But even if it is two years, puncheurs don't really excite me so still Benoot.

 

[May0maniac]

Yes, that's a stupid definition, maybe people use it because most riders still have a neo pro contract in their second year as a pro, but it's a strange definition. For me it's Benoot, second is pretty close but I have to give it to Superman Lopez.

 

[nobilis]

Benoot for me too if we stick to 1st yeah Neo-Pro only.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I thought about only including first year pro's but in the end went with the official definition. I don't know why the poll doesn't work by the way

 

[Jagartrott]

Of the list, clearly Alaphilippe, but best first-year rider Benoot.
If you see the change Alaphilippe made between his first year and this year, then I hope Benoot can get some victories next year.

 

[MatParker117]

Ewan

 

[Gigs_98]

Btw, isnt this Zubeldia guy a neo pro? I have seen him for the first time this season