Best rider never to..?

[Caruut]

Was watching a video of Kelly's '92 MSR win the other day, and it made me think about how he never won the worlds - despite being one of the best ever one-day riders. In cycling, we tend to only remember the winners - the nearly men fall by the wayside. So, for you, who are the riders who fell short? Would be cool if you could reply to each of the questions.

Who was the best rider never to win the worlds?

Sean Kelly, for me.

Who was the best rider never to win a GT?

I really can't think of a name at all.

Who was the best rider never to win a monument?

Freddie Maertens. Came top 5 in all 5, but never won any of them.


If anyone else can think of a good question I'll add it.


When I say "best rider never to..." I think some sort of proficiency in that area is implied. While one might think Tom Boonen is far better than, say, Piotr Ugrumov, the Latvian would certainly come above him in the "never won a grand tour" list.

 

[Havetts]

Indurain was probably the best rider to never win a Road Race championship.

Best rider to never win a GT? Very hard one indeed .

Best rider to never win a monument? I agree with Maertens.

 

[El Pistolero]

Indurain was probably the best rider to never win a Road Race championship.

Best rider to never win a GT? Very hard one indeed .

Best rider to never win a monument? I agree with Maertens.

Roger de Vlaeminck wants a word with you.

Especially considering that the WC RR is a one day race and De Vlaeminck was one of the best ever in that discipline.

 

[will10]

Who was the best rider never to win the worlds?

Kelly, Zabel, err I'll come back to this one.

Who was the best rider never to win a GT?

Hmmm. Of current riders I'm thinking Sammy Sanchez. Perhaps Virenque, Chiappucchi?

Who was the best rider never to win a monument?

Maertens seems as good a shout as any. How about Ricco

 

[rghysens]

Best rider who never won a WC RR: doubting between Gino Bartali, Roger de Vlaeminck and Miguel Indurain. Let's say Gino Bartali.

Best rider who never won a GT: Roger de Vlaeminck or Rik Van Looy

Best Rider who never won a monument: Freddy Maertens or Miguel Indurain. or Lance Armstrong, but this last name will surely start a discussion.

 

[Echoes]

Roger De Vlaeminck was far better than Kelly was.

Bartali is overrated.

 

[greenedge]

One rider who i think should be considered as never winning a WC would be McEwan on quite a few sprinter friendly courses.

 

[El Pistolero]

Not by a long-shot. Was never the best sprinter of his generation.

 

[TeoSheva]

Bartali is overrated.

come on... he hasn't one of the best palmares in the history just due to the 2nd world war...

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Robert Millar must be one of the best not to win a Grand Tour, has anyone else finished second three times without a win?

 

[El Pistolero]

Andy Schleck.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

I forgot Schleck although he has 4!

 

[El Pistolero]

You could also say Raymond Poulidor, but he won the Vuelta... Never wore the yellow jersey in the Tour once though... If I remember correctly.

 

[Caruut]

Robert Millar is a good shout.

 

[Vino attacks everyone]

You could also say Raymond Poulidor, but he won the Vuelta... Never wore the yellow jersey in the Tour once though... If I remember correctly.

Vino...................................................................

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

You could also say Raymond Poulidor, but he won the Vuelta... Never wore the yellow jersey in the Tour once though... If I remember correctly.

If we're nominating riders who have won Grand Tours then I am going for Merckx.

 

[Echoes]

come on... he hasn't one of the best palmares in the history just due to the 2nd world war...

Many people forgot that racing continued during WWII.

By 1941/42 Coppi at a very young age was already better than Bartali who was in his prime. At such races the Tours of Tuscany or of Emily for example.

When Bartali beat Coppi, it usually was in a sprint but when the reverse thing happened, it was a beatdown.

Coppi's superiority was confirmed when he broke the Hour.

 

[icefire]

De Vlaemink
Chiapucci
Maertens

 

[The Hitch]

Worlds - Kelly. Active - cancellara
Gt - Samu.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

A rider who really should/could've won a monument but didn't = Michael Boogerd.

So many times the strongest in LBL or Lombardia without winning

 

[burning]

A rider who really should/could've won a monument but didn't = Michael Boogerd.

So many times the strongest in LBL or Lombardia without winning

I was laughing so hard when I watched lombardia 2004.
I mean how the hell he lost lombardia 2004?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

By taking the wrong line in the sprint. He was actually faster than Cunego but cunego had the inner corner and Boogerd left it 50m too late. So stupid

Plus they should have never let Cunego return in the first place. But that's what you get for doubting to ride on

 

[burning]

By taking the wrong line in the sprint. He was actually faster than Cunego but cunego had the inner corner and Boogerd left it 50m too late. So stupid

Plus they should have never let Cunego return in the first place. But that's what you get for doubting to ride on

If I recall correctly, only Basso worked, then Cunego caught them?

 

[Pantani_lives]

Other good riders who never won a GT:
Claudio Chiappucci
Charly Mottet
Herman Van Springel
Fernando Escartin

 

[will10]

A rider who really should/could've won a monument but didn't = Michael Boogerd.

So many times the strongest in LBL or Lombardia without winning

Blimey, I'd not thought that Boogie hadn't won one, definite candidate in that case.