Philippe Gilbert, Cyclist of the year

[marco_corsi]

Alright, I know the season is not over yet, and everyone has a different view on what should be looked at to give this title to a rider (points, wins, panache). Can anyone argue against the fact that Philippe Gilbert deserves this title above everyone else.

Cancellara was the best in the flat Classics (I'm also including Milan-San Remo) no question there. Although Philippe Gilbert would have won Milan-San Remo, if Pippo Pozzato (one of my favorites) hadn't chased down his move.

Gilbert DOMINATED the Ardennes, no questions there. He had the team to support him, like a Mark Cavendish has at the TdF. For people who weren't aware, Jelle Vanendert and Joergen Vandenbroucke where on the start lists to support Gilbert.
He then went to the TdF and got himself the yellow jersey, in the same way Cancellara has done in the previous years. At the Eneco Tour he did the exact same thing.

This guy doesn'T just peak for one event, like is the trend these days for Grand Tour riders. Who can't seem to do the double anymore (Contador tried this year; thumbs up for that).
I live in canada and I can't wait to see him race in my hometown of Montreal, at the WorldTour. I'm not asking myself who will win at the GP de Québec and GP de Montreal. What I'm wondering is HOW Gilbert will win.

And my final point is a bit far back, some people might not remember but Philippe Gilbert had a gutsy attack at the Worlds last year. His move was an "All-in" poker style move, but it just went to show that on any give day this guy is there to race and race hard.

He doesn't have a Twitter account, and all the little blogs and stuff like that, but he's the most popular rider of the year. Exception: Thomas Voeckler in France; he will be the most popular one there for the next 20 years (with Pierre Rolland maybe).

So I'm really hoping ProCycling gives him the title of Cyclist of the Year.

 

[p e t e r]

He doesn't have a Twitter account, and all the little blogs and stuff like that,

He's got a fb account and he often uses it.

Another options in the poll are there just because it wasn't possible to make a one-option poll?

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

...So I'm really hoping ProCycling gives him the title of Cyclist of the Year.

From your OP I think you meant the thread title shoulda been "...rider" of the year, as opposed to "Ride" of the year.

So for Rider of the year: no doubt about it, PG got my vote.

If this was "ride" of the year: I'd have voted Cadel at the Tour.

 

[maltiv]

Uhh. Of course. No one are even close.

 

[Ragerod]

I don't think anyone really needs to put forward Gilbert's case. If he ended his season tomorrow I doubt anyone would beat him but there's still plenty of racing left before I give him my vote.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Without any doubt. He's already won so much this year. The races that suit him are getting ridiculous tbh ^^

 

[The Hitch]

Personally I would go for Contador. The Giro win, not just destroying the competition, winning points and 2 stages, but practically handing out stage wins ( to rujano and Tiralongo if not to Nieve and Anton) as well as the KOM, was as good as anything seen in cycling since Mercx.

And then to do what he did in the Tour and fight tooth and nail, attack on so many stages and even after it was all over, shake the entire race up with a 100k attack, just amazing.

Thats not taking into account the 1 or 2 lesser wins he got in other races.

IMO a Ardennes triple doesnt come close.

But even if people disagree on whether Contador was THE BEST, how oh how do Mark Cavendish and Cadel Evans get into this poll but Contador does not?

 

[Sum_of_Marc]

You included a poll for some reason, so Ive voted for Cavendish for fun - but yes, without a doubt Gilbert is the best this year.

 

[cineteq]

But even if people disagree on whether Contador was THE BEST, how oh how do Mark Cavendish and Cadel Evans get into this poll but Contador does not?

I agree, Cavendish should be replaced by Contador.

 

[kurtinsc]

Here's some "accomplishment lists" for riders:

Gilbert - Won Ardennes Triple (Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, LBL), Brabantse Pijl, Strade Bianche, San Sebastian, his RR national title, Ster Electroder, Ronde van Belgie, 1 tour stage, 1 T-A stage, 1 Algarve stage, 1 Eneco stage. 3rd in MSR. 9th in T-A, 9th in RVV.

Contador - Won Giro (2 stages and points as well). Won Catalunya (1 stage). Won Murcia (2 stages). 5th in TDF.

Evans - Won TDF (1 stage). Won T-A (1 stage). Won Romandie. 2nd in DL. 8th in Catalunya.

Cavendish - Won Green at TDF along with 5 stages. Won 3 Giro Stages. Won Scheldeprijs. Won 1 Oman stage.


I'd say it's Gilbert by a good margin. He can only lengthen that lead with fall classics performances. If he wins Lombardia... well he'll pretty much have swept the important hilly one day races this year.

 

[kurtinsc]

And to defend Cav...

If he takes 2+ Vuelta stages and the WC, you'd have to say he's got some sort of argument.

10+ GT stage wins and a world title in a season is something worth considering.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

I agree with Hitch that AC should have been in the poll, but disagree he had the same panache this year as Merckx. But AC did fight tooth and nail this year and for that I have to give respect.

 

[The Hitch]

Since it says "Ride" of the year not rider, id say that Gilbert would have to win every Ardennes classic by 2 minutes to match what Contador did at the Giro.

There are a number of other candidates but Ill assume we are talking about rider.

Here's some "accomplishment lists" for riders:

Gilbert - Won Ardennes Triple (Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone, LBL), Brabantse Pijl, Strade Bianche, San Sebastian, his RR national title, Ster Electroder, Ronde van Belgie, 1 tour stage, 1 T-A stage, 1 Algarve stage, 1 Eneco stage. 3rd in MSR. 9th in T-A, 9th in RVV.

Contador - Won Giro (2 stages and points as well). Won Catalunya (1 stage). Won Murcia (2 stages). 5th in TDF.

Evans - Won TDF (1 stage). Won T-A (1 stage). Won Romandie. 2nd in DL. 8th in Catalunya.

Cavendish - Won Green at TDF along with 5 stages. Won 3 Giro Stages. Won Scheldeprijs. Won 1 Oman stage.


I'd say it's Gilbert by a good margin. He can only lengthen that lead with fall classics performances. If he wins Lombardia... well he'll pretty much have swept the important hilly one day races this year.

Well if you put it that way one could argue that Tommy Voeckler is rider of the year. Not many of his victories have been big but if you spell them all out and put them in a line hell be close to Gilbert.

Contadors dont look like much but his Etna stage alone is bigger than anything Gilbert did other than Ardennes and San Sebastian. The Giro isnt bigger than 3 Ardennes but the Giro gc + points + 2 stages comes close.

But you also have to consider that he came top 3 in 6 other stages meaning he podiumed a total of 8 stages, which is another monumental achievment one overlooks when one simply lists the races riders won. I mean a 2nd place on Zoncolan or Grossglockner is bigger than a Eneco stage win or a TA stage win, and Contador achieved this time and time again in the Giro. Add them all up and you can cancel out 60% of Gilberts 2011 palmares just by looking at the Giro stages Contador podiumed.


And you have to consider the manner of the victories as well. Gilberts have been very impressive, especially Fleche Wallone which he won by a mile but Contador was handing out stage wins. He won 2 but there were another 2 where he had to break to let someone else win. You can say that its Contadors fault for not winning those stages and thats fair enough or you can take view that its strengthens Contadors case to see him let others win stages he was the strongest in.

And then theres the TDF, 5th place and 2 stage podiums is another skyscraper in Contadors 2011 palmares. And if you take into account how he did it, getting screwed in early stages which would have got him a podium, and taking risks, shaking up the race then again there is much more than meets the eye to that bit on his palmares. If you say Contador won the Giro and came 5th in the Tour while listing every single Gilbert win from Liege to Algarve stage then Gilberts looks more impressive, but if you look at the manner in which it was done, its a lot closer imo.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

And to defend Cav...

If he takes 2+ Vuelta stages and the WC, you'd have to say he's got some sort of argument.

10+ GT stage wins and a world title in a season is something worth considering.

Exactly, the season's not over yet, there's plenty more up for grabs, although Gilbert is comfortably the rider of the year so far.

I'm not sure Cav's doing La Vuelta, is he? In his Radio 5 interview recently he said the World Champs is his next race. I think if he won the WC and then Paris-Tours and Gilbert won nothing else then Cav would have a very realistic claim.

Not sure what's next for Evans but if he won La Vuelta or GdL, then he'd be right up there also.

Of course, it's more than likely that Gilbert wins GdL. If he does, how far back do we need to go before we find a season to match it? Pantani '98?

 

[michaeld]

Compare him to Vos! Cannibal vs. Cannibal.

 

[Ragerod]

Exactly, the season's not over yet, there's plenty more up for grabs, although Gilbert is comfortably the rider of the year so far.

I'm not sure Cav's doing La Vuelta, is he? In his Radio 5 interview recently he said the World Champs is his next race. I think if he won the WC and then Paris-Tours and Gilbert won nothing else then Cav would have a very realistic claim.

Not sure what's next for Evans but if he won La Vuelta or GdL, then he'd be right up there also.

Of course, it's more than likely that Gilbert wins GdL. If he does, how far back do we need to go before we find a season to match it? Pantani '98?

The last I heard Cav was doing the Vuelta to prepare for the WC but I expect him to withdraw at some point.

I'd put Contador's 2008 forward as a season as good as Gilbert's. Winning the Giro on a week's notice and then the Vuelta plus a couple of others.

 

[kurtinsc]

Since it says "Ride" of the year not rider, id say that Gilbert would have to win every Ardennes classic by 2 minutes to match what Contador did at the Giro.

There are a number of other candidates but Ill assume we are talking about rider.


Well if you put it that way one could argue that Tommy Voeckler is rider of the year. Not many of his victories have been big but if you spell them all out and put them in a line hell be close to Gilbert.

Contadors dont look like much but his Etna stage alone is bigger than anything Gilbert did other than Ardennes and San Sebastian. The Giro isnt bigger than 3 Ardennes but the Giro gc + points + 2 stages comes close.

But you also have to consider that he came top 3 in 6 other stages meaning he podiumed a total of 8 stages, which is another monumental achievment one overlooks when one simply lists the races riders won. I mean a 2nd place on Zoncolan or Grossglockner is bigger than a Eneco stage win or a TA stage win, and Contador achieved this time and time again in the Giro. Add them all up and you can cancel out 60% of Gilberts 2011 palmares just by looking at the Giro stages Contador podiumed.


And you have to consider the manner of the victories as well. Gilberts have been very impressive, especially Fleche Wallone which he won by a mile but Contador was handing out stage wins. He won 2 but there were another 2 where he had to break to let someone else win. You can say that its Contadors fault for not winning those stages and thats fair enough or you can take view that its strengthens Contadors case to see him let others win stages he was the strongest in.

And then theres the TDF, 5th place and 2 stage podiums is another skyscraper in Contadors 2011 palmares. And if you take into account how he did it, getting screwed in early stages which would have got him a podium, and taking risks, shaking up the race then again there is much more than meets the eye to that bit on his palmares. If you say Contador won the Giro and came 5th in the Tour while listing every single Gilbert win from Liege to Algarve stage then Gilberts looks more impressive, but if you look at the manner in which it was done, its a lot closer imo.

I'm not sure about the value of stage podiums... but Gilbert also had two of those at the tour.

Contador was the best stage racer this year. But the fact is Gilbert completely dominated the 1-day hilly races in a way that Contador didn't in stage races. His year this year compares to Contador's Giro/Vuelta double in my opinion. You obviously weight stage races very strongly. But the Ardennes triple is a RARE accomplishment. It's greater then winning a GT in my mind. Same would go for a Flanders triple for me.

I suppose I could see calling it close right now... but Phil's not done this year while Contador is. By the end of the year, I really think any chance of thinking it would be Contador would be erased.

 

[The Hitch]

Exactly, the season's not over yet, there's plenty more up for grabs, although Gilbert is comfortably the rider of the year so far.

I'm not sure Cav's doing La Vuelta, is he? In his Radio 5 interview recently he said the World Champs is his next race. I think if he won the WC and then Paris-Tours and Gilbert won nothing else then Cav would have a very realistic claim.

Not sure what's next for Evans but if he won La Vuelta or GdL, then he'd be right up there also.

Of course, it's more than likely that Gilbert wins GdL. If he does, how far back do we need to go before we find a season to match it? Pantani '98?

I thought Cav was going to do all 3 gts (though i assume not finish Vuelta seeing as he said it was Vuelta that killed him for worlds last year).

Evans is not going to do Vuelta.

What was this Radio 5 interview with cav? Do you have a link? If not what else did he say. Cheers.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

I thought Cav was going to do all 3 gts (though i assume not finish Vuelta seeing as he said it was Vuelta that killed him for worlds last year).

Evans is not going to do Vuelta.

What was this Radio 5 interview with cav? Do you have a link? If not what else did he say. Cheers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/14369476.stm

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Actually, on 2nd thoughts, that's not the Radio 5 interview. That was with a woman.

 

[Ragerod]

I'm not sure about the value of stage podiums... but Gilbert also had two of those at the tour.

Contador was the best stage racer this year. But the fact is Gilbert completely dominated the 1-day hilly races in a way that Contador didn't in stage races. His year this year compares to Contador's Giro/Vuelta double in my opinion. You obviously weight stage races very strongly. But the Ardennes triple is a RARE accomplishment. It's greater then winning a GT in my mind. Same would go for a Flanders triple for me.

I suppose I could see calling it close right now... but Phil's not done this year while Contador is. By the end of the year, I really think any chance of thinking it would be Contador would be erased.

The point with Contador and podiums in the Giro is that he was handing out wins to Rujano and Tiralongo when the favourites successfully chased down the breakaways and on the other days he simply marked everyone when he was more than capable of bridging the gap to the breakaway and taking the win. That makes it unfair to evaluate Contador's season solely based on results.

 

[The Hitch]

I'm not sure about the value of stage podiums... but Gilbert also had two of those at the tour.

Contador was the best stage racer this year. But the fact is Gilbert completely dominated the 1-day hilly races in a way that Contador didn't in stage races. His year this year compares to Contador's Giro/Vuelta double in my opinion. You obviously weight stage races very strongly. But the Ardennes triple is a RARE accomplishment. It's greater then winning a GT in my mind. Same would go for a Flanders triple for me.

I suppose I could see calling it close right now... but Phil's not done this year while Contador is. By the end of the year, I really think any chance of thinking it would be Contador would be erased.

Its not that I rate stage races higher, Gilberts 2011 palmares on its own beats Contadors no doubt. What i do rate is performance.

I dont think victory is everything, especially in the case of someone like Contador whose won it all anyway.

I think the manner of Contadors victory - and i would be repeating myself obviously with a lot of it, was mind boggling.

Others may disagree but i think if he had the Badgers - no gifts attitude (and i much preffer Contadors let others get their glory one), he could have won the Giro by twice the margin and won 1 out of every 3 stages. He obviously would also have had the KOM.

Then theres his Tour performance. The manner is important to me. The way he attacked on any stage with a hill, cracked Schleck totaly on a little bump in Gap. The way he took risks on descent and got a huge gap on it in Pinerrolo despite being a poor descender. He could have won Alpe d huez stage, by attacking 3k to go. But instead he shook things up with a 100k attack and working all on his own for 60km. Even when it came back together Alpe was still his for the taking but he chose to go Pantani and attack 14 to go.

What prevented him from podium and maybe victory there was of course not his own fault, i choose not to ignore that.

And theres also a point to be made perhaps in challengers. Contadors challengers at the Giro with Nibali, Scarponi, Rujano, Menchov, J Rod, all focused their season around that event and he made them look like Cyclo tourists. At the Tour Evans, Schleck Schleck Samu the same.

Gilberts challengers on the other hand, do they focus themselves around his races like he does? The podium in Liuk was the Schleck brothers who care mostly if not only about July. On Amstel Gold it was Purito (Giro- Vuelta) and Gerrans. The podium in Fleche was Purito wasnt it, and Samu (TDF).

His 2 potentially greatest challengers have been absent from I think every one day race Gilbert has won, 1 through injury and another through you know what.

Thats not to say Gilbert wouldnt have beaten them. In FW and AGR i dont think anyone could be his equal and probably not in LBL too but the fact is they werent there and they are the 2 strongest riders other than himself in Ardennes classics.

Not degrading Gilberts achievments, just brain storming ideas. Of course there are many reasons in Gilberts favour too, imo most importantly the longevity of his streak, but those arguments are being in other posters contributions.

Im arguing the other side.

 

[kurtinsc]

The point with Contador and podiums in the Giro is that he was handing out wins to Rujano and Tiralongo when the favourites successfully chased down the breakaways and on the other days he simply marked everyone when he was more than capable of bridging the gap to the breakaway and taking the win. That makes it unfair to evaluate Contador's season solely based on results.

Eh... the results are the results.

If you choose not to win a stage in order to get help from a rider to boost your GC lead... they won the race. YOu got the time on the GC. You don't get credit for a win if you choose not to win.

Phil chose to chase the Green Jersey... and it cost him opportunities to go after stages later the the tour. That was his choice... I'm not going to give him "bonus wins" because of that decision either.

 

[The Hitch]

The point with Contador and podiums in the Giro is that he was handing out wins to Rujano and Tiralongo when the favourites successfully chased down the breakaways and on the other days he simply marked everyone when he was more than capable of bridging the gap to the breakaway and taking the win. That makes it unfair to evaluate Contador's season solely based on results.

Ragerod gets it.