Male Cyclist of the year (2014)?

[bicifan]

Going to correct this:
Injured Froome = Peraud in the best shape of his career
Tired Valverde < Farily fresh Valverde
Pretty much 3rd GT Purito < Pinot targeting this race
2nd GT 24yo Aru < Van Garderen in his target race


You seriously can't just list names and don't take circumstances into consideration. Plus,
the gap of Contador to Valverde: 1:50
the gap of Nibali to Valverde: 9:40

This thread is so funny I agree with damian13ster. At La Vuelta, I remember the people's comments saying that Froome and Contador were far from their peaks. But these are the same guys who now say La Vuelta had better competition. LOL!

 

[Angliru]

Funny the debate is pretty much Nibali vs. Contador, yet the poll shows Valverde a distant second. The poll is way too biased, I wonder if they're bots voting?

Good to see really strong arguments, like this below, supporting the cause of Nibali as a clear Cyclist of the Year.

If it were clear there would be no cause for debate.

 

[Netserk]

Going to correct this:
Injured Froome = Peraud in the best shape of his career
Tired Valverde < Farily fresh Valverde
Pretty much 3rd GT Purito < Pinot targeting this race
2nd GT 24yo Aru < Van Garderen in his target race


You seriously can't just list names and don't take circumstances into consideration. Plus,
the gap of Contador to Valverde: 1:50
the gap of Nibali to Valverde: 9:40

If Nibali had broken his leg at the end of May or the start of June (40 days before the Tour began), how much time do you then think he would've won with?

 

[scholar]

If Nibali had broken his leg at the end of May or the start of June (40 days before the Tour began), how much time do you then think he would've won with?

If Nibali's auntie had balls, do you think she'd be his uncle?

 

[Jspear]

If Nibali's auntie had balls, do you think she'd be his uncle?

In this new generation of gender confusion who knows....

 

[Jspear]

Going to correct this:
Injured Froome = Peraud in the best shape of his career
Tired Valverde < Farily fresh Valverde
Pretty much 3rd GT Purito < Pinot targeting this race
2nd GT 24yo Aru < Van Garderen in his target race


You seriously can't just list names and don't take circumstances into consideration. Plus,
the gap of Contador to Valverde: 1:50
the gap of Nibali to Valverde: 9:40

Going to correct this:
Injured Froome > July 2014 Peraud - Yes, Froome was off his A game - but if he had ridden the Tour with his Vuelta form, he would have been closer to Nibali than Peraud was. Froome was still good (just not alien) especially in the 3rd week.

Tour Valverde < Vuelta Valverde : Don't really know why but Valverde is always stronger at the Vuelta.

Wouldn't disagree with you concerning Pinot.

Aru even in a 2nd gt (remember he had time to recover - it is not impossible to do well in the Giro and Vuelta in the same year) is stronger than Tejay. Just look how he rode the Vuelta...way more aggressive than Tejay in the Tour.

Edit: Also you talk about Froome's injury....why don't you bring AC's injury in to the equation? That certainly changes things as far as by how much time he was able to beat them by.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Going to correct this:
Edit: Also you talk about Froome's injury....why don't you bring AC's injury in to the equation? That certainly changes things as far as by how much time he was able to beat them by.

Not to mention that Valverde is clearly worse on long climbs and multi-mountain stages. There were only two stages like that at the Vuelta, and 5 at the TDF

 

[Red Rick]

Funny the debate is pretty much Nibali vs. Contador, yet the poll shows Valverde a distant second. The poll is way too biased, I wonder if they're bots voting?

Good to see really strong arguments, like this below, supporting the cause of Nibali as a clear Cyclist of the Year.

What, that he achieved his goal? Are you guys making up criteria again to prove your point?

 

[BigMac]

Tiago Machado

asdsdadascsadasdsads

 

[damian13ster]

this is unbelievable I'm not even gonna argue anymore

Please, the only unbelievable thing in there is about injured Froome and the point of that was showing that we have absolutely no idea what kind of shape he arrived in (except for the fact that we know its nowhere near to his best).

THe other still stand, especially the gaps that Valverde had to winners (and Valverde had a reason to do his best on every single stage to fight for the podium).

Contador didn't win the race he targeted. Nibali did. So its obvious who had the better year.

 

[damian13ster]

Going to correct this:
Injured Froome > July 2014 Peraud - Yes, Froome was off his A game - but if he had ridden the Tour with his Vuelta form, he would have been closer to Nibali than Peraud was. Froome was still good (just not alien) especially in the 3rd week.

Tour Valverde < Vuelta Valverde : Don't really know why but Valverde is always stronger at the Vuelta.

Wouldn't disagree with you concerning Pinot.

Aru even in a 2nd gt (remember he had time to recover - it is not impossible to do well in the Giro and Vuelta in the same year) is stronger than Tejay. Just look how he rode the Vuelta...way more aggressive than Tejay in the Tour.

Edit: Also you talk about Froome's injury....why don't you bring AC's injury in to the equation? That certainly changes things as far as by how much time he was able to beat them by.

Maybe it is because competition in Vuelta is worse than in Tour and thats why Valverde does so much better there? Of course, route can make slight difference but we are talking about 8 minutes difference here. Its not that big by accident. Yeah, Aru vs Garderen is a tough one, lots depends on a route, etc. and there is no data so we can negate that one. Still, Vuelta didnt have more competition in Tour, even if it could be considered close. But the time gaps were massive, and not close so my argument still stands.

Regarding your edit:
Of course I am taking Contador's injury into account. The discussion here is who had a better 2014, not who is a stronger rider. Contador's injury happened in 2014, it affected his results, and possibly it was a reason why his year was subpar compared to Nibali, so it is defientely taken into account. I am not saying here that Nibali is stronger rider than Contador. I am saying that Nibali had better 2014 than Contador.

 

[Bushman]

Contador didn't win the race he targeted. Nibali did. So its obvious who had the better year.

This is the silliest and dumbest thing I ever heard.

 

[Dr. Juice]

Contador has finished every stage race either first or second. It would have been the same in the Tour.
Do we say Nibali was not good in late 2013 because of his crash at Lombardia? No. Thus we can't say Contador failed in the Tour. It's bad luck which happens to everybody. Even in super form.

Epic Tirreno stage win, another stage win, GC won. 2nd in Catalunya then 1st in Pais Vasco with a stage win. Epic fight in the Dauphiné. Great form in the Tour. Recovery in record time. Vuelta win.
Man of the year without a doubt.

Nibali had a better season in 2013 than in 2014 for me. Sometimes I think people forget what the word season means.

 

[Afrank]

Please, the only unbelievable thing in there is about injured Froome and the point of that was showing that we have absolutely no idea what kind of shape he arrived in (except for the fact that we know its nowhere near to his best).

THe other still stand, especially the gaps that Valverde had to winners (and Valverde had a reason to do his best on every single stage to fight for the podium).

Contador didn't win the race he targeted. Nibali did. So its obvious who had the better year.

Actually, Contador did win a race he targeted. His main goal was the Tour, but he was also targeting the Vuelta.

 

[El Pistolero]

He also wanted to win T-A. Why do you think he doesn't ride P-N anymore? Contador cares about races outside GTs.

 

[damian13ster]

Actually, Contador did win a race he targeted. His main goal was the Tour, but he was also targeting the Vuelta.

Ok, didnt achieve his main goal, while Nibali did. And if that goal is the biggest race in cycling.....

 

[Bushman]

Ok, didnt achieve his main goal, while Nibali did. And if that goal is the biggest race in cycling.....

You. Are. Unbelieveable.

 

[nhowson]

Regarding your edit:
Of course I am taking Contador's injury into account. The discussion here is who had a better 2014, not who is a stronger rider. Contador's injury happened in 2014, it affected his results, and possibly it was a reason why his year was subpar compared to Nibali, so it is defientely taken into account. I am not saying here that Nibali is stronger rider than Contador. I am saying that Nibali had better 2014 than Contador.

Look, someone making sense.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You. Are. Unbelieveable.

I know! Unbelievable.

 

[sagard]

In this section (prr) I have always used hyperbole heavily (as do others) and I have always made very clear that I use hyperbole.

And btw I don't disagree with your opinion that Valverde may have had a better season than Contador. It depends how one looks at it. Those who value top results more will pick Contador. Those who value all results Valverde. Though I side more with Contador here I can understand the case for Valverde. Its Nibali who in my book has no claim.

Nibali's claim is simple. Three big guys planned their year around winning the TDF. Only Nibali finished.

Contador is clearly a worthy winner, but to discount Nibali entirely when all GC Team and riders would trade their 2014 results for his is simply ridiculous.

I know it's cool to mock people who only watch the TDF, but that race still matters. Especially when so many plan their year around it.

That said Contador is a terrific champion.

 

[SKSemtex]

I wonder whether we have this debate here if Contador had won only the Tour and Nibali had won Vuelta, TA and Tour of Basque.

BTW. I am fan of Contador; I watched 90% of the races this year not only Tour,
I wanted Contador to win the Tour.

On the other hand the way Nibali had prepared himself for the Tour, his determination and balls he showed first week were for me the best show of real champion this year. DNF of Froome and Contador was only partly result of back luck, it was also result of his performance in stage 2 and 5. If he had ridden like coward these stages I do believe Contador would be the champ.

 

[ILovecycling]

I wonder whether we have this debate here if Contador had won only the Tour and Nibali had won Vuelta, TA and Tour of Basque.

BTW. I am fan of Contador; I watched 90% of the races this year not only Tour,
I wanted Contador to win the Tour.

On the other hand the way Nibali had prepared himself for the Tour, his determination and balls he showed first week were for me the best show of real champion this year. DNF of Froome and Contador was only partly result of back luck, it was also result of his performance in stage 2 and 5. If he had ridden like coward these stages I do believe Contador would be the champ.

Yeah contador wouldn't have hit the pot hole then
Butterfly effect

 

[SKSemtex]

Yeah contador wouldn't have hit the pot hole then
Butterfly effect

Come on.You know what I mean. Both Froome a Nibali knew about the cobble stage 8 months, they did nothing to prepare for it. On the other hand Nibali knew this was his only chance against these two and he and his team were riding it the like monsters.
He made "cobbles specialists" and especially Cancelara cry that day.

 

[Echoes]

Following the common criteria and after having meditated about it for quite some time, my list goes something like this. This is the less biased I could get. (not including CX)

Tom Van Asbroeck
Tom Dumoulin
Fabian Cancellara
Greg Van Avermaet
Cadel Evans
Niki Terpstra
Bradley Wiggins
Jure Kocjan
Kiel Reijnen


Male Domestiques of the Year. I'm obviously missing a lot.

Nelson Oliveira
Arnold Jeannesson
Marcel Wyss

On second thought I might sneak António Carvalho and Hugo Sabido into my own list. Oh and Rui, of course.


By the way if Niki goes on to win the Amsterdam Six, I think he's got a case for Male Cyclist of the Year. We all know that it's between him and Cancellara. Fabian is a better rider overall but Niki won the greatest race in the world, so..

He made "cobbles specialists" and especially Cancelara cry that day.

Cancellara is not a cobble specialist, he's a complete rider. An all-rounder!

 

[El Pistolero]

Cancellara won a grand total of one race this year.