Male Cyclist of the year (2014)?

[Netserk]

He only lost one year with the ban thanks to the Spanish NADO. Boonen practically lost the whole of 2013 due to injuries.

 

[Arredondo]

I disagree again, but I don't have a special wish for children anyway.

Besides, he's having twins now.

And career wise it's also Contador, mostly because of the ban and 2 GTs being taken away.

Netserk still counts those GT's.

Boonen:

2010 injury => bad 2nd part of the season
2011 => season hampered by injuries and sickness
2013 => season containing crashes and injuries

Contador:

2008: Missed Tour due to boycot Astana
2012: suspened for some months
2014: abandon in the Tour

Definitely Boonen lost more time then Contador.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Netserk still counts those GT's.

Boonen:

2010 injury => bad 2nd part of the season
2011 => season hampered by injuries and sickness
2013 => season containing crashes and injuries

Contador:

2008: Missed Tour due to boycot Astana
2012: suspened for some months
2014: abandon in the Tour

Definitely Boonen lost more time then Contador.

You forgot :
2004 missed entire season
2006 missed TDF because of Puerto and Vuelta because of knee injury
Lost 2010 TDF and 2011 all victories including Giro and Catalunya

Since you are also counting injuries for Tommeke

 

[Jspear]

What's the title of this thread again?

Cineteq for once I agree with you! This thread has gone from "cyclist of the year" to "which cyclist has had the worst luck throughout their career!"

 

[LaFlorecita]

Cineteq just wants the discussion to get back to Contador vs Nibali so he can troll again

 

[Miburo]

I can see Kristoff, Sagan or Boonen win it next. Like this year Canc won't be able to drop everyone and just TT to the finish, and I think either of the mentioned will either be with him on the hills or make it back.

Just remember how strong Boonen was the last spring without bad luck.

2012? When pozzato was stronger than him

Boonen is done for, i hope i'm wrong but i don't think so.

 

[El Pistolero]

2012? When pozzato was stronger than him

Boonen is done for, i hope i'm wrong but i don't think so.

Pozzato was also very good that year, that acceleration to catch Ballan is one of the prettiest attacks I've ever seen.

And he destroyed Pozzato in the 3 other cobbled classics though.

I hope he can win the Omloop next year at least.

 

[barmaher]

All very interesting, I think.

Personally I would go for Cancellara ahead of Contador this century, but I recognise I am in the minority.

Cancellara is more versatile, and I disagree with the point about RVV having a weak field. How many really good GT riders did Contador have to beat to win 08 Giro and Vuelta for instance. I say this not to demean Alberto, but to point out that there are very few riders who can hold a candle to Fab or Alberto in their chosen disciplines.

Both riders have panache. Something that has been in scant supply recently.

 

[Netserk]

And people ask me why I think Canc is overrated

Best cyclist of this century

 

[barmaher]

At least I admit to over-rating him.

I know I do it...I just can't put Alberto higher.

 

[Netserk]

Even though you have to take two of his Tour wins (as we're only talking this century), I would still rank Lance above him too.

 

[barmaher]

Right, this is where you and I fall out.

 

[Netserk]

Yeah, and I totally get why someone else wouldn't agree with that.

I also don't think Canc is superior to Boonen and Bettini.

 

[18-Valve. (pithy)]

Yeah, and I totally get why someone else wouldn't agree with that.

I also don't think Canc is superior to Boonen and Bettini.

Does anyone? Bettini clearly has the better palmares.

 

[Echoes]

His results were worse yes but he wasn't weaker. Look at his monster ride in Ronde 2011.

Countered by Chavanel. Sylvain wouldn't have been able to do that in 2010. Many already noticed he was little bit lesser than the year before at that time. That's why he was beaten by Martin in the ITT. Changing of the guard!

A decline might also be progressive. Some handle it better than others. Cancellara has handled it pretty well.

Both riders have panache.

Contador, panache?

Does anyone? Bettini clearly has the better palmares.

Lol. How many Paris-Roubaix has Bettini won?

Cancellara is the best rider since Kelly, period.

Fabian Cancellara
8 Nations 2002 1
9 Nations 2003 1
St Tour de France 2004 3
4 Paris-Roubaix 2004 5
4 De Panne 2004 1
8 Worlds ITT 2004 1
2 Luxembourg 2005 1
3 Worlds ITT 2005 2
4 Ghent-Wevelgem 2005 2
4 Hamburg 2005 1
8 Paris-Roubaix 2005 3
Worlds ITT 2006 4
Paris-Roubaix 2006 12
5 Zurich 2006 1
6 Flanders 2006 2
6 Ghent-Wevelgem 2006 2
Worlds ITT 2007 4
2 St. France 2007 6
2 Harelbeke 2007 1
19 Paris-Roubaix 2007 2
Olympics ITT 2008 4
Milan Sanremo 2008 10
Tirreno 2008 3
Montepaschi Eroica 2008 3
2 Paris-Roubaix 2008 5
2 Olympics 2008 2
4 California 2008 1
Worlds ITT 2009 4
2 St Vuelta 2009 4
St France 2009 3
5 Worlds 2009 4
Worlds ITT 2010 4
Flanders 2010 9
Paris-Roubaix 2010 12
Harelbeke 2010 2
Oman 2010 2
2 St France 2010 6
Harelbeke 2011 2
2 Milan Sanremo 2011 4
2 Paris-Roubaix 2011 5
3 Flanders 2011 4
5 Montepaschi 2011 1
6 Oman 2011 1
3 ITT Worlds 2011 2
4 Worlds 2011 4
10 Oman 2012 1
Montepaschi Eroica 2012 3
2 Milan Sanremo 2012 4
St France 2012 3
7 Olympics ITT 2012 1
4 Montepaschi 2013 1
3 Milan-Sanremo 2013 4
Harelbeke 2013 2
Tour of Flanders 2013 9
Paris-Roubaix 2013 12
St Vuelta 2013 2
3 ITT Worlds 2013 2
10 Worlds 2013 2
6 Montepaschi Strade Bianche 2014 1
2 Milan Sanremo 2014 4
9 Harelbeke 2014 1
Tour of Flanders 2014 9
3 Paris-Roubaix 2014 5
11 Worlds 2014 2
Fabian Cancellara 224

Paolo Bettini
25 Italy 1997 2
3 Laigueglia 1998 1
7 Italy 1998 4
8 Zurich 1998 1
8 Med Tour 1998 1
2 Milan-Turin 1999 1
4 Zurich 1999 1
5 Liège Bastogne 1999 4
9 Lombardy 1999 2
Liège Bastogne 2000 10
St France 2000 3
4 Paris-Tours 2000 2
4 San Sebastian 2000 1
9 Olympics 2000 2
9 Worlds 2000 2
10 Lombardy 2000 2
10 Pantalica 2000 1
Zurich 2001 3
2 Worlds 2001 4
5 Milan Sanremo 2001 4
5 Tre Valli 2001 1
5 Lazio 2001 1
6 Hamburg 2001 1
15 Liège-Bastogne 2001 2
Liège Bastogne 2002 10
Lazio 2002 2
2 Zurich 2002 1
4 Hamburg 2002 1
4 Tirreno 2002 1
4 Harelbeke 2002 1
5 Ghent-Ghent 2002 1
7 San Sebastian 2002 1
8 Amstel 2002 1
8 Laigueglia 2002 1
Milan-Sanremo 2003 10
Hamburg 2003 2
San Sebastian 2003 2
Med Tour 2003 2
3 Zurich 2003 1
4 Worlds 2003 4
4 Laigueglia 2003 1
5 Tirreno 2003 1
5 Haut Var 2003 1
8 Emily 2003 1
Olympics 2004 6
Tirreno 2004 3
2 Hamburg 2004 1
2 San Sebastian 2004 1
2 Zurich 2004 1
3 Amstel 2004 2
5 Paris-Brussels 2004 1
6 Paris-Tours 2004 2
6 Med Tour 2004 1
8 Milan-Sanremo 2004 2
9 Flanders 2004 2
Lombardy 2005 10
Zurich 2005 3
St Giro 2005 2
St Vuelta 2005 2
4 Liège Bastogne 2005 4
13 Worlds 2005 2
Worlds 2006 9
Lombardy 2006 10
St Giro 2006 2
St Vuelta 2006 2
2 Liège Bastogne 2006 4
7 Flanders 2006 2
8 Amstel 2006 2
10 Laigueglia 2006 1
Worlds 2007 9
St Vuelta 2007 2
4 Liège Bastogne 2007 4
7 Amstel 2007 2
7 Hamburg 2007 1
2 St Vuelta 2008 4
4 San Sebastian 2008 1
9 Liège Bastogne 2008 2
Paolo Bettini 203

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Does anyone? Bettini clearly has the better palmares.

I would rather own Cancellara's palmares.

But I rate PR and RVV pretty high.

 

[Netserk]

Ah, the ranking where an 8th place in P-R is better than a Tour stage win...

edit: and better than winning Züri Metzgete as well!

 

[barmaher]

I think Cancellara is a better rider than Bettini, with better palmares to boot.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Ah, the ranking where an 8th place in P-R is better than a Tour stage win...

edit: and better than winning Züri Metzgete as well!

Lololol

 

[El Pistolero]

Yeah, and I totally get why someone else wouldn't agree with that.

I also don't think Canc is superior to Boonen and Bettini.

To be fair, I totally forgot about Bettini.

His palmares is better than Boonen and Cancellara. Mostly because of his two world titles on the road and the Olympics.

 

[theyoungest]

Why is Contador way ahead in this poll? Didn't Valverde simply have a much better season?

 

[El Pistolero]

Why is Contador way ahead in this poll? Didn't Valverde simply have a much better season?

Valverde's biggest win was FW.

I rate the Vuelta, Tirreno-Adriatico and Pais Vasco over that "classic" win.

 

[Arredondo]

And people ask me why I think Canc is overrated

Best cyclist of this century

He's definitely more versatile then Boonen.

In the end, Cancellara will be more remembered due to his racing style (everyone knows when Cance got 1 meter, it's done), Boonen just because he won so many races. That's an important difference.

 

[Netserk]

And Valverde is more versatile than Contador. Doesn't mean he's a better cyclist.

Boonen's racing style > Canc's racing style

Canc (most of the time) has to get away alone to win a race. So that's what he does, while riding conservatively until the point where he can do his one attack. Boonen can rely on his sprint, but is often the one animating a race and dictating the rhythm.

 

[El Pistolero]

Well, Boonen has won 3 Monuments solo. How many riders in this peloton have won 3 Monuments at all? Lol. I think only 3 riders in the current peloton have won at least 3 Monuments.

I'd also rate the WC RR over at least 2 WC TT. It's just a lot more prestigious. You need brains, luck and strength to win the RR. The strongest rider always wins the TT, that's why it's a boring discipline imo.

So Bettini's 2 WC RR titles and his Olympic RR title are a lot better than 4 WC TT titles and an Olympic TT title imo. LBL is also the Monument with the best field, I don't think anyone will deny that.

For me Bettini is the best one day racer of this century.

And let's be honest, when Cancellara dominated the time trials his competition was pathetic.

Now at least we have Tony Martin, Bradley Wiggins and Tom Dumoulin. Bradley Wiggins is older than Cancellara and can still win the WC TT, so age isn't an excuse for Cancellara. He beat duds for the most part. He beat Zabriskie in 2006 (biggest win is a stage win in Romandie), Bodrogi in 2007 (biggest win is a prologue in P-N), Gustav Larsson in 2009 (biggest win a TT in the Giro) and Millar in 2010 (the only good cyclist he beat).