Rider nicknames

[mortand]

Former pro and directeur sportif Christian Andersen was called "Sutsko" (that's Danish for a slipper, in case you're wondering). A rather odd nickname one might say, and I can't recall why he got that strange name, but I'm sure there's a logic explanation. Maybe his friends and team mates just had a bizarre sense of humour.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

And now, for the most beautiful, and befitting nickname of all time:

Charly Gaul - The Angel of the Mountains

(My 1000th post!)

That reminds me of my own favorite: Bahomontes, the Eagle of Toledo.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Gesink: De Condor van Varsseveld

(Gesink hates the name himself)

 

[theyoungest]

Gesink: De Condor van Varsseveld

(Gesink hates the name himself)

He doesn't even live in Varsseveld anymore... he's become De Adelaar van Aalten (the Eagle of Aalten).

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

I've heard Cavendish called "Teen Wolf." I like that.

Personally I always thought "the Badger" was the best cycling nickname ever. The first time you hear it, it takes you completely by surprise; then, the more you think about it, the more sense it makes. He's not very big but you mess with him at your own peril. He's hairy. He badgers people. He even looks like a badger (with that silver he got in his eyebrows late-career).

It surprises me that Armstrong never acquired a good nickname during his glory years. I always pictured him as some sort of reptile, with those beady eyes and leathery cheeks, but I never could invent a good phrase. "The Lizard King"?

 

[Le breton]

Ma^itre Jacques

Jacques Anquetil-Monsieur Chrono

In France he was MA^ITRE JACQUES.

can't put the ^ on top of the I

 

[Michielveedeebee]

who's the badger?
Peter van Petegem - the Black of Brakel
José Martín Farfán Pulido - Farfantastico

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

In France he was MA^ITRE JACQUES.

can't put the ^ on top of the I

"Master Jack" has a certain ring to it in English.

 

[Le breton]

Le Maitre et L'empereur

"Master Jack" has a certain ring to it in English.

and so does " L'empereur d'Herenthals" ( Rik Van Looy)
( I was fortunate to have the opportunity to race with both those legends , and many others, in little so-called criteriums)

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

who's the badger?

Bernard Hinault!

 

[bobbins]

That's a Honey Badger / Ratel rather than a Badger.

 

[Le breton]

la puce du cantal

That's a Honey Badger / Ratel rather than a Badger.

Nowadays calling someone a "blaireau" is quite demeaning in French, that was not the case 20 -30 years ago.

He was called " blaireau" because that little critter is supposed to never give up and fight to the death for what it considers to belong to it.

Some old nicknames I liked, but which are now forgotten
La puce du Cantal ( forgot his real name!)
La perruche ( Marinelli, 3rd TdF 49) Marinelli, mayor of a mid-sized French town for many years.

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

That's a Honey Badger / Ratel rather than a Badger.

That's true; but the element of violence was important.

 

[Angliru]

Since we always a have a nickname for everything down under im suprised more Aussies havent been mentioned TBH

ATM Ive hit a mentle blank

What is Cadel's nickname? And not the one the media has graced him with (Cuddles).

 

[Angliru]

Igor Anton - Fuji (no idea why, but even his helmet says it)
Di Luca - the killer
Valverde - El Imbatido (the unbeaten)
Savoldelli - Il Falco
Pellizotti - Il delfino, but I guess this will chance to Il dopino which is I admit not funny

I've seen Pellizotti referred to as Glenn Close for obvious reasons. I don't know whether he or she or both should be insulted.

 

[taiwan]

An actual badger.

Some others which are missing so far:

Vincento Nibali: The Shark/The Shark of the Straits
Tyler Farrar: The Wenatchee Wonder
Alejandro Valverde: Bala Verde (Green Bullet, may have been posted), Valv-Piti
Luis Leon Sanchez: Luisle (Spanish)/Lulu (English)
Heinrich Haussler: Barbie Barbie (Still don't get why it's like that)
Andy Schleck: Schleck the Younger, Skinny Schleck (as opposed to Fat Schleck)
Alberto Contador: Bert (his best, for me), The Accountant
Andre Greipel: Andre the Giant, The Strongest Man on Earth (within the team, apparently)

Some riders have things written on their bikes, but they usually suck. I would put "Gorilla Greipel", and "The Racing Kangaroo" (Barbie) in that category, among others.

 

[badboyberty]

Andy Schleck: Schleck the Younger, Skinny Schleck (as opposed to Fat Schleck)

I personally like "the Schlecklet".

 

[RedheadDane]

Would The Schlecks be counted as a nickname, or is that just a "general term"? You hardly ever hear anybody referring to the as Fränk and Andy Schleck (I guess it's easier just saying Schlecks...)

 

[bobbins]

That's true; but the element of violence was important.

Or just put a picture of a Badger?

 

[taiwan]

Oyeah:

Danilo Napolitano: The Hulk from [where he's from]
Fabian Cancellara: Swiss Bear
Edvald Boasson Hagen: Eddy, Haagen Dazs, Boss Hog (confusingly)
Robbie McEwen: Mr. Paris-Brussels
Pedro Horillo: (wasn't it) The Philosopher
Bradley Wiggins: Wiggo, Twiggy (from '09)

 

[auscyclefan94]

What is Cadel's nickname? And not the one the media has graced him with (Cuddles).

ACF94's son (except I don't give him dope but love)

 

[sportzchick]

You betcha according to no less an authority than Jens Voigt - see http://media.smh.com.au/sport/tour-de-france-09/ogrady-turns-red-over-nickname-636993.html .

Mind you if Stuey is a spotted leopard then Jensi would have to be a hyped-up hyena - those 2 hunt in packs!

lmao That was a ripper If this is a board where you give our reps to poster you would get some for that Vid

 

[yetanothergreenworld]

Oyeah:
Robbie McEwen: Mr. Paris-Brussels

Damn, we have a winner!

 

[Michele]

Oyeah:

Danilo Napolitano: The Hulk from [where he's from]

In Italy we sometimes call him as Ponch/Poncherello, out of the Chips tv series.

 

[Fourier]

One of his grandfathers was known in his pueblo as 'el chabacano'. Chabacano is a word with several meanings, none of them possitive: tasteless, coarse or rude. No slang and no link to animals.

Chaba is just a short form. He preferred to write it with 'v' instead of 'b' (these letters sound the same in Spanish) to avoid negative connotations. This is the way it is written in the street he has with his name in his pueblo, where the cycling school and sports foundation dating from 1984 is placed.

http://www.elbarraco.org/deportes/deportes.html

"Chava" could be interpreted as short for "Chaval" which means "bloke" or "dude". I think it would be more fitting since he was such a friendly guy.