Hardest riders in the peloton today?

[nobilis]

How about some Gatto?

Yeah they looked like they were riding 2 different races. They were all doing Dwars Door Vlaanderen and Gatto riding in Tenerife.

 

[kingjr]

Tyler Hamilton for his Tour 2003. That was just unreal.

Although he is of course not in the peloton anymore.

 

[del1962]

Kiryineka and Stannard spring to mind, also Spartacus.

 

[Afrank]

Jesus is that all it takes now?...

They've impressed me so far this Giro. Have been doing a lot of work for Nibali with much of the rest of the team being sick. So yeah, I include them.

 

[niidirull]

I think Taaramäe deserves a mention too , but honestly most if not all the riders are some tough *******s.

 

[whittashau]

how about this tough guy

 

[melkemugg]

Another vote for Voeckler here.

He kept fighting for yellow when everyone thought he would give up. Day after day. Really seem to be a guy that loves cycling. I personally enjoys all his games and acting. Big personality. In the end its his legs that keeps him winning anyway.

 

[squarepeg]

For historic riders, surely not many harder than the Badger

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Kiryienka and Stannard sure deserve mentions. José Iván Gutiérrez for sure. Bram Tankink, meting out justice in middle péloton with an iron fist. Mark Renshaw, because he's had the job for years of controlling all the people Cav had managed to p*ss off. Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland, for finishing the stage where they were sideswiped by a car. Vino because Vino.

 

[Von Mises]

They've impressed me so far this Giro. Have been doing a lot of work for Nibali with much of the rest of the team being sick. So yeah, I include them.

Well, as most of here do not know background of Tanel Kanger, I will explain a bit.

Kangert has always been very talented, If you look back his junior days 2004-2005 he was riding on par with names like Boasson Hagen, Kreuziger, Gesink. In France as amateur he took wins from left and right. But when he turned pro with AG2R everything went wrong. Though he had couple of decent results, he spent most of his time visiting doctors.

Basically, both of his knees are mess. Both of them are operated, but nothing have helped. After two years with AG2R he quit cycling. In 2010 he tried again, at the beginning as a hobby cyclist, then went to France again, raced with amateurs, knees were still hurting, but results started to came in again and then he got a contract with Astana.

His knees probably will never be okey and will always hurt (this year he again started season late because of knee pains). Sadly, I think, because of all this, he will never fulfil his true potential, but yeah, he is tough despite all his problems.

 

[happytramp]

Sean Kelly - Tourmalet - 80yr old Single speed - 42x24 - nuff said

 

[gjb483]

laurens ten dam

 

[Sylvester]

Mikel Nieve.

Hope he gets well soon, his allergies pretty much ruined his season up until now.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

laurens ten dam

agree, definitely a candidate.

 

[karlboss]

Well... he did get pretty, erhm, motivated by Brian Holm!

"Er muss!"

He's hard not, insane

 

[fatsprintking]

Mikel Nieve.

Hope he gets well soon, his allergies pretty much ruined his season up until now.

The hard mans battle with his allergies - sounds like something from the revenge of the nerds. Johnny Hoogerland riding on after going through a barbwire fence is hard, allergies....not so much.

 

[Afrank]

Well, as most of here do not know background of Tanel Kanger, I will explain a bit.

Kangert has always been very talented, If you look back his junior days 2004-2005 he was riding on par with names like Boasson Hagen, Kreuziger, Gesink. In France as amateur he took wins from left and right. But when he turned pro with AG2R everything went wrong. Though he had couple of decent results, he spent most of his time visiting doctors.

Basically, both of his knees are mess. Both of them are operated, but nothing have helped. After two years with AG2R he quit cycling. In 2010 he tried again, at the beginning as a hobby cyclist, then went to France again, raced with amateurs, knees were still hurting, but results started to came in again and then he got a contract with Astana.

His knees probably will never be okey and will always hurt (this year he again started season late because of knee pains). Sadly, I think, because of all this, he will never fulfil his true potential, but yeah, he is tough despite all his problems.

Wow, didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Definitely a hard man of the peloton.
To the bolded, his 3rd in the TT was a pretty good result. So there may be hope yet, we'll have to wait and see what else he does.

 

[Gregory]

Also Pozzato (yes, he´s hard) and Flecha.

Pozzato is definitely very hard when he is in front of the mirror

 

[RedheadDane]

He's hard not, insane

True, still rather funny! (for us, probably not for him!)

And of course my initial reaction, when hearing his name was; Is he Danish?

Besides; Yes! He is insane! They're all freaking NUTS!

---

My favourite bit about the Ten Dam situation was his "It's still 25 stitches fewer than Johnny!"

 

[thehog]

This guy! No arm warmers today!

 

[Roderick]

Hansen,Kyrienka,Roulston, Stannard, Farrar, GVA to name a few

 

[RHRH19861986]

...,Roulston...

Right, Roulston is hard, also mentally: he once rode quite some time with knowing he had a serious heart disease. I think it has been healed in the meantime.

 

[thehog]

This guy! No arm warmers today!

This guy.

Certified hard man.

 

[Parrulo]

This guy.

Certified hard man.

True that, Nibali really is a proper hard man!!!

 

[thehog]

True that, Nibali really is a proper hard man!!!

Could be the only one.

Contador's 2012 Vuelta was equally as impressive.