Best sprinter ever?

[on3m@n@rmy]

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

Notwithstanding that he'd probably be DQed from every single sprint he contested if he rode today, how many sprinters do you know who've won mountain stages at the Tour?

I was also thinking wreckless Abdou. Well, wreckless may be a bit harsh. Let's say aggressive.

 

[crapna]

Tyler Farrar, 13th on RVV

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Not the best in our list so far, but Tom Steels was respectable (9 Tour stages and a bunch of other wins). May be most remembered for being tossed out of the 97 Tour for tossing his water bottle at another rider whom he was mad at for blocking.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Cipollini was the fastest I've ever seen.

 

[Midnightfright]

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

Notwithstanding that he'd probably be DQed from every single sprint he contested if he rode today, how many sprinters do you know who've won mountain stages at the Tour?

George Hincapie.

 

[mad black]

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

Notwithstanding that he'd probably be DQed from every single sprint he contested if he rode today, how many sprinters do you know who've won mountain stages at the Tour?

Thor Hushovd - Although equally down on the list of best sprinters as Abdu.

 

[Midnightfright]

Thor Hushovd - Although equally down on the list of best sprinters than Abdu.

Was the stage you were refering to really a mountain stage? From my memory it was more a transition stage.EBH won a fairly similar stage as well this year. Both impressive bit think.it may be a bit of a stretch to call then mountain stages.

 

[ultimobici]

What??

He had the "Red Guard" and they weren't comparable the 1990's trains, in my opinion. But I do accept that the sixties was another era.


I rather liked your ranking on YT, though.

Not my ranking but one of my favourite clips.

I meant that Van Looy was the first to use a sprint train which served as a model for the later Saeco and then HTC trains. Most influential was a stretch, though!

 

[greenedge]

I would say Cav is on par to becoming the best ( he probably already is the best even at his tender age ). However those others are probably more impressive by the fact they had harder competition, did not whinge so much and had to compete on more undulating courses.

You could probably also put Hoy into it as well or any Olympic track specialists if they own the opposition for a long time.

 

[patterson_hood]

I would say Cav is on par to becoming the best ( he probably already is the best even at his tender age ). However those others are probably more impressive by the fact they had harder competition, did not whinge so much and had to compete on more undulating courses.

Did they really have harder competition? Training methods have pretty much normalised between the top teams these days whereas in days past you had a mix which would have a massive effect. Maybe Cav is just that much better than the competition. I'm afraid I don't know enough about the olde course routes to comment on that but if we're talking about the best sprinter surely it's the guy who wins the most when everyone gets to the finishing straight at the same time, otherwise it's just the best sprinter who can get over the bumps.

 

[Archibald]

McEwen has more green jerseys than Cav and his ability to not need a train, let alone a lead out is amazing.

not saying he's the greatest, just stirring the pot a bit

 

[ultimobici]

McEwen has more green jerseys than Cav and his ability to not need a train, let alone a lead out is amazing.

not saying he's the greatest, just stirring the pot a bit

Took him until 30 to win his first jersey, 12 Tours for 12 stages vs 5 Tours for 20 stages.......

Cavendish may not have as many Maillots Verts but he's only just begun....

 

[TeoSheva]

the biggest one:

 

[JTPato]

Best sprinter ever

What about Andre Darrigade?

 

[AngusW]

Djamolidine Abdoujaparov.

Notwithstanding that he'd probably be DQed from every single sprint he contested if he rode today, how many sprinters do you know who've won mountain stages at the Tour?

Barry Hoban in the 1968 Tour won an Alpine stage.

 

[sublimit]

Not the best in our list so far, but Tom Steels was respectable (9 Tour stages and a bunch of other wins). May be most remembered for being tossed out of the 97 Tour for tossing his water bottle at another rider whom he was mad at for blocking.

Lol yeah, great bike handling to be able to do that at that velocity.
One of my favourite riders definatley.

Speed wise it has to be Cipo followed by Cav, Zabel more consistent and was able to climb fairly well, Petacci cant be underestimated - that year he took 8 Giro stages he must of been on fire.

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

My criteria for this are the following: stage wins (particularly in grand tours), classics/monuments if they end in a bunch sprint and points/sprinters jerseys won, with the jerseys from the 3 GTs being the most highly valued.

On his day Sean Kelly.

 

[SimonC]

From the past Cipo, used to love seeing him sit at the back of the Saeco train getting ready for take off. The Ale Jet was also pretty awsome in his pomp.
If he continues to win at his current frequency Cav will be the best of all time.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Alessandro Pettachi - the guy is flamboyant, fast, suave and wins a lot of sprints. I don't really care if he has been suspended for taking a little too much asthma medicaion.

 

[sublimit]

Alessandro Pettachi - the guy is flamboyant, fast, suave and wins a lot of sprints. I don't really care if he has been suspended for taking a little too much asthma medicaion.

Looks dont count. Seriously in his pomp he was untouchable, Even Cipo had trouble competing with him when he burst onto the scene.

It would of been great to see them going head to head when both were on the top of their game.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ale Jet is still super quick even if he is 37 years old. Younger sprinters still find it hard to challenge Ale-Jet and he's one of the few sprinters that can really challenge Cavendish.

 

[Andre.J]

Maertens......

 

[jamiephillips]

Jean-Paul van Poppel has got to be up there with about 20 odd GT stages. And what about Oscar Freire's 3 rainbow jerseys?

Although I must say these "Who's the best ever?" threads are a bit silly really as most of the people mentioned never raced each other, at least not at their peaks, so it is impossible to say!!

**edit** OP can't claim Lance for this one!!

 

[Moncoutie]

I was also thinking wreckless Abdou. Well, wreckless may be a bit harsh. Let's say aggressive.

I don't know, reckless would be pretty accurate!

 

[Captain_Obvious]

I think that this thread lacks enough love for Zabel. I dont think he is the very best, but he was great, and consistent.