Rider of the Year 2012?

[Netserk]

Valverde didn't chase Gilbert, Cadel Evans did. Who just happens to be Gilbert's team-mate next year

And so what? Valverde still out-sprinted him

 

[El Pistolero]

And so what? Valverde still out-sprinted him

Without Evans there would have been no sprint. Valverde won't be able to count on Evans' services anymore. Who cares about third place: it's win or lose. At least Gilbert tried to win, can't say the same about Valverde.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

OK, so this is sort of a spin-off of the Rider to watch in 2012 thread. But this time it is for another story on the CN homepage.

what I want to know is: Who do you pick for rider of the year 2012? And why, in five sentences or less?

Remember, this will appear as a news story on CN. So give it your best.

Thanks.

Susan

OK, I've read the OP and don't see why I can't do this, and tbh I am surprised nobody has jumped in to say this on my behalf, knowing it is inevitably coming:

Marianne Vos.

 

[Angliru]

without evans there would have been no sprint. Valverde won't be able to count on evans' services anymore. Who cares about third place: It's win or lose. At least gilbert tried to win, can't say the same about valverde.

breaking news!!!!

Uci decides, due to philippe gilbert's godlike superiority over all in the cycling world, that all races on his race schedule will still be held but gilbert will be given his booty of first place trophies and first place race winnings in advance. Mr gilbert will be found sunning himself on the beach or choosing which particular shade of blond to use in his latest hair color. Inside sources say he's leaning towards a strawberry blond to compliment his bmc kit.
:d

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Valverde didn't chase Gilbert, Cadel Evans did. Who just happens to be Gilbert's team-mate next year

Fair. But how things hold in 2010 and how things hold in 2012 are two different things, and there may be others who work together to reel in Gilbert, or Gilbert may crash and have an off day, or various things.

Hitch just pointed out that Valverde would likely outsprint Gilbert in a head-to-head, so if they arrive at the line together (say, if Gilbert's been marked to oblivion or a strong group have worked together to bring him back), then Valverde would beat him. This was a counterpoint to your statement that Gilbert would outsprint everyone if he was caught anyway.

However, that is predicated on one big, very big theoretical point: that Gilbert and Valverde get to the line together. Easier said than done, and probably unlikely, with Valverde only back racing for a couple of months. But if you bring in the hypothetical point "if he gets brought back..." then it's a circular argument to then defend against the response with "well, he won't get brought back".

 

[El Pistolero]

breaking news!!!!

Uci decides, due to philippe gilbert's godlike superiority over all in the cycling world, that all races on his race schedule will still be held but gilbert will be given his booty of first place trophies and first place race winnings in advance. Mr gilbert will be found sunning himself on the beach or choosing which particular shade of blond to use in his latest hair color. Inside sources say he's leaning towards a strawberry blond to compliment his bmc kit.
:d

Don't get so touchy when its about Spanish cyclists

 

[Angliru]

Don't get so touchy when its about Spanish cyclists

I can't help myself, try as I might.

 

[El Pistolero]

Fair. But how things hold in 2010 and how things hold in 2012 are two different things, and there may be others who work together to reel in Gilbert, or Gilbert may crash and have an off day, or various things.

Hitch just pointed out that Valverde would likely outsprint Gilbert in a head-to-head, so if they arrive at the line together (say, if Gilbert's been marked to oblivion or a strong group have worked together to bring him back), then Valverde would beat him. This was a counterpoint to your statement that Gilbert would outsprint everyone if he was caught anyway.

However, that is predicated on one big, very big theoretical point: that Gilbert and Valverde get to the line together. Easier said than done, and probably unlikely, with Valverde only back racing for a couple of months. But if you bring in the hypothetical point "if he gets brought back..." then it's a circular argument to then defend against the response with "well, he won't get brought back".

But if Valverde was still in the group, Gilbert wouldn't be marked to death as everybody knows Valverde is faster ergo it still is not the same situation as with Cancellara(who has proven to be able to drop everyone before the finish with incredible ease). So in that case Gilbert can't be marked to death. Who will bring back Gilbert in a group that has Valverde in it? Let me tell you: Valverde would be the one.

 

[Netserk]

But if Valverde was still in the group, Gilbert wouldn't be marked to death as everybody knows Valverde is faster ergo it still is not the same situation as with Cancellara(who has proven to be able to drop everyone before the finish with incredible ease). So in that case Gilbert can't be marked to death. Who will bring back Gilbert in a group that has Valverde in it? Let me tell you: Valverde would be the one.

Or his team?

 

[Libertine Seguros]

But if Valverde was still in the group, Gilbert wouldn't be marked to death as everybody knows Valverde is faster ergo it still is not the same situation as with Cancellara(who has proven to be able to drop everyone before the finish with incredible ease). So in that case Gilbert can't be marked to death. Who will bring back Gilbert in a group that has Valverde in it? Let me tell you: Valverde would be the one.

Fair, but again, the point was introduced, that if Gilbert was brought back, he would just win the sprint anyway, and that point was countered with Valverde. So, saying "ah but Gilbert won't be brought back because Valverde can't respond to his attacks" doesn't really counter that point. You're the one that introduced the situation of Gilbert being brought back and there being a sprint.

It may be an unlikely situation, but it's still likely that in the event of that situation unfolding, Valverde would outsprint Phil. I don't see that that's in any way an untrue statement.

 

[El Pistolero]

Or his team?

I see no one in his team strong enough to survive after the Roche aux Faucons.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I see no one in his team strong enough to survive after the Roche aux Faucons.

I reckon Costa can be there. I just don't think he'd be able to provide much help pulling Gilbert back.

And depending on the pace of the rest of the race, Visconti too. His climbing has significantly improved over the last year. Again though, I don't see him being able to contribute much to pulling back a rider like Gilbert.

 

[Netserk]

I see no one in his team strong enough to survive after the Roche aux Faucons.

Rui Costa (and he could always buy the help of others)

 

[El Pistolero]

I reckon Costa can be there. I just don't think he'd be able to provide much help pulling Gilbert back.

And depending on the pace of the rest of the race, Visconti too. His climbing has significantly improved over the last year. Again though, I don't see him being able to contribute much to pulling back a rider like Gilbert.

Visconti doesn't really have a great track record at the Ardennes and Costa has yet to prove him self. It's much better to have someone in your team that has already proven he can ride a top 10 in LBL.

BMC have GVA, CE and PG for that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Movistar only have Valverde. Rui Costa and Visconti are possibilities of course to survive so far in LBL, but they are far from certainties.

 

[Panda Claws]

But while this is the best example of Valverde not being able to follow Gilbert's attacks, it's also the best example of the scenario being discussed, as Valverde and Evans along with the Schlecks, Contador and a couple of others caught back up to Gilbert and Valverde outsprinted the Belgian to the line. And the podium was on the line there, and Gilbert also outsprinted Evans, who's no slouch himself.

The Schlecks and Contador were further behind still.

Also, Gilbert just happens to be THE most explosive rider on a hill just like Contador is the best GT rider and Cavendish is the best sprinter.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The Schlecks and Contador were further behind still.

Also, Gilbert just happens to be THE most explosive rider on a hill just like Contador is the best GT rider and Cavendish is the best sprinter.

Yes, he is.

But we weren't talking about the likelihood of Gilbert being brought back. We were talking, as El Pistolero brought it into conversation, about what would happen in the event of there being a sprint if he was brought back. In which case, Valverde would probably beat him. El Pistolero hasn't really denied that - his denials have consisted mainly of pointing out that that's an unlikely situation as Gilbert probably wouldn't be brought back, at least not by a group containing Valverde. I don't deny that either. We're just needlessly haggling over a hypothetical situation that Pistolet brought into the conversation.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Visconti doesn't really have a great track record at the Ardennes and Costa has yet to prove him self. It's much better to have someone in your team that has already proven he can ride a top 10 in LBL.

BMC have GVA, CE and PG for that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Movistar only have Valverde. Rui Costa and Visconti are possibilities of course to survive so far in LBL, but they are far from certainties.

I was not disagreeing with you - I was stating that I think those guys could make it, but I'd doubt they'd have the strength to bring back an attack from the likes of Gilbert, or even make any impression at all into a lead by that point.

Costa's level in these races is hard to ascertain; he had only just got back on the road when the Ardennes came by in 2011, but has shown himself smart and astute over 200km a few times. However, the only Ardennes classic that's 200km is Flèche, which is the least tactical (being essentially an uphill sprint), and being good at 200km and good after 260km are two very different things. Visconti, well, the last time he rode the Ardennes was 2008, and he's a very different rider from the one he was then; he's always tailored his calendar around the Italian races somewhat, for obvious reasons, but there are a few results here and there that show his hilly racing potential is improving - the 2nd in the Macerata stage of Tirreno-Adriatico behind Evans for one, attacking into Gaggio Montano in Coppi e Bartali, the Castelfidardo stage of the Giro, the MTF at the Giro di Padania. He may be there, he may not be there yet. I don't see him as a contender to win (except maybe at Amstel if a break gets away like when Ivanov won) but he will be an interesting factor - IF he tailors his calendar towards these races, which is a big question mark.

 

[greenedge]

I'm sure Costa and Visconti will be of help to Valverde.

I think Gilbert would now be better than Valverde. He showed by his performance at F-W this year that he has got a better sprint up hills. Valverde would be better on the flats but Gilbert has the advantage of having raced competitively for a year and a half.

I think if Evans wins the TDF in 2012 it would make him rider of the year ( as he would beat Contador )

 

[Panda Claws]

What is the gradient on LBL's finish btw?

 

[dlwssonic]

Gilbert-Dominates the classics in style, and wins stages in le tour with a strong team behind him.

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

Thanks one and all!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/forum-hot-topic-predicted-rider-of-the-year-2012

Susan

 

[Panda Claws]

Cool


Love the EBH part

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Cool


Love the EBH part

An indian newspaper called the times of india have EBH as one to look out for in the world of sport for 2012.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Gilbert wins it easily for me; Cavendish second.

 

[The Hitch]

An indian newspaper called the times of india have EBH as one to look out for in the world of sport for 2012.

What did they say?

Gilbert wins it easily for me; Cavendish second.

You talking about 2011 or 2012?