Nicest guys in the peleton?

[Stetoe]

a lot of older guys who've been riding almost their entire career in the Conti-levels are arrogant *******s, especially against the young riders.

Can you name some of the older guys who you consider arrogant?

 

[McLovin]

Jens Voigt is very likeable, one of the most popular. SHUT UP LEGS!

I met him 2 years ago. Very nice and chatty. Cancellara, the opposite, or maybe met him in wrong day.

 

[brilleaben]

Abdoujaparov

 

[tweak37]

Certainly Purito, but also Boonen, Wegmann, Jose Ivan Gutierrez... Henao too.

Who isn't nice might be a more interesting question. In the past definitely Armstrong, Boogerd. But nowadays? Wiggins seems ok, not the nicest guy but not unsympathetic either, doesn't take himself too seriously. Evans, Van Den Broeck come to mind, but they seem more socially awkward than unpleasant. Gilbert maybe, he doesn't come across as very likable. On the other hand he does seem to be appreciated by his team mates.

 

[Christian]

I was able to observe Tony Martin from up close at a winner's ceremony, the way he interacts with people seemed very polite and genuinely friendly. I have often had this experience when meeting people from eastern Germany.

 

[element]

Ted King writes a good blog - seems like an interesting guy.

 

[Roderick]

Can you name some of the older guys who you consider arrogant?

Guys like Niko Eeckhout, former Belgian champion Omloop etc are really arrogant in the peloton towards young riders. There always ****ting on the young riders when they don't do enough work or when they try to sprint for a bonus for example. And when they arrive at an amateur-race they act like they're the kings of cycling

 

[Roderick]

Certainly Purito, but also Boonen, Wegmann, Jose Ivan Gutierrez... Henao too.

Who isn't nice might be a more interesting question. In the past definitely Armstrong, Boogerd. But nowadays? Wiggins seems ok, not the nicest guy but not unsympathetic either, doesn't take himself too seriously. Evans, Van Den Broeck come to mind, but they seem more socially awkward than unpleasant. Gilbert maybe, he doesn't come across as very likable. On the other hand he does seem to be appreciated by his team mates.

You're right about Evans and VDB. They are just so focussed and quite socially awkward. It's not like they are really arrogant or a pain in the ***. Phil Gil on the other hand is a real egoist in the race. He doesn't really care for anyone else to win. But when he's not in a race he is a pretty down to earth guy

 

[virandociclista]

Cycling is a sport where most athletes have humble origin. At least in Brazil, it is one of the last options. You can ride your bike all day fro free, but you did not need to work all the day to receive almost nothing.


These people are usually more accessible, simple, etc.. It should be the
opposite of what occurs with tennis players or golfers. hehe.

I changed some e-mails with Tom Steel and he is very friendly. I was contacting one training company and for my surprise, Tom answered! I did not know that he was working in the company, Im a big fan of belgian cycling.. so it was great!

Devolver is very nice too.. Koos Moerenhout nice too.. Allan davis too..

It is more hard to find a not nice ride!

 

[classicomano]

Bauke Mollema The Great, very humble and nice guy. Woulnt hurt a fly.

 

[Afrank]

According to Cav, Bernie Eisel is the nicest guy in the peloton, he also says Hincapie is second nicest to Bernie.

+1 to Purito, also find Andy to be a really nice guy.

 

[xrayvision]

I was able to observe Tony Martin from up close at a winner's ceremony, the way he interacts with people seemed very polite and genuinely friendly. I have often had this experience when meeting people from eastern Germany.

He´s a cop, they are usually nice people.

 

[Stetoe]

Jens Voigt is very likeable, one of the most popular. SHUT UP LEGS!

Is this the reference to the message on his bike in the tour a while ago? I can't really remember what that was about.

 

[Eraserhead]

This guy

Also, Xavi Tondo. What a gentle guy he was...

 

[the asian]

Nice and and humble riders- Contador, Purito, Nibali, Samu, Cunego, Tiralongo, Dr Pozzovivo

Arrogant whiny ***- Sir Wiggins, Cavendish, Andy Schleck, Sagan, Gadret.

 

[mariposa]

Also, Xavi Tondo. What a gentle guy he was..

+ 1 - Cannot belive it is nearly two years!

Personally I have found most of the riders to be nice guys to the fans as long as you are respectful to them. I was particularly impressed by Rui Costa in the Algarve this year - he put up with fans who Cavendish would have told to 'go away!'

 

[Parrulo]

Is this the reference to the message on his bike in the tour a while ago? I can't really remember what that was about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2GXeHbsG40

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Tondó was definitely one of the nicest guys around. Txurruka for being the only rider in the whole bunch to go and talk to fans after the Bilbao stage in 2011. Hernâni Brôco is a good guy too. And if we're fair, Chris Froome back in 2011 conducted himself with quite a lot of grace and class considering the ridicule and antipathy he was generating, and I believe it was Hitch who said he was one of only a few riders to go and socialise with the fans in Madrid that year. Tyler Hamilton comes with a very good reputation on that front. Basso too, and Isidro Nozal. I found Patrik Sinkewitz to be a friendly, amiable guy but I also can see why he rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way. Wegmann's a nice guy, and Dan Martin gives off that impression for sure. Pierrick Fedrigo as well. And Matteo Pelucchi. Definitely Pelucchi.

 

[maxmartin]

Basso, Nibali

 

[Michele]

There are actually a lot of nice guys. I would say that there are more nice guys than complete *******s. The strange thing is that most of the big guys are quite friendly and that a lot of older guys who've been riding almost their entire career in the Conti-levels are arrogant *******s, especially against the young riders.

To drop a few names of nice guys that aren't mentioned yet: Roelandts, Monfort, Cunego, Keisse

Cunego isn't loved into his team, and that's why in the past 2 years many of them were hoping he would change team.

Paolini is a very friendly and funny guy, similar to Purito.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Blel Kadri was always portrayed as an exceptionally nice and enthusiastic guy in Nico Roche's newspaper diaries. Which made it all the better when he got his first big win this year.

 

[RHRH19861986]

I found Patrik Sinkewitz to be a friendly, amiable guy but I also can see why he rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way.

100% correct.

Until July 2007, everyone knew him and followed him closely. His confessions made him even more well-known, then he got his reduced one year ban, and during this time, actually up until today, he disappeared.

Living only about 100-150 km from his home, I tried to follow every single week of his career since ca. 2007/2008, via Homepage and Facebook (which was mostly not much) and his local newspaper.

One thing is for sure, and this is in no way an exaggeration: if he was a little less strong mentally (he actually is rather "weak" and friendly, anyways), and wouldn´t have and have had his parents and a handful of people in his hometown (bike mechanic, pizza man, one sports journalist, brother and sister), and maybe would´ve met people Pantani or VDB or Jimenez met, then he wouldn´t be on a CT team now, in his best age; he would rather be wrecked or dead.
He still is a nice and friendly young man, but I imagine, inside, he has gone through multiple hells in the past few years.

Someone who I cheer for. No matter if he doesn´t return to WT or PCT, absolutely no matter. But good to still have him in the peloton. He deserves it.

 

[iZnoGouD]

I just remembered another one EBH

Actually he is quite similar to Rui Costa in a lot of things, they are both insanely good cyclists and seem very happy, very calm and friendly

 

[brilleaben]

Adam Hansen. /thread.

 

[maxmartin]

I just remembered another one EBH

Actually he is quite similar to Rui Costa in a lot of things, they are both insanely good cyclists and seem very happy, very calm and friendly

didn't Costa have a wheel fight with another Spanish guy?