Is Haimar Zubeldia the most anonymous GC rider?

[craig1985]

For mine he is.

Aside from the 2003 TdF where he was going on the attack, and this year when he was riding on the front for Astana, you never see him. He always high up in mountain stages or high up in GT GC's, but again nothing. Rarely an attack these days or even a win (he hasn't had a win since 2000!), and if you weren't paying in attention, you wouldn't know he is in the race.

How does he do it?

 

[anubisza]

Would you call him a GC rider? I've always thought of him as more of a mountain domestique who manages to get decent results and always finishes fairly high in the GC, more through assisting others than personal ambition.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Would you call him a GC rider? I've always thought of him as more of a mountain domestique who manages to get decent results and always finishes fairly high in the GC, more through assisting others than personal ambition.

mmm for a long time I'd say he was the leader for euskatel (in the tour / vuelta)

doesn't seem like a winner though.

 

[kease7]

GT's are all about riders who are consistent, its the name of the game!

 

[issoisso]

Would you call him a GC rider? I've always thought of him as more of a mountain domestique who manages to get decent results and always finishes fairly high in the GC, more through assisting others than personal ambition.

Because before 2009 he was always the team leader.

 

[ingsve]

mmm for a long time I'd say he was the leader for euskatel (in the tour / vuelta)

doesn't seem like a winner though.

Ya, I would agree, he was certainly the leader of Euskaltel along with Iban Mayo. It's only in recent years that he has been riding for other riders.

I wouldn't say he's any less of a GC rider than for example Tadej Valjavec or Mick Rogers. Some riders are up in the GC because they are the strongest in the mountains and attack and others are there because they are consistent and don't lose too much time when they are left behind.

 

[samb01]

For mine he is.

Aside from the 2003 TdF where he was going on the attack

He did? I don't recall that at all.

One thing I found slightly odd was that after the 2003 TdF a lot of people were predicting great things on behalf of Iban Mayo, while Zubeldia was mostly ignored.

 

[Aguirre]

just to summarise these comments. Zubeldia was team leader until this season in astana. Before he was always co-leader, first sharing with mayo, later with samuel sanchez.

He only turn domestique this year. In Euskaltel was neither for mayo nor for samu

He is a diesel, lack of aggresivity, he always did.

I just want to recall big actuations at Dauphine during the years 2000, 2001, and winning the Bicicleta Vasca when he was 21 or 22.

Then TdF 2003 was his higgest achievement, 5th, he also repeated another year, but not with same bright, I think.

I could agree with this thread subject.

 

[skidmark]

just to summarise these comments. Zubeldia was team leader until this season in astana. Before he was always co-leader, first sharing with mayo, later with samuel sanchez.


Then TdF 2003 was his higgest achievement, 5th, he also repeated another year, but not with same bright, I think.

Yeah, in the Tour of 2006 he finished top 10 (I don't remember what position, maybe 10th) when Mayo disappointed, and then 2007 he finished 5th again, when he shared leadership with Astarloza... but that was after the ejection of Ricco, Rasmussen and Astana (Kloeden and Kashechkin were both in the top 10), so his 5th place wasn't quite as impressive as 2003.

And +1 on the anonymity. He's one of the guys that never initiates moves in the mountains, but can always follow, and doesn't do a great TT, but good enough to hang onto his position. You never notice him until you look at the results sheet.

Who are some other riders like that? Someone mentioned Tadej Valjevic, and he's the first one that comes to my mind.

 

[Mark Andrews]

I agree, Zubeldia seems to be one of those guys who is always up there near the front doing his job, but without the flash or the attitude. Not sure if I would call him a GC rider or a top-flight domestique who can consistently give you a high finish. I would probably consider him the GC equivalent of the old-school Gilbert Duclos-LaSalle.

 

[craig1985]

He did? I don't recall that at all.

One thing I found slightly odd was that after the 2003 TdF a lot of people were predicting great things on behalf of Iban Mayo, while Zubeldia was mostly ignored.

I remember the stage that Carlos Sastre won, and he and Ullrich finished ahead of Lance.

 

[Angliru]

He did? I don't recall that at all.

One thing I found slightly odd was that after the 2003 TdF a lot of people were predicting great things on behalf of Iban Mayo, while Zubeldia was mostly ignored.

The Euskatel DS during the 2003 Tour was quoted as saying that Zubeldia had the bigger upside based on his consistency and maturity when comparing the two. He thought of Mayo as a "wild card", never certain as to what he would get out of him race to race.

 

[auscyclefan94]

The Euskatel DS during the 2003 Tour was quoted as saying that Zubeldia had the bigger upside based on his consistency and maturity when comparing the two. He thought of Mayo as a "wild card", never certain as to what he would get out of him race to race.

Watching back the 2003 tour i was surprised to find out he beat Mayo when u always saw mayo attacking and ssticking it up to armstrong.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Anonymous? Yes
A GT Contender? Doubtful.
5th in the Tour, twice (the second time by default) hardly credits the tag.
Especially, as if anyone mentions Damiano Cunego as a GT contender, people laugh, and this guy has actually won one.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Anonymous? Yes
A GT Contender? Doubtful.
5th in the Tour, twice (the second time by default) hardly credits the tag.
Especially, as if anyone mentions Damiano Cunego as a GT contender, people laugh, and this guy has actually won one.

To be fair Haimar is a little more consistant then Cunego. (in terms of GT)

 

[Mellow Velo]

Well, that's debatable. If so, not by much.
Cunego did win the Tour de France, young rider classification (2006) and has also finished 5th in another Giro, off the top of my head.
Zubeldia was 5th at the 2005 Tour, but got handed that spot, in 2007, with enforced pull outs.

Below fifth spot.....is that really contender territory?

Still, one thing is certain. Cunego is certainly not anonymous, unlikey Haimar.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Certainly was anonymous today.
At least Vino was highly visible, as he blew completely and abandoned "his" race.
Meanwhile, Cunego continues to regain his GT credibility!

 

[deValtos]

Reviving this thread for one of my favourite riders ! I don't know how many more years he has left in him so I'm hoping for another great result this TDF !

Here's a great action shot of the ninja himself on Jenkin road yesterday:

Currently in 15th position on GC @2sec and best placed of the Trek riders now.

He should be safe on stage 3 & 4 but I'm looking forward to seeing some world class stealth tactics on the cobbled sections.

 

[hiero2]

Reviving this thread for one of my favourite riders ! I don't know how many more years he has left in him so I'm hoping for another great result this TDF !

Here's a great action shot of the ninja himself on Jenkin road yesterday:

. . .

Currently in 15th position on GC @2sec and best placed of the Trek riders now.

He should be safe on stage 3 & 4 but I'm looking forward to seeing some world class stealth tactics on the cobbled sections.

Am I missing it? I don't see a Trekkie in that shot - Sky, Tinkoff fluo, etc, but not Trek?

 

[hiero2]

And the crowds were freaking amazing! One might think Yorkshire is a bit starved for entertainment?!

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Everybody forgot the 6th place in GC just 2 years ago?

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=21645

 

[Hugo87]

Am I missing it? I don't see a Trekkie in that shot - Sky, Tinkoff fluo, etc, but not Trek?

 

[UpTheRoad]

Am I missing it? I don't see a Trekkie in that shot - Sky, Tinkoff fluo, etc, but not Trek?

That was the point of the picture. It fits perfectly with the thread topic. I LOL'd.

Anyway, directly behind Froome is Peraud. To Peraud's left (right in the pic) and directly behind Talansky *might* be Zubeldia.

The other option would be the rider directly behind Rolland, but I think that is Kwiatkowski (forgot what color helmets TFR wear, but I think OPQS wear white).

 

[WillemS]

Everybody forgot the 6th place in GC just 2 years ago?

http://cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/race.asp?raceid=21645

This thread was bumped. Most of the discussion in this thread predates that performance by almost three years.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

found the old thread for this specific reason....

Lennard Kämna. The perfect a la Zubeldia race.