• The Cycling News forum is looking to add some volunteer moderators with Red Rick's recent retirement. If you're interested in helping keep our discussions on track, send a direct message to @SHaines here on the forum, or use the Contact Us form to message the Community Team.

    In the meanwhile, please use the Report option if you see a post that doesn't fit within the forum rules.

    Thanks!

Is Simon Gerrans the best ever Australian roadie?

Mar 13, 2009
16,854
1
0
Visit site
I would have Gerrans above Ogrady, Mcewen, Goss, Evans, and Anderson, as the best ever Australian roadie.

He knows how to smell a win and capitalise

'respect
 
Going far too far. Gerrans is back to the rider he should be after a couple of years he wasted waiting for the uphill sprint so he could get a placement rather than trying to win (he was never going to beat Gilbert or Purito in those), but now he's back to showing the great opportunism that made him one of the world's premier stagehunters with Cervélo.

However, to suggest that he's better than Cadel Evans is far too far. His big wins are a Monument and stages of the biggest races; the rest are secondary one-day races like Quebec and Plouay. Evans' big wins are a hilly Classic (somewhat weaker than Gerrans' San Remo), the World Championships, difficult one week races (he has better stage racing wins than the Tour Down Under) and, you know, the Tour de France... maybe Gerrans' palmarès can overhaul Evans' in time since Evans is getting old now. But right now? Hell no.
 
Libertine Seguros said:
Going far too far. Gerrans is back to the rider he should be after a couple of years he wasted waiting for the uphill sprint so he could get a placement rather than trying to win (he was never going to beat Gilbert or Purito in those), but now he's back to showing the great opportunism that made him one of the world's premier stagehunters with Cervélo.

However, to suggest that he's better than Cadel Evans is far too far. His big wins are a Monument and stages of the biggest races; the rest are secondary one-day races like Quebec and Plouay. Evans' big wins are a hilly Classic (somewhat weaker than Gerrans' San Remo), the World Championships, difficult one week races (he has better stage racing wins than the Tour Down Under) and, you know, the Tour de France... maybe Gerrans' palmarès can overhaul Evans' in time since Evans is getting old now. But right now? Hell no.
Gerrans is just three years younger than Cadel.
 
Echoes said:
The day Evans finishes twice a runner-up in Flanders and finishes Paris-Roubaix, I'll re-consider my thought.

For the moment, Phil Anderson is still the top !


Or else Oppy !
He finished on the podium three times at Liege and once at Lombardia too. Also won Amstel, Mediterranean and the Dauphine. Then there's 5 consecutive TdF top 10's, a week in yellow and a youth classification...
 
Aug 16, 2011
10,819
2
0
Visit site
He's definitely one of the current best Australian riders, but the best ever, no.

Just comparing him to Evans, Evans has wins in worlds, FW, Romandie, TA, and the Tour. While Gerrans top results are MSR, multiple GT stages, Tour down Under, Quebec, etc. I'd take Evans Palmares over Gerrans any day.
 
Jun 16, 2009
19,654
2
0
Visit site
Gerrans is an opportunist and has never been as heavily marked as Evans in races anyway. Easy to get race wins when nobody rates you as a serious threat. It is a bit like Thomas Voeckler tbh where people know he really isn't going to cause much trouble in races that really matter so let him do whatever the **** he wants.
 
Obviously a joke. Apart from MSR and stage wins what has Gerrans won ? TDU and Aust title ? Evans is by far the best Australian road rider. Three podiums in the Tour, one each in the Giro and Vuelta, won the Worlds, Fleche, Romandie twice, Tirreno and a podium, and multiple podiums in the Dauphine. Gerrans has to rank behind O'Grady, Anderson and McEwen also. That said he is good to watch and really a one day rider or stage hunter. Good sprint and good tactically.
 
42x16ss said:
He finished on the podium three times at Liege and once at Lombardia too. Also won Amstel, Mediterranean and the Dauphine. Then there's 5 consecutive TdF top 10's, a week in yellow and a youth classification...

Meaningless.

He won Paris-Tours/Autumn GP, two Francfurt GP, Zurich and Switzerland. His most important wins.

And those who've seen the 1988 Flanders could admire his skills. :)


Edit: Oh and since when is a stage win in the Dauphiné more important than Quebec GP?
 
Dec 30, 2009
85
0
0
Visit site
Evans and Anderson are up there for sure but my favourite for the best is Robbie McEwen.

Over 100 professional wins (as reported I have not checked) including 24 GT stage wins, 3 x TDF Green Jerseys, owned Paris–Brussels with 5 wins and list goes on.

Gerro is a good stage hunter but not in the same class a McEwen and does not come close to Evans as a GC rider.
 

TRENDING THREADS