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Palmares confrontation II :The greatest sprinters (1990-)

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Which one is the best sprinter of the recent years?

  • Greipel

    Votes: 1 1.7%

  • Hushvod

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • McEwen

    Votes: 3 5.2%

  • Petacchi

    Votes: 5 8.6%

  • Freire

    Votes: 4 6.9%

  • Zabel

    Votes: 8 13.8%

  • Cavendish

    Votes: 13 22.4%

  • Cipollini

    Votes: 24 41.4%
  • Total voters
    58
M

Mozart92

Mar 16, 2015
289
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The numeration doesn't mean anything, it's not my personal preference.

1 Mario Cipollini (1989-2005, 2008)

3 stages at the Vuelta, 12 stages at the Tour, 6 days in yellow, one world championship (2002), one Milan-Sanremo, two Gent-Wevelgem and the astonishing record of 42 stage wins at the giro plus three points classifications. Overall 191 victories that gained him the nickname of "Lion King".

2 Mark Cavendish (2005-)

26 stages at the Tour, 15 at the Giro, 3 at the Vuelta and a points classification in each of the Grand Tours. Add to his palmares a world championships, a Milan-Sanremo and you get the picture. The "Manx-Missile" is one of the most succesfull riders of today and although he might not be as victorious as he used to be, his incredible palmares of 133 wins could still increase.

3 Erik Zabel (1993-2008)

Six consecutive points classification at the Tour plus twelve stages, 8 stages at the Vuelta and three points classifications. Four time winner of the Milan-Sanremo, plus Three Paris-Tours, one Amstel Gold Race and one Hamburg Classic. his consistency set records that have not been beaten yet. He was also two times second on the world championship, the last time at the age of 36.

4 Oscar Freire (1998-2012)

He might not have a huge amount of GT stage wins (4 at the Tour plus one points classification and 8 at the Vuelta) but he won the Milan-Sanremo and the World Championships on three different occasions.

5 Alessandro Petacchi (1996-2015)

183 wins, 6 at the Tour, 20 at the Vuelta and 22 at the Giro. Numbers that speak for themselves, add to this that he was the first sprinter to win the points classification on all the three Grand Tours. Petacchi also won the 2005 Milan-Sanremo and a Paris-Tours. His career is one of the longest in modern cycling, his last victory came at the age of 40.

Honorable mentions:

Robbie McEwen (12 stages at the Tour, 12 at the Giro)
Thor Hushvod (10 stages at the tour and two points classifications, 1 stage win at the Giro, 3 at the Vuelta plus one World Championships)
Andre Greipel (10 stage wins at the Tour, 3 at the Giro, 4 at the Vuelta)

Sagan, Kristoff, Kittel, Degenkolb are still too young to be considered.
 
PremierAndrew

PremierAndrew

May 9, 2014
5,229
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Well Freire and Zabel aren't really the same types of sprinters as Cav, Cipo and Petacchi, so when deciding between the 5, it will be partially based on personal preference eg is 5 stage wins at the TdF more impressive than the green jersey that year.
 
Tonton

Tonton

May 17, 2013
7,482
2,245
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Re:

Libertine Seguros said:
The 1990- timeframe means we do have to think about Abdou as well, even if it's just as an honourable mention.
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Yep. It should be a Cippo, Pettachi, Abdou, Cav poll. Zabel, Jaja, BigThorHushovd are not pure sprinters in the sense that they were a bit slower but displayed a lot more skills than just being a rocket launched off a train. Freire is different and my favorite, because what he lacked in train and top-speed, he made up with the best sense of placement and savvy that I've ever seen. A magician. All things being equal, Cav would win, but on any given day, Freire can prevail. Not a good thread tho'. It's going to end up in a pi**ing contest, I'm afraid. Who knows, and who cares? They're all in their own right the bests of their generation.
 
jsem94

jsem94

Oct 5, 2010
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I agree Hushovd shouldn't be on this list. He is a poor man's Boonen, but never realized his full potential on cobbles.

Freire shouldn't be on here really either. He's twice the rider of either of them, but in terms of sprinting alone it's not even close.
 
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
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Zabel and Freire are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of a 'palmares confrontation'.

Cipollini was the most entertaining and impressive - probably the best out and out sprinter - although I think Kittel is probably the fastest road sprinter of all time in terms of top end speed and power.
 
jens_attacks

jens_attacks

Sep 8, 2009
15,306
3
22,485
Re:

DFA123 said:
Zabel and Freire are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of a 'palmares confrontation'.

Cipollini was the most entertaining and impressive - probably the best out and out sprinter - although I think Kittel is probably the fastest road sprinter of all time in terms of top end speed and power.
Click to expand...

I have no proof but i think in the 90s, the sprinters were faster than nowadays. Cipo at his best would beat kittel. Just a guess.
 
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Re: Re:

jens_attacks said:
DFA123 said:
Zabel and Freire are head and shoulders above the rest in terms of a 'palmares confrontation'.

Cipollini was the most entertaining and impressive - probably the best out and out sprinter - although I think Kittel is probably the fastest road sprinter of all time in terms of top end speed and power.
Click to expand...

I have no proof but i think in the 90s, the sprinters were faster than nowadays. Cipo at his best would beat kittel. Just a guess.
Click to expand...
That would be a great battle to see. 150km dead flat stage - straight road with no obstacles in the last 5km. Both riders with a first choice lead out train and on top form.

I think Kittel would just shade it. But then he's racing on stiffer, more aero equipment with gears that can fairly reliably shift under heavy load - perhaps Cipo would have been faster if he had the same.
 
Red Rick

Red Rick

Feb 20, 2012
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Hard to distinguish between pure sprinters, and all riders who have won bunch sprints. Also hard to hard to distinguish between races that were actually won in a sprint or not, but that depends on what you want to rank.
 
DFA123

DFA123

Nov 7, 2010
8,820
246
17,880
Re:

Red Rick said:
Hard to distinguish between pure sprinters, and all riders who have won bunch sprints. Also hard to hard to distinguish between races that were actually won in a sprint or not, but that depends on what you want to rank.
Click to expand...
This is very true. However, in, as the OP suggests, a palmares confrontation between the riders mentioned, then surely Freire wins by a significant margin.

Three WCs and three MSR wouldn't be matched by 100 TdF stage wins. Quality over quantity every time.
 
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