Philippe Gilbert, Cyclist of the year

[The Hitch]

And what proof? It was on TV his descending!

El Pistolero in his own words.

El Pistolero “The moto guys at the Tour said they had never seen someone descend as fast as Gilbert on the Aubisque”

The Hitch: “Proof?”

El Pistolero “ It was on TV his descending”

If I asked you for the source which told you Contador climbed Alpe faster than Pantani would you also say " It was on TV his climbing"?

Watch Superbesse and the stage Lulu won. On Superbesse he gapped everyone with 3 seconds.

Gilbert beat Cuddles 3 times this Tour on an uphill finish. Cuddles wouldn't come close to challenging him in a one day race. We all know Gilbert's recuperation isn't the same as GT contenders, but in a one day race not many people can touch him. Certainly not Cuddles.

Ps: Gilbert didn't try anymore at stage 16 and 17 because the breakaway was always going to win and he wasn't allowed in it. He wasn't riding for GC..

You say Gilbert wasnt doing anything on stages 16 and 17, but choose to take into account the stages Lulu won and Superbesse.

Maybe the GC riders werent trying too hard on those stages. On the stage lulu won Gilbert got the same time as everyone.

On Superbesse everyone else finished on 15 seconds. This strongly suggests that they were content to stay in a group and finish together on both stages. On almost all the mtfs in the Tour the contenders rode conservatively and let someone who wasnt a threat breakaway. Same here. Gilbert was the only one that cared so he pushed away to get his 3 seconds.

Everyone expected Gilbert to win 3 stages in the first week. The only won he managed was the easiest one. The stage Cuddles won says a lot and dont ignore it. It was a stage made for Gilbert, on his birthday, and the guy who never got a chance to face Gilbert in the Ardennes beat him fair and square. He wasnt too far off in the easy finish on stage 1 either.

If you would ask me,Gilbert was one of the most impressive guys at the Tour bar Cadel Evans and Contador on 2 stages.

You don’t need to keep repeating that you think Gilbert is the greatest. You already said it in your previous posts on this thread, on most of the other posts you’ve made this month, on the threads of all the races Gilbert has participated in this year and on all the threads for races in which he hasn’t.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Cancellara is incapable as well this season No way can you make a case for Cancellara this season.

E3

that is all

 

[thirteen]

I understand your view but Im not saying “give Contador credit for winning stages he never won”.

Im saying “give Contador credit for giving away stages, or in the case of Rujano and Tiralongo”.

It’s a matter of opinion. For you or the Badger it might mean nothing. For me winning a stage for someone else because you’ve already won 2 yourself and are so far ahead you can take in Milans bar scene on the final time trial and still win, is something equal to if not greater too than winning it for yourself.

+1

and now you're making me feel guilty for not thinking to chose AC

if his name was on the poll, i probably would have... but, instead, i clicked fast and didn't think... perhaps because Gilbert, his style of riding, and all the wins impressed me so much this year.

whereas, overall, Alberto always impresses me... never more so than in the Tour this year, with the grit he showed and never-say-die attitude.

my bad. mea culpa... if i could change my vote, i would.

 

[Magnus]

Gilbert won seven consecutive races:
Fleche Barbaconne, Ardennes triple, Tour de Belgique, Ster Elektro, Belgium nationals. He's won stages in every single stage race he's entered.
He's won six out of ten one day races he's entered

I'm looking forward to fall classics+worlds.

 

[PCutter]

My favourite ride for the year was Cadel's climb up Galibier where he rode everyone bar Frank off his wheel, and for that (and a great ride at the rest of the tour) he gets my vote.

I'm a big Phil fan, but probably wish a few of his competitors tried something to knock him off rather than just waiting for him to blow them away. Maybe next season they'll have better plans (though hopefully not just the spoiler plans they went with at Cancellara this year).

 

[Swabian Lass]

+1

and now you're making me feel guilty for not thinking to chose AC

if his name was on the poll, i probably would have... but, instead, i clicked fast and didn't think... perhaps because Gilbert, his style of riding, and all the wins impressed me so much this year.

whereas, overall, Alberto always impresses me... never more so than in the Tour this year, with the grit he showed and never-say-die attitude.

my bad. mea culpa... if i could change my vote, i would.

Me too, did exactly the same. Although I think Gilbert might still just have squeaked it this year, but Contador's tour was truly impressive. Perhaps I didn't think of it so much, because he's always impressive and Gilbert's year stands out more? If Gilbert does the same next year, I suspect that people will be more "Meh, but what do you expect from him."

 

[Echoes]

Say what? TA, Romandie, DL, Tour win. How is this not consistent?

Huh. Sorry didn't remember about the Dauphiné. Well I haven't watched actually.


Still no appearance in the classics, this year !!

A fanboy post

Lol

E3

that is all

But he did do it.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Huh. Sorry didn't remember about the Dauphiné. Well I haven't watched actually.

2nd in DL I mean. But still very consistent

 

[kurtinsc]

Did Jalabert break your heart when he let Dietz take the win?

Before my time I'm afraid. I have no idea what you are even referencing.

I know guys often make deals. Sometimes for money. Sometimes for "future favors". Sometimes to get them to work in a break to help them on the GC.

Regardless of the reason... the guy who won the race won the race. "Could have won" counts for absolutely nothing for me. If you got second because you were beaten like a dog... that counts the same as placing second after gifting a win.

 

[virenque216]

I think that it is not an easy think to say who is the cyclist of the year, because you have different type of riders like allrounders - Gilbert, GC riders- Contador, Nibali, and specialists sprinters - Cavendish, time trialists - Martin, we have to look at the success rate this year and consistent strong performances throughout the year, vuelta and copenhagen is yet to come, but so far I think Gilbert is by far the most succesful and consistent rider, winning nearly every month and being in form all year, Evans and Contador have a good success rate this year too, Cavendish will have to win at least 3 stages in Vuelta to Match them and Nibali to win overal to be in the same level as Contador and Evans, here is my top 10 so far this year:

1. Gilbert - the star of the season
2. Contador - winning hard giro and still quite good in Tour a month later
3. Evans - allways up there when racing and the Tour win to add
4. Hushovd - no rainbow jersey curse
5. Cavendish - allways gets the important wins
6. Voeckler - no one expected him to do what he did in Tour
7. Boasson Hagen - great come back after long injury break
8. Cunego - still young and very consistent climber this year
9. Sagan - seems to surprise every time he races, for his age a unique talent
10. Kittel - the second best sprinter in the world today,maybe even first we will see in Vuelta vs Cavendish

 

[Michielveedeebee]

10. Kittel - the second best sprinter in the world today,maybe even first we will see in Vuelta vs Cavendish

wow, that's a bit of a quick conclusion is it not? What about Guardini/Greipel

 

[movingtarget]

Well I suppose if Gilbert wins the points for the season he is entitled to that mantle. Evans is finishing his season earlier than usual but if he continued, the points probably would have been close. Tour of Lombardy will probably sew it up for Gilbert which ironically is one of Evan's favourite races and one where he has been close but never won.

 

[virenque216]

wow, that's a bit of a quick conclusion is it not? What about Guardini/Greipel

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

 

[Praetor]

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

Indeed. Some impressive wins, but always facing a rather mediocre sprinting field. No Cavendish, no Greipel, no Farrar, no Petacchi.

 

[Ragerod]

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

Kittel's only big wins this year have come in Poland against second rate sprinters. If he repeats those performances at the Vuelta then maybe he's a candidate for a top 10 but until then haven't Tony Martin and Matt Goss had better seasons? But then I rate winning Paris-Nice and Milan-San Remo amongst others as better than any number of stages wins in Poland.

 

[Richeypen]

Kittel's only big wins this year have come in Poland against second rate sprinters. If he repeats those performances at the Vuelta then maybe he's a candidate for a top 10 but until then haven't Tony Martin and Matt Goss had better seasons? But then I rate winning Paris-Nice and Milan-San Remo amongst others as better than any number of stages wins in Poland.

You would have thought that winning the Dauphine and 3rd at Paris-Nice would be better as well. ho hum

 

[hfer07]

there in no doubt in my mind Gilbert is the best of this year-his dominance has been unquestionable- and we still have the world's & Lombardy left.....

 

[virenque216]

You would have thought that winning the Dauphine and 3rd at Paris-Nice would be better as well. ho hum

I know it is hard to make an accurate top 10 ranking,i suppose top 3 would be easier,there were quite a few good rides this year and evenly spread wins,appart from gilbert of course

 

[Libertine Seguros]

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

Kittel's just been stomping the same fields Greipel was stomping for a couple of years before he got the chance to step up. Let's see how he does against the top fields before anointing him.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

No, we won't see in La Vuelta. Cavendish, Griepel and Farrar all peaked for the TdF, which is where the big sprinters always come out to play, and all got at least 1 win there. Kittel would need to do it there to be mentioned in that company, even if he had a decent Vuelta.

 

[Mich78BEL]

For me winning a stage for someone else because you’ve already won 2 yourself and are so far ahead you can take in Milans bar scene on the final time trial and still win, is something equal to if not greater too than winning it for yourself.

no it isn't, if you want to be called the winner, you have to win, one reason riders do this is because they think they can make allies this way, if you're truly confident you're the best there's no need to give anything away like Gilbert this year who has won everything he could win, much more impressive imo

 

[Ragerod]

no it isn't, if you want to be called the winner, you have to win, one reason riders do this is because they think they can make allies this way, if you're truly confident you're the best there's no need to give anything away like Gilbert this year who has won everything he could win, much more impressive imo

This is starting to annoy me. Firstly, let's distinguish between race types. Gilbert competes for stage wins and one-day classics where as Contador competes for stage races. Gilbert isn't in a position to give away stages because that's his aim where as Contador is because he has much bigger objectives.

To imply Contador isn't a winner because he pulled Tiralongo to the line is ridiculous. That will most likely be the biggest win of Tiralongo's career and he'll remember that day forever, he'll be able to tell his grandchildren that he attacked the favourites 5km from the finish and drilled it as hard as could and only that famous guy called Contador could bridge the gap and showed Tiralongo gratitude for all the work he'd done for Contador the previous year by assisting him towards the line. If Contador was heartless he would've sprinted clear and all it would be is a statistic, a distant memory of some stage he won once on his way to another Giro. It's what sets cycling apart from other sports and appreciated.

It's not all about winning, it's about the journey and how they win. A great defeat is better than a bad win and I'm probably not alone in thinking Contador was more impressive in this year's Tour than he was last year. Unfortunately we live in a world that increasingly only cares about the result.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

It is purely my judgement of things this year, ufortunately we havent seen Kittel yet this year against a tough spriting field, but we will see in Vuelta, I mostly referenced his performances from Poland in my chart.

It's called form.

He has been beaten several times by most of the guys he beat in Poland.

1 race does not a summer make.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Before my time I'm afraid. I have no idea what you are even referencing.

I know guys often make deals. Sometimes for money. Sometimes for "future favors". Sometimes to get them to work in a break to help them on the GC.

Regardless of the reason... the guy who won the race won the race. "Could have won" counts for absolutely nothing for me. If you got second because you were beaten like a dog... that counts the same as placing second after gifting a win.

Stage 12 of the '95 Vuelta (you know, the one where JaJa won the GC, points, KOM and Combinada).

238km with a final climb of Sierra Nevada. JaJa is 5 minutes up on GC. It was one of "those" Vuelta stages, long and in baking heat, with few people willing to go in the break because of it being such a thankless task. Dietz had been the only one to go that day, some 200km from the stripe.

He came to the base of the final climb with an advantage of 10'17 over the péloton. With 10km to go, he still had half of that. He had 3'30" with 5km to go. But with 3km to go, he really hit the wall; that's also when the GC action really kicked off. Jalabert attacked with 2km to go, coming through 1'30" behind Dietz. Olano and Pantani pulled him back once, but not the second time. Jalabert ate up the distance between himself and the bonked Dietz, catching him with 150m to go.

Even with Olano charging and tearing up the gap between JaJa and him, Laurent sat up and let Bert Dietz take the win. It was one of the great sporting moments. Of course, you could argue that Jalabert had 5 mins of GC lead, so it didn't really matter too greatly, but I think given everything that he won at that Vuelta, sitting up to let the guy who rode solo for over 200km take the spoils said more for Laurent Jalabert than winning the stage ever could have done.

 

[jsem94]

1. Gilbert
2. Contador