Best rider on every PT team.

[The Hitch]

Just a nice little exercise for cycling fans.

For each of PT team identify who the best rider is in your opinion. In some cases like SAxo and BMC the answer is obvious (Porte init).

But with others (ahem Movistar) it is far more interesting

Just remember to pick only 1 rider per team. I dont want to see any "Thor/ Barbie/ transitions lenses", choices.

• Ag2r-La Mondiale -
• Astana
• BMC Racing Team
• Euskaltel-Euskadi
• Garmin-Cervélo
• HTC-Highroad
• Lampre-ISD
• Leopard Trek
• Liquigas-Cannondale
• Omega Pharma-Lotto
• Quick Step
• Rabobank
• Team Katusha
• Team Movistar
• Team RadioShack
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard
• Team Sky
• Vacansoleil-DCM

 

[The Hitch]

Ill start


• Ag2r-La Mondiale - John Gadret
• Astana - Alexander “Vino” Vinokourov
• BMC Racing Team – Cadel “Cuddles” Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi – The Olympic Champion
• Garmin-Cervélo – The World Champion
• HTC-Highroad - Mark the Kid Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD – Michele
• Leopard Trek – The World and Olympic Champion
• Liquigas-Cannondale Ivan the Terrible
• Omega Pharma-Lotto – Gilbert
• Quick Step – Tommy B
• Rabobank – The one two three time world champion
• Team Katusha - Joaquim Rodríguez Purito Oliver
• Team Movistar – Xavier Tondo
• Team RadioShack – Levi Leipheimer
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard – The Great One.
• Team Sky – Individual Pursuit Double Olympic Champion
• Vacansoleil-DCM –Eze

 

[Havetts]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Nicholas Roche
• Astana - Alexander Vinokourov
• BMC Racing Team - Cadel Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Samuel Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo - Ryder Hesjedal
• HTC-Highroad - Mark Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD - Michele Scarponi
• Leopard Trek - Cancellara (edited because I totally forgot Cancellara for the classics.)
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Ivan Basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - This one was really hard, but in terms of winning races - Phillipe Gilbert, when VdB can ride a better classification.
• Quick Step - Tom Boonen
• Rabobank - Robert Gesink, all nationalism aside.
• Team Katusha - Joaquim Rodriguez
• Team Movistar - Xavier Tondo
• Team RadioShack - Levi Leipheimer
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Alberto Contador, if he gets convicted by CAS then Richie Porte
• Team Sky - Juan Antonio Flecha
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Stijn Devolder, can win monuments and 1 week courses


Was really hard to pick sometimes, seeing classic-specialists, sprinters, tt'rs etc. you get my drive .
And seeing you put down all the nicknames, I didnt feel it was necessary .

 

[hrotha]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Roche
• Astana - Vino
• BMC Racing Team - Evens
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Antón
• Garmin-Cervélo - Hushovd
• HTC-Highroad - Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD - Cunego
• Leotard Trek - Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Nibali
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Gilbert
• Quick Step - Boonen
• Rabobank - Gesink
• Team Katusha - Purito
• Team Movistar - Tondo
• Team RadioShack - Horner
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Clentador
• Team Sky - EBH
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Leukemans

 

[The Hitch]

And seeing you put down all the nicknames, I didnt feel it was necessary .

Nicknames are a very big part of this thing of ours and something we should be proud of. Great tradition with nicknames.

Also its funner to communicate with others on here on a higher level, knowing that even if you dont put someones name down, theyll still know who your talking about, while the casual fan would not.

I see you put down Ryder as Garmins best rider. With such strange situations, my experience in life teaches me to immediately ask if you are Canadian or something

Thor is one of the greats of our sport. Moreover you have a classics and sprinting specialist in Barbie and the second best sprinter in the world in Tyler. Even if your only looking at gt guys there is CVV who is better and Marting could be a better climber. I dont see how Ryder can top everyone on that list.

 

[Arnout]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Roche
• Astana - Vino
• BMC Racing Team - Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo - Hushovd
• HTC-Highroad - Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD - Scarponi
• Leopard Trek - Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Gilbert
• Quick Step - Boonen
• Rabobank - Gesink
• Team Katusha - Purito
• Team Movistar - Soler
• Team RadioShack - Brajkovic
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Contador
• Team Sky - Flecha
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Mosquera

 

[Parrulo]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Roche
• Astana- Vino
• BMC Racing Team - Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Samu
• Garmin-Cervélo- haussler
• HTC-Highroad- Mark cavendish
• Lampre-ISD- Cunego
• Leopard Trek - Cancelara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Gilbert
• Quick Step- Boonen
• Rabobank- Gesink
• Team Katusha - Rodriguez
• Team Movistar - Tondo
• Team RadioShack - Machado
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Contador
• Team Sky - Uran
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Leukmans

 

[Havetts]

I see you put down Ryder as Garmins best rider. With such strange situations, my experience in life teaches me to immediately ask if you are Canadian or something

Well, no need to frown! I think Ryder is a better GC rider than CVV and I just was doubting between him and Thor. Forgive me dear Hitch .

But then a question about yours, the worlds best TimeTrialist versus Baby Schleck. Do you rate TT's higher than GC's, or did you think Cancellara is better consistently?

 

[Moondance]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale : Nicolas Roche
• Astana: Kreuziger
• BMC Racing Team: Cadel Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi: Samuel Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo: Tyler Farrar
• HTC-Highroad: Mark Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD: Michele Scarponi
• Leopard Trek: Fabian Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale: Vincenzo Nibali
• Omega Pharma-Lotto: Philippe Gilbert
• Quick Step: Tom Boonen
• Rabobank: Robert Gesink
• Team Katusha: Joaquim Rodriguez
• Team Movistar: Xavier Tondo
• Team RadioShack: Janez Brajkovic
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard: Alberto Contador
• Team Sky : Edvald Boasson Hagen
• Vacansoleil-DCM: Romain Feillu

 

[tjwracer]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - roche
• Astana- vino
• BMC Racing Team - Cadel
• Euskaltel-Euskadi -Sammy
• Garmin-Cervélo-thor
• HTC-Highroad -cav
• Lampre-ISD-scarponi
• Leopard Trek-sparticus
• Liquigas-Cannondale-basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto- gilbert
• Quick Step- chavenel
• Rabobank- flecha
• Team Katusha- rodriguez
• Team Movistar- tondo
• Team RadioShack-brachkovic(excuse my spelling)
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard- contador
• Team Sky-Boasson Haggen
• Vacansoleil-DCM0- Duvolder

 

[Moondance]

I'm a bit surprised I was the first to name Farrar as Garmin-Cervelo's best rider. I would've thought that one was obvious.

 

[Moondance]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - roche
• Astana- vino
• BMC Racing Team - Cadel
• Euskaltel-Euskadi -Sammy
• Garmin-Cervélo-thor
• HTC-Highroad -cav
• Lampre-ISD-scarponi
• Leopard Trek-sparticus
• Liquigas-Cannondale-basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto- gilbert
• Quick Step- chavenel
• Rabobank- flecha
• Team Katusha- rodriguez
• Team Movistar- tondo
• Team RadioShack-brachkovic(excuse my spelling)
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard- contador
• Team Sky-Boasson Haggen
• Vacansoleil-DCM0- Duvolder

Flecha hasn't ridden for Rabobank since 2009

 

[hrotha]

How did I miss Boasson Hagen? He's my pick for Sky.

 

[Havetts]

Problem is some teams have waaay too much riders to pick from *cough sky and garmin cough*.

 

[The Hitch]

Well, no need to frown! I think Ryder is a better GC rider than CVV and I just was doubting between him and Thor. Forgive me dear Hitch .

But then a question about yours, the worlds best TimeTrialist versus Baby Schleck. Do you rate TT's higher than GC's, or did you think Cancellara is better consistently?

Cancellara isnt just the greatest time trialist of all time. He has also won the 3 monuments of cycling, dominated the Cobbled Monuments last year, can steal sprints from sprinters has won on the mud - Strade Bianchi and wins both 5 k prologues against sprinters and 50k prologues in the 3rd week against gt riders on peak.

Easily better than a 2nd in the Tour every year.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Nicolas Roche
• Astana - Alexandre Vinokourov
• BMC Racing Team - Cadel Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Samuel Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo - Thor Hushovd
• HTC-Highroad - Mark Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD - Michele Scarponi
• Leopard Trek - Fabian Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Ivan Basso
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Philippe Gilbert
• Quick Step - Tom Boonen
• Rabobank - Oscar Freire (won MSR & PT last year, can't ignore it)
• Team Katusha - Joaquin Rodriguez
• Team Movistar - Mauricio Soler
• Team RadioShack - Janez Brajkovic

some teams were harder than i thought
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Alberto Contador
• Team Sky - Edvald Boasson Hagen
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Stijn Devolder

 

[Parrulo]

Well, no need to frown! I think Ryder is a better GC rider than CVV and I just was doubting between him and Thor. Forgive me dear Hitch .

But then a question about yours, the worlds best TimeTrialist versus Baby Schleck. Do you rate TT's higher than GC's, or did you think Cancellara is better consistently?

what about classics?

 

[Havetts]

Cancellara isnt just the greatest time trialist of all time. He has also won the 3 monuments of cycling, dominated the Cobbled Monuments last year, can steal sprints from sprinters has won on the mud - Strade Bianchi and wins both 5 k prologues against sprinters and 50k prologues in the 3rd week against gt riders on peak.

Easily better than a 2nd in the Tour every year.

Holy wow - , how did I forget about that. Forgive me .

And yes DT, Sky was hard and so was Garmin.

Edit - Yes also Parrulo, its late here!

 

[The Hitch]

OH MY GOD

Weve all forgoten the most obvious choice

• Liquigas-Cannondale - Peter Sagan

Father forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

How did I miss Boasson Hagen? He's my pick for Sky.

Lol same.

Though im trusting Wiggins, while all men doubt him,
but make allowances for their doubting too

 

[maltiv]

But then a question about yours, the worlds best TimeTrialist versus Baby Schleck. Do you rate TT's higher than GC's, or did you think Cancellara is better consistently?

Because Cancellara is only good in TTs? Cancellara is also the best classics specialist in the world. And while Andy Schleck is just a normal TDF contender, Fabian Cancellara could very well be the best TT'er of all time.

 

[Ferminal]

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Roche
• Astana - Vino
• BMC Racing Team - Alessandro Ballan
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo - Haussler
• HTC-Highroad - Goss
• Lampre-ISD - Scarponi
• Leopard Trek - Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Sagan
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Gilbert
• Quick Step - Boonen
• Rabobank - LLS
• Team Katusha - Rodriguez
• Team Movistar - Soler
• Team RadioShack - Brajkovic
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Contador
• Team Sky - EBH
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Leukemans

 

[Parrulo]

i am surprised people are putting thor and farrar above haussler tbh

rating sagan over basso or nibali imo is overdoing it a bit

 

[hrotha]

I'm a bit surprised I was the first to name Farrar as Garmin-Cervelo's best rider. I would've thought that one was obvious.

Well, Hushovd is not as fast anymore but he has found a good niche for himself and he seldom fails to deliver when the conditions suit him. Farrar is trying to become more versatile and he's probably a decent classics rider, but still mostly a sprinter, and not the fastest one at that (many people rate him as the 2nd fastest sprinter, but I see Cavendish as the absolute fastest and 5 or 6 other guys at a similar level behind him).

 

[Mambo95]

Ooo, nice topic.

Just off the top of my head:

• Ag2r-La Mondiale - Nic Roche
• Astana - Roman Kreuziger (maybe Vino)
• BMC Racing Team - Cadel Evans
• Euskaltel-Euskadi - Samu Sanchez
• Garmin-Cervélo - Difficult. I'll go for Thor Hushovd
• HTC-Highroad - Mark Cavendish
• Lampre-ISD - Damino Cunego (Scarponi close)
• Leopard Trek - Fab Cancellara
• Liquigas-Cannondale - Vinny Nibali (I think he'll be better than Basso)
• Omega Pharma-Lotto - Pip Gilbert
• Quick Step - Tom Boonen (I'd like him to show it more)
• Rabobank - Oscar Freire (I think he's great. Gesink is the more obvious choice)
• Team Katusha - J-Rod
• Team Movistar - Tondo (it's a weak team without Valverde)
• Team RadioShack - Braijkovic (I know I can't spell it)
• Team Saxo Bank-SunGard - Bertie (without him Richard Porte)
• Team Sky - Wiggins (most will say EBH, but Brad has those track wins under his belt)
• Vacansoleil-DCM - Devolder, when he can be bothered.

 

[Havetts]

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion.

And dont burn me down people, mistakes happen! *hides in his corner*