CNF Award: Best classic rider of 2013

[skidmark]

The discussion is already ruined because of the definition deciding factor=victories. I think someone who gets to the podium in 5/6 classics, with better competition, and wants to ride GC's in GT, can pick above someone who focus himself fully on the classics, because he isn't a GT rider.

However, the choice for Cancellara is also very logical, because he won two monuments, but he also finishes on the podium of MSR. And he has the potential to do well in a LBL or Amstel.

Sagan can't be chosen in favour of Canc, because Sagan was beaten by Canc in Flanders, and he only win races like GW and Montreal. I agree with you on that point.

With the unpredictability of one-day classics, I think it's an incredibly impressive feat to feature at the top end so consistently. It's hard to do, and guys like Rebellin and Valverde have long throughout their careers been in the right moves and/or had the strength to be there and thereabouts when it matters (leave aside the fact that it feels like Rebellin was always in the right place because he was smart and won with opportunism, and Valverde seemed like he was one step behind when he should have won because he was dumb).

But of course, it's an incredibly impressive feat to win a classic at all. Sure, sometimes someone can benefit from being dragged to the end (Nuyens) or by having the big names check each other (van Summeren) or by having a teammate everyone's scared to drag to the end behind them (Devolder x2), but in my memory all the good classics victories this year were well-deserved (you could argue against Ciolek maybe, but I think it was deserved).

If you want to argue whether winning is better than being consistent, that is a tough call when you're talking about a single classic win vs a string of top places. I would not say Kreuziger had a better classics season than Valverde. I would say Purito did. But when you compare winning 2 monuments and E3 to podiuming a bunch of races, it's no question in my mind. Fabian all the way this year.

 

[Carols]

Only 1 fewer. E3+RVV+Roubaix > meaningless Italian warmup race in February+G-W+Brabantse Pijl+Canadian WT race.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm saying it makes no sense to argue against somebody who's been constantly on and around the podium in every Classic they've entered on the basis that they haven't won things of any consequence, and then vote for a guy who's been constantly on and around the podium in every Classic they've entered when they have won only a small amount of things that are of any consequence.

Personally I think the argument in favour of Valverde in 2013 is very weak. The argument for Sagan is much stronger. But if you're making victories into the deciding factor, which you implied in your criticism of the Valverde pick, then Cancellara simply must be chosen ahead of Sagan on the basis that while Sagan won one more race than Cancellara, Cancellara won 3 classics including 2 monuments, while Sagan won 1 classic including 0 monuments.

We all know that Netserk thinks Fabu is 'overrated', so expecting him to vote for Fabu isn't realistic IMO

 

[Libertine Seguros]

We all know that Netserk thinks Fabu is 'overrated', so expecting him to vote for Fabu isn't realistic IMO

I wasn't expecting him to vote for Fäbu, I was just pointing out that making a lack of victories into an issue despite consistent podium performances compromises his own selection of Sagan, since he had consistent podium performances, but only won one race of major importance in Classics season.

Sagan is a better pick for the accolade than Valverde, definitely, but Netserk's reason for making the point wasn't the best in view of his own selection.

 

[Netserk]

I wasn't expecting him to vote for Fäbu, I was just pointing out that making a lack of victories into an issue despite consistent podium performances compromises his own selection of Sagan, since he had consistent podium performances, but only won one race of major importance in Classics season.

Sagan is a better pick for the accolade than Valverde, definitely, but Netserk's reason for making the point wasn't the best in view of his own selection.

I didn't pick Sagan because of a single reason, but a balancing of several reasons.

I simply pointed out that Valverde really can't be considered to be the best classic rider of the year, when he hasn't won a single classic. That doesn't mean that the best is (just) the one with the most wins, or biggest wins. Several factors count.

 

[Netserk]

We all know that Netserk thinks Fabu is 'overrated', so expecting him to vote for Fabu isn't realistic IMO

Yeah I think he is overrated. So what? I also think he is one of the few active legends of the sport. So what?

I would have voted for him, if the poll was strongest classic rider, but the best this year is IMO Sagan.

 

[The Hitch]

Some of you have misread the question.

The Question is "Best Classic rider".

Classic. Definition :
Judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind.

Obviously Cancellara

 

[Carols]

Yeah I think he is overrated. So what? I also think he is one of the few active legends of the sport. So what?

I would have voted for him, if the poll was strongest classic rider, but the best this year is IMO Sagan.

Ok my bad

 

[jackarney]

Van Avermaet should have made that list

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 5th
Strade Bianche - 6th
Milano - Sanremo - 34th
E3 Harelbeke - 24th
Gent-Wevelgem - 3rd
Ronde Van Vlaanderen - 7th
Paris Roubaix - 4th
Amstel Gold - 16th
Fleche Walone - Skipped
Liege-Bastogne-Liege - 63rd
San Sebastien - 18th
UCI Worlds - 23rd
Lombardia - 19th

and he was riding for Gilbert in a few of the these races his results don't reflect his overall impact but 5 top 10's and some other good results while supporting other riders on his team. No wins but I would say he should be on the list before Gilbert even though he didn't win. May not be best but in 2013 he may have been the most consistent.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

This poll has no point. We all know who is the best classics rider of the year...

 

[manafana]

dan martin for me, broke in as a first time classic winner and did it by beating one of the dominant forces in cycling

 

[movingtarget]

Cancellara by a distance.

I will second that.

 

[barmaher]

Cancellara comfortably the best. Sagan comfortably in second. The rest in a bunch gallop @3m and 2m behind the two main men. Gilbert DNF.

 

[Netserk]

 

[Gloin22]

In this case in both cases of 1st and 3rd place over Cance.

Quality ----> Quantity

 

[Eshnar]

The best classic rider of 2013 is... Cancellara!
Thanks to all for voting!