Teams & Riders Best riders never to win a monument

[hayneplane]

With it now being well into the off season it’s worth a look back in history to try and recall some talented riders who never won big.

Who has never won a monument that realistically could have done so with a bit of luck on their side.

To avoid too much recency bias I would like to restrict this to only retired riders and active riders 30 and older thus increasingly less likely to make that breakthrough.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Armstrong
LeMond
Maertens

Not sure if anyone else belongs in the discussion with those three.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Armstrong
LeMond
Maertens

Not sure if anyone else belongs in the discussion with those three.

Contador & Froome: 7 GTs each (9 for Contador if you treat him like Armstrong)

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Contador & Froome: 7 GTs each

But neither has any classics pedigree. Armstrong won a world title and finished second in Liège twice, Lemond won three world titles, and Maertens won two world titles and finished second in four monuments.

 

[hayneplane]

Mads Pedersen is the obvious one of recent times.

Leif Hoste has the results with 3 runner up finishes in RVV but I don’t think his quality matches those results which flatter him somewhat.

Maertens record of a top 5 finish in his career in all 5 monuments and 19 total top tens is freakishly impressive consistently without ever getting to the top step.

 

[hayneplane]

But neither has any classics pedigree. Armstrong won a world title and finished second in Liège twice, Lemond won three world titles, and Maertens won two world titles and finished second in four monuments.

I feel like at his 2007-2009 best Contador maybe could have contended for LBL or Lombardia but it’s still a reach based on his actual 1 day palmares and I agree he probably doesn’t deserve to make the list.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Armstrong
LeMond
Maertens

Not sure if anyone else belongs in the discussion with those three.

I don't agree with Armstrong. He never really targeted monuments in his prime (1999-2005). He had some appearances in LBL and RVV but never had the feeling he was really trying to win them. He had some nice results in AGR (Maastricht Gold Race IIRC) though.
I think Mads will deserve a place in the future

 

[RedheadDane]

To avoid too much recency bias I would like to restrict this to only retired riders and active riders 30 and older

Mads Pedersen is the obvious one of recent times.

Did you just break your own rule? Or are you figuring that since he turns 30 in December, you might as well include him?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Recently, Vanmarcke, unfortunately there is no justice in this cruel world.

 

[fenns]

Miguel Induráin

 

[Peyroteo94]

Recently, Vanmarcke, unfortunately there is no justice in this cruel world.

Vanmarcke didn't have the ability to drop everyone and he wasn't a good sprinter.
On the other hand, Hushovd is someone who should have won a monument specially due to his incredible sprint. For example, how didn't he win a MSR?

 

[Tim Cahill]

Vanmarcke didn't have the ability to drop everyone and he wasn't a good sprinter.
On the other hand, Hushovd is someone who should have won a monument specially due to his incredible sprint. For example, how didn't he win a MSR?

He dropped everyone on Carrefour in 2016 and came out of it alone, which would usually be the winning move. Unfortunately when most groups would save some energy and look around a bit, the guys behind happened to cobble together the strongest 3 man team pursuit outfit imaginable there and then on the road.

At least it wasn't his usual puncture.

 

[RedheadDane]

Unfortunately when most groups would save some energy and look around a bit, the guys behind happened to cobble together the strongest 3 man team pursuit outfit imaginable there and then on the road.

Where are those Group 2 Dynamics when you need them?

 

[Peyroteo94]

He dropped everyone on Carrefour in 2016 and came out of it alone, which would usually be the winning move. Unfortunately when most groups would save some energy and look around a bit, the guys behind happened to cobble together the strongest 3 man team pursuit outfit imaginable there and then on the road.

At least it wasn't his usual puncture.

He got a golden opportunity and still didn't make it. Don't forget Cance and Sagan were caught behind in the race.

 

[hayneplane]

Did you just break your own rule? Or are you figuring that since he turns 30 in December, you might as well include him?

Well he will be 30 before he next gets the chance to ride and therefore win one so he squeaks in on a technicality 😂

 

[hayneplane]

I don't agree with Armstrong. He never really targeted monuments in his prime (1999-2005). He had some appearances in LBL and RVV but never had the feeling he was really trying to win them. He had some nice results in AGR (Maastricht Gold Race IIRC) though.
I think Mads will deserve a place in the future

Look at his results pre cancer and they are very consistent with a hilly monuments winner.

 

[hayneplane]

He dropped everyone on Carrefour in 2016 and came out of it alone, which would usually be the winning move. Unfortunately when most groups would save some energy and look around a bit, the guys behind happened to cobble together the strongest 3 man team pursuit outfit imaginable there and then on the road.

At least it wasn't his usual puncture.

He was superb on the flat cobbles but never had the rouleur chops to hold an advantage in bteeen the sectors on the asphalt.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Look at his results pre cancer and they are very consistent with a hilly monuments winner.

I know but Armstrong is remembered for his level between 1999-2005 and in this period he didn't target monuments. If he did, he probably would have won one.
I'm pretty sure Devil put him in his list because he is a 7x TdF winner.

 

[ingsve]

Vanmarcke didn't have the ability to drop everyone and he wasn't a good sprinter.
On the other hand, Hushovd is someone who should have won a monument specially due to his incredible sprint. For example, how didn't he win a MSR?

For Hushovd, I think he lost a lot of years staying at Credit Agricole. They simply didn't have the materials or team strength in the classics to really support someone in the top monuments. He did win Gent-Wevelgem and came 3rd in MS-R at Credit Agricole so he did have the capacity but he also lost a lot of chances to mechanicals.

It wasn't until he went to Cervelo at age 30 that he became a lot more of a consistent factor in the classics. I remember him saying at the time what a big change it was to have a proper bike on the cobbles.

 

[Salvarani]

For Hushovd, I think he lost a lot of years staying at Credit Agricole. They simply didn't have the materials or team strength in the classics to really support someone in the top monuments. He did win Gent-Wevelgem and came 3rd in MS-R at Credit Agricole so he did have the capacity but he also lost a lot of chances to mechanicals.

It wasn't until he went to Cervelo at age 30 that he became a lot more of a consistent factor in the classics. I remember him saying at the time what a big change it was to have a proper bike on the cobbles.

He did crash, in the same corner, a couple of times in PR. I dont know if that could be entirely attributed to the bike or weak team.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I'm pretty sure Devil put him in his list because he is a 7x TdF winner.

Only in part. Of all the GT greats who never won a monument, he has clearly the best trackrecord in the classics. And for Lemond and Maertens too, their stage race results are a part of what sets them apart from everyone else you might consider.

I also just realised I completely forgot about Frans Verbeeck, he definitely belongs alongside these three. Tied for third-most monument top-10s with Moser behind Merckx and De Vlaeminck, of which four thirds and four seconds, yet somehow he never won anything bigger than Amstel and Flèche.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Mads Pedersen is the obvious one of recent times.

Perderson was never good enough to win a monument ,

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Don't think jop zootamelk ever won a monument? He was a pretty good rider