Best rider of the season?

[Echoes]

And then his season was almost over in early April, it's one-dimensional season, the rest of the season was almost non-existent for a star caliber rider like him, i can't put him at top for that reason.

Cancellara won the ITT nationals, the ITT in the Tour of Austria, the ITT in the Tour of Spain. He was 10th in the Worlds, 3rd in the ITT Worlds and 2nd in the ITT in the Tour of Poland and in a stage of the Tour of Spain.

Cancellara has so far raced for 74 days (season over?). Froome: ... 60 days. Contadull: 66 ... Rui Costa 64 (OK + Beijing).

So please, no dishonesty.

 

[Billie]

At least he contended for wins on the second half of the season . . .

The best rider of the season shouldn't struggle to finish races after july, rather not race like Contador in 2009 than make a fool of yourself.

The best rider of the season shouldn't struggle to follow half decent climbers at the TdP.

No difference between USAPCC and WC Froome and Pologne Nibali.

They both had races where there form was really bad.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

My semi unbiased opinion:

1. Nibali (almost pulled off 2 GTs, just missed out on medals at WC)


These two are tied for me:
2. Cancellara (PR, Ronde)
2. Sagan (Green Jersey, GP Montreal, GW, E3)

3. Froome (destroyed le Tour, but then went MIA, won all the early season stage races minus TA)

4. J-Rod
5. Piti
6. Quintana

7. Dan Martin
7. Kreuziger
7. Costa

10. Cav

Fun fact: Froome raced 4,000 km less this year than Nibali, Sagan, J-Rod, Piti, and Cav.

Cance won E3

 

[sublimit]

Gerald Ciolek because he won my fave race. Other rider of note - Nibali, and Sagan gets on the podium

 

[Pricey_sky]

Froome, Cancellara and Nibali would be my top 3. All 3 more or less won every race that they wanted to win and put in some superb performances along the way. Yes they had periods where they were anonymous however they can all be very proud of achievements this year.

Special mentions for Purito, Dan Martin, Quintana and Sagan who also helped to make this season enjoyable.

 

[darwin553]

Heart says Froome but my head says Nibali. So Nibali it is

 

[Parrulo]

The best rider of the season shouldn't struggle to follow half decent climbers at the TdP.

No difference between USAPCC and WC Froome and Pologne Nibali.

They both had races where there form was really bad.

There is a big difference, Nibali worked his way into the second peak of the season and finished second in the Vuelta and forth at the worlds.

 

[Parrulo]

Sagan is not in first 3 for sure, probably not in first 5, but for sure he was better then Dan Martin this year. (who is btw in my top five favourite riders)

What exactly did he win that is better than LBL and Catalunya (the oldest 1 week race in the world with a very strong field this year)?

 

[JRanton]

There is a big difference, Nibali worked his way into the second peak of the season and finished second in the Vuelta and forth at the worlds.

Yes, but that's much easier to do when you ride the Giro and not the Tour.

 

[SKSemtex]

What exactly did he win that is better than LBL and Catalunya (the oldest 1 week race in the world with a very strong field this year)?

You know what, as I look on those results, you are right. Martin is definetly better.

1st, Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1st Gent–Wevelgem
1st Brabantse Pijl
1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
2nd Milan – San Remo
2nd Tour of Flanders
2nd E3 Harelbeke
2nd Strade Bianche

1st, Stage 9, Tour de France 1st Points classification
1st Stage 7
8 podiums


1st, Overall, Volta a Catalunya Tour of Oman
1st, Stage 4 1st Stages 2 & 3
Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stages 3 & 6
Tour de Suisse
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3 & 8
Three Days of De Panne
1st Stage 1
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 1, 3, 6 & 7
Tour of Alberta
1st Sprints classification
1st Prologue, Stages 1 & 5
Tour of California
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 3 & 8

 

[SKSemtex]

What exactly did he win that is better than LBL and Catalunya (the oldest 1 week race in the world with a very strong field this year)?

You are right, as I look at those results he is definetly worse then Martin.

1st, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st, Stage 9, Tour de France
1st, Overall, Volta a Catalunya
1st, Stage 4



1st Gent–Wevelgem
1st Brabantse Pijl
1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
2nd Milan – San Remo
2nd Tour of Flanders
2nd E3 Harelbeke
2nd Strade Bianche


1st Points classification, Tour de France
1st Stage
2ns – 6 stages


Tour of Oman
1st Stages 2 & 3
Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stages 3 & 6
Tour of California
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 3 & 8
Tour de Suisse
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3 & 8
Three Days of De Panne
1st Stage 1
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 1, 3, 6 & 7
Tour of Alberta
1st Sprints classification
1st Prologue, Stages 1 & 5

 

[Arredondo]

Not here, although he won 4 Tour stages and proved to be faster than Cav and Greipel, he was very inconsistent in big races throughout the season, or didn't even race many of them. Cav on the other hand raced Tirreno, MSR, il Giro, his national champs, the Tour and even rode on the front in the Worlds.

Racing is something else than actually fight for the victory. The fact that you ride on the front in the Worlds, isn't really important in terms of rider of the year.

The fact that Kittel really beat the king of Man, is worth mentioning.

 

[theyoungest]

Racing is something else than actually fight for the victory. The fact that you ride on the front in the Worlds, isn't really important in terms of rider of the year.

The fact that Kittel really beat the king of Man, is worth mentioning.

What's also worth mentioning is that Cav won 5 Giro stages, at a time when Kittel was racing in Picardie and what have you.

 

[Arredondo]

What's also worth mentioning is that Cav won 5 Giro stages, at a time when Kittel was racing in Picardie and what have you.

I do not dare not mentioning Cav

I think the term rider of the year, also contains a 'surprise of the year'. Of course, we all know and expect Kittel would get a stage win, but winning four stages and really establish himself as the best sprinter at the moment (although Cav had a hard Giro in his legs), gives him a edge on Cav in my opinion.

 

[gustienordic]

The best rider of the year has to be a little more dimensional than Cav/Kittel. Neither can do anything really in classics, hills, etc.

Nibbs, Cancellara, Sagan are the best mulitdimensional riders, and are all potentially the best of the year.

 

[Parrulo]

You are right, as I look at those results he is definetly worse then Martin.

1st, Liège–Bastogne–Liège
1st, Stage 9, Tour de France
1st, Overall, Volta a Catalunya
1st, Stage 4


1st Gent–Wevelgem
1st Brabantse Pijl
1st Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore
2nd Milan – San Remo
2nd Tour of Flanders
2nd E3 Harelbeke
2nd Strade Bianche


1st Points classification, Tour de France
1st Stage
2ns – 6 stages


Tour of Oman
1st Stages 2 & 3
Tirreno–Adriatico
1st Stages 3 & 6
Tour of California
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 3 & 8
Tour de Suisse
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3 & 8
Three Days of De Panne
1st Stage 1
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1st Sprints classification
1st Stages 1, 3, 6 & 7
Tour of Alberta
1st Sprints classification
1st Prologue, Stages 1 & 5

Yep those Tour of oman or Cali stage wins sure are as important as a monument win

Sagan had a great season but didn't win anything important, his best win was GW which is a race Cancellara didn't even bother to finish and that says it all.

There is a reason why no one is voting Valverde as one of the top 5 riders of the year, he didn't win anything important. He was close but he didn't win, just like Sagan.

 

[Arredondo]

The best rider of the year has to be a little more dimensional than Cav/Kittel. Neither can do anything really in classics, hills, etc.

Nibbs, Cancellara, Sagan are the best mulitdimensional riders, and are all potentially the best of the year.

I'm not saying Kittel is the best rider, but just saying he's had a great year.

If you talk about the best multideminsional riders, you have to pick Jrod or Piti instead of Sagan. Both guys can win big classics and finish on the podium of GT's. Purito won Lombardy and reached the podium of the Tour. Sagan won some nice one day races, and sprints of course, but can't get generals in shorter stage races or GT's.

In my opinion a 'rider of the year' must have the capacity to win big classics and reach high in grand tours. So Nibbles, Purito, Cancellara for me, with Nibbles as winner.

 

[Netserk]

I'm not saying Kittel is the best rider, but just saying he's had a great year.

If you talk about the best multideminsional riders, you have to pick Jrod or Piti instead of Sagan. Both guys can win big classics and finish on the podium of GT's. Purito won Lombardy and reached the podium of the Tour. Sagan won some nice one day races, and sprints of course, but can't get generals in shorter stage races or GT's.

In my opinion a 'rider of the year' must have the capacity to win big classics and reach high in grand tours.

No. Neither has anything on Nibbles

 

[Arredondo]

No. Neither has anything on Nibbles

Read my last sentence

 

[Netserk]

Read my last sentence

It wasn't there the first time I read your post

 

[Arredondo]

It wasn't there the first time I read your post

Was not easy for me to write it down

 

[Flamin]

Froome, Christopher. Yes, he faded after le Tour (well duh) and Nibbles was very competitive in the second half of the year, but in the end he didn't win a single race since il Giro himself. That's why.

1 Froome
2 Nibali
3 Cancellara
4 Purito

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I'm not saying Kittel is the best rider, but just saying he's had a great year.

If you talk about the best multideminsional riders, you have to pick Jrod or Piti instead of Sagan. Both guys can win big classics and finish on the podium of GT's. Purito won Lombardy and reached the podium of the Tour. Sagan won some nice one day races, and sprints of course, but can't get generals in shorter stage races or GT's.

In my opinion a 'rider of the year' must have the capacity to win big classics and reach high in grand tours. So Nibbles, Purito, Cancellara for me, with Nibbles as winner.

Sagan can win mountainstages, sprints, classics, prologues. He's definitely multidimensional and shouldve won MSR, objectively

 

[Arredondo]

Sagan can win mountainstages, sprints, classics, prologues. He's definitely multidimensional and shouldve won MSR, objectively

Ciolek won MSR because he was the fastest.

Sagan is a great rider, who is multifunctional, but winning monuments and finish on the podium in a GT and stage races is the max.

 

[Netserk]

Purito isn't really multidimensional. He can sprint on an incline. Both in stage races and in one day races.

That's about it.