Greats among Active Riders (quick answer)

[gunara]

I always watch races with non-cycling fans or ones who only start to have some interests, so sometimes I get questions like 'who are the greats among active riders' without much time to explain more about rider/race type etc..
But I always try to give quick answer that I really believe myself.
My standard answer : Boonen, Contador, Cancellara in no particular order. If they push me to mention more I sometimes go with Cavendish or Petacchi.
In answering, I don't see too far into their palmares or how they race, I only imagine which riders' achievements people will remember the most from this group in the future, as the question is not specific either about what kind of 'great' they should be.
After today I will add Valverde to my standard answer. His talent always shone, but yet to do enough for me before today.

What would your quick answer be?

 

[LaFlorecita]

My answer is always Boonen & Cancellara. How many combined classics wins?

 

[Fernandez]

Check out Procyclingstats.com all time cyclists ranking, Valverde is already 13th in that list.
This is the link:
http://www.procyclingstats.com/rankings/PCS_Specials_2014_11_08_All_Time

 

[gunara]

Re:

My answer is always Boonen & Cancellara. How many combined classics wins?

Who are you? The only difference between my answer and yours is Alberto???

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

My answer is always Boonen & Cancellara. How many combined classics wins?

Who are you? The only difference between my answer and yours is Alberto???

I've always said, he is a stage race specialist, so if he wants to be one of the greats, he needs to win 10+ GTs. If he wins the double I'll add him to my list

 

[TheGreenMonkey]

I always watch races with non-cycling fans or ones who only start to have some interests, so sometimes I get questions like 'who are the greats among active riders' without much time to explain more about rider/race type etc..
But I always try to give quick answer that I really believe myself.
My standard answer : Boonen, Contador, Cancellara in no particular order. If they push me to mention more I sometimes go with Cavendish or Petacchi.
In answering, I don't see too far into their palmares or how they race, I only imagine which riders' achievements people will remember the most from this group in the future, as the question is not specific either about what kind of 'great' they should be.
After today I will add Valverde to my standard answer. His talent always shone, but yet to do enough for me before today.

What would your quick answer be?

I think your answer is extremely good.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

I always watch races with non-cycling fans or ones who only start to have some interests, so sometimes I get questions like 'who are the greats among active riders' without much time to explain more about rider/race type etc..
But I always try to give quick answer that I really believe myself.
My standard answer : Boonen, Contador, Cancellara in no particular order. If they push me to mention more I sometimes go with Cavendish or Petacchi.
In answering, I don't see too far into their palmares or how they race, I only imagine which riders' achievements people will remember the most from this group in the future, as the question is not specific either about what kind of 'great' they should be.
After today I will add Valverde to my standard answer. His talent always shone, but yet to do enough for me before today.

What would your quick answer be?

Agree with you on all your points. Except I would consider Valverde a legend even before today, let alone before this season. Cav and Petacchi both have a small amount of quality wins, so their inclusion shouldn't only be considered because of their enormous win-stack.

 

[gunara]

Check out Procyclingstats.com all time cyclists ranking, Valverde is already 13th in that list.
This is the link:
http://www.procyclingstats.com/rankings/PCS_Specials_2014_11_08_All_Time

Okay, maybe he deserves it. But looking up is not quick enough

I've always said, he is a stage race specialist, so if he wants to be one of the greats, he needs to win 10+ GTs. If he wins the double I'll add him to my list

Fair enough. Although setting such a high standard to pass for own your favorite rider makes you a very mean fangirl

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Definitely: Alberto Contador, Tom Boonen, Alejandro Valverde, Fabian Cancellara, Marianne Vos

Possibly: Vincenzo Nibali (all three GTs, very select list), Davide Rebellin (hey, he's still active, even if I may rather he wasn't as I'm not a fan), Bradley Wiggins (hey, the variety in palmarès must count for something)

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Re:

Definitely: Alberto Contador, Tom Boonen, Alejandro Valverde, Fabian Cancellara, Marianne Vos

Possibly: Vincenzo Nibali (all three GTs, very select list), Davide Rebellin (hey, he's still active, even if I may rather he wasn't as I'm not a fan), Bradley Wiggins (hey, the variety in palmarès must count for something)

The only reason to include Rebellin would be his 2004 Ardennes triple - and that accounts for his sole monument win. He is a legend, but not among the absolute greats. Philippe Gilbert is a greater rider.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Fair enough. Although setting such a high standard to pass for own your favorite rider makes you a very mean fangirl

It's been scientifically proven we are meanest to the ones we love most

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

I think only Cancellara and Boonen

and Mathieu van der Poel will become a great in the near future of course

 

[Netserk]

Fair enough. Although setting such a high standard to pass for own your favorite rider makes you a very mean fangirl

It's been scientifically proven we are meanest to the ones we love most

Proofs are reserved for mathematics.

 

[jens_attacks]

contador. hell even people around me knows him and don't watch cycling
then, valverde
nibali
boonen and cancellara
rebellin

but i tell them about pirazzi. and about pantani who lives forever

 

[Miburo]

As everyone mentioned: Contador, boonen, cancellara and Valverde. They're the best of this generation.

Nibali hasn't won enough.

And the likes of gilbert have the same issue. If gilbert continued with his form of 2011 he was in the list too. What a beast gilbert was in 2011.

 

[DBotero]

A.Valverde,F.Cancellara,T.Boonen,A.Contador,B.Wiggins,V.Nibali,these guys are the best.With Rebellin i don't know:never liked him,never cared about him,maybe i just underestimate his achievements and he should be on my list too.

 

[gunara]

Rebellin, Nibali, and Gilbert honestly always cross my mind since I look for 'achievements that will be remembered', they've put their names into records book anyway (and for Rebellin and Gilbert, for having one really big season to remember). But then, I'm not sure they will be remembered for much else in long terms, that usually stop me from mentioning them.

 

[Carols]

Contador, Valverde, Cancellara

 

[Velolover2]

There are about 4. Valverde, Contador, Boonen and Cancellara.

Pure sprinters are not really legends in my book.

 

[gunara]

Re:

There are about 4. Valverde, Contador, Boonen and Cancellara.

Pure sprinters are not really legends in my book.

As for my own answer, Contador, Boonen, and Cancellara come too easy for me (and maybe most others), every mention of their names correlate with big things they've done, it'll take a lot for other riders in current peloton to have such subconscious impact. Valverde is more out of my respect to his talent and consistency over the years, this guy grows on me super slowly. I sometimes mention the two sprinters because they gave me great impression of 'winning' and domination in regular basis during their best years. Not sure if I'll call them legends or not, though.

 

[SeriousSam]

Cancellara getting more mentions than Boonen as you would expect of a rider with superior palmares.

 

[gunara]

Re:

Contador, Valverde, Cancellara

From anyone who curiously skip one of my own picks, I demand an explanation What's so wrong with Boonen, Carols?

 

[Mr.White]

Contador, Boonen, Cancellara, Valverde, the real big 4, others are way behind. And in that order too...

 

[DFA123]

Aside from the big four who have already been identified, I think Cavendish deserves a mention. I know sprinters aren't very popular, and I'm certainly not his biggest fan, but 25 stage wins in the TdF is a hell of an achievement in any generation. Throw in a WC and Milan San Remo, and he will be remembered for a long time.

 

[Ataraxus]

Re:

Check out Procyclingstats.com all time cyclists ranking, Valverde is already 13th in that list.
This is the link:
http://www.procyclingstats.com/rankings/PCS_Specials_2014_11_08_All_Time

Zabel and Cippollini ahead of Contador???
Does the site take under consideration the GT wins?
If yes, the race and stage coefficients have to be rearranged ASAP.
Contador is the quickest answer.