Rider(s) to watch in 2011

[Eric8-A]

Andre Greipel- new team and being the start sprinter of that team means he'll be able to get wins in races he normally couldn't while with Columbia because Cavendish was there

Nicholas Roche- seems to be improving with every season. He was fun to watch this year

Michele Scarponi- new leader for Lampre. Before this year's Giro, I was hoping he'd end up on the podium but was one place out.

Ryder Hesjedal- im curious to see if he will try tackling on the Vuelta or something for a high GC spot. I'm hoping he'll be able to win on one of the hilly classics

Kiel Reijnen- I've always liked this guy and thought of him as a good rider. Now that he will be on a pro continental team, I want to see how he'll do in Europe

 

[hfer07]

hate him or love him-if this guy begins to win big races....

 

[Eric8-A]

hate him or love him-if this guy begins to win big races....

He'll be the Vinokourov of 2011.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Daaaaaaaaan Martin. While Ireland focuses on Nico trying to become a climber, in the shadows lurks a cyclist who already is one. What was once team skys only chance at a british gt winner is now irelands gain. Dino is an awesome talent. Only way is up.

Martin is definitely one to watch.

He may or may not be able to become a GT contender - he definitely has the climbing talent but nobody knows if he'll be able to find the consistency to grind away with the top guys day after day. But regardless of whether or not he turns into a GT GC rider, he'll be a serious player in any one day race or shorter stage race featuring serious climbs. His form in the last third of this season was amazing. His attack in the Tour of Poland was a thing of beauty, while his win in the Tre Valli Varesine showed a seriously impressive combination of strength and timing.

It will also be interesting to see if Roche can continue to improve. He doesn't have the raw climbing ability Martin has, but he does have consistency and all round talent. Who'd have predicted this time last year that he'd be riding with the top 10 climbers over mountain stage after mountains stage in the Vuelta? It's sort of a pity that he's with a French team, as obviously his season has to be built around the Tour but I suppose he would be unlikely to be the main leader of a non-French PT team.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Matt Goss - he'll step into Greipel's shoes and do it better

Andre Greipel- new team and being the start sprinter of that team means he'll be able to get wins in races he normally couldn't while with Columbia because Cavendish was there

I'm also looking forward to see how these guys do.

Greipel will be mixing it with the big boys on a regular basis for the first time. Goss will be trying to take on Greipel's role last year. A big step up in both cases, but one they might be able to take.

 

[The Hitch]

It will also be interesting to see if Roche can continue to improve. He doesn't have the raw climbing ability Martin has, but he does have consistency and all round talent. Who'd have predicted this time last year that he'd be riding with the top 10 climbers over mountain stage after mountains stage in the Vuelta? It's sort of a pity that he's with a French team, as obviously his season has to be built around the Tour but I suppose he would be unlikely to be the main leader of a non-French PT team.

Before the Vuelta i would have written of Roche. I think classics could work out for him but next year top 10 TDF is a big possibility.

One rider i forgot was Niemiec. With Lampre next year = in big races. F*** yes.

 

[Ferminal]

Taaramae - failed in the tour this year due to a fall i think - can next year be where he moves a few steps forward?

He had a solid start didn't he but then more or less was invisible. A bit hard to know what he can do in GTs.

 

[royalpig180]

Sagan
Stybar
EBH
MiniPhinney
Andrew Talansky
Chris Horner
Cav VS Greipel VS Farrar
Spartacus VS Boonen VS Gilbert

I agree big time! Should be exciting to see if cyclocross talent can translate to the cobbles or road racing in general in a big way.

Do we have any evidence from past riders making a similar transition? I know Lars Boom did decent with his victory at the Paris-Nice prologue this spring but that was about it for him...

I wonder if being strong in shorter cyclocross races can translate into success in 6-7 hour classics.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Eddy Boss - Now in his second year at the team and had a spring completely ruined by injury. Will be interesting to see how he performs if he stays fit

Pete Kennaugh - young lad had a rough start to his pro career being injured, put in a good dauphine for his first major stage race and then had his vuelta cut short. Showed how good he was sticking with G in the nationals. Be really interested to see his race program for this year and how he develops.

Richie Porte - can he live up to the hype following this year

Taylor Phinney - Can he live up to the hype full stop

Peter Sagan - See above

Ricardo Ricco - For all the wrong reasons

Alexander Wetterhall - Young swede I hope sky might pick up one day, gone to Endura. Be interesting to see how he gets on. Former mtb'er going into his 3rd season of road racing.

you do realise you have now cursed both of them and they will have appaling seasons.

Like your response about Ricco. I am going to predict Sky to have an awesome seasonso they are cursed and BMC to go badly so they will go well.

 

[needasmoke]

Heinrich Haussler - he's due

 

[auscyclefan94]

Heinrich Haussler - he's due

Exactly, I hope he does well.

 

[Ripper]

Daaaaaaaaan Martin. While Ireland focuses on Nico trying to become a climber, in the shadows lurks a cyclist who already is one. What was once team skys only chance at a british gt winner is now irelands gain. Dino is an awesome talent. Only way is up.

Agreed, if he can keep his body running OK (e.g. avoid injury)

 

[Ripper]

Ryder Hesjedal
Heinrich Haussler
Tejay van Garderen
Vincenzo Nibali
Roman Kreuziger (a little less certain with him)
More Philippe Gilbert!
A Schleck or two

 

[il_fiammingo]

Jens Keukeleire, hopefully not a one hit wonder.

 

[Sydney21]

My List:

Bole
Van Avermat
Terpstra
Leigh Howard
Duarte
Dan Martin
Staegmans
Goss

 

[eljimberino]

Lloyd had a good 2010. Seems more consistent than say Gerrans. If Lloyd can do better than last year, he'll have a corker.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

i'm going to leave out the obvious ones... gilbert, sagan, ebh, schleck, gesink () etc.

Terpstra - has been knocking on the door...
Rujano - he could go either way... but if all goes right could be the most exciting prospect of the giro.
Poels - I have a lot of faith in this guy, big talent imo.
Martin - I don't think he will rip races apart, but should continue his steady progress. Will have a good season I feel.
Degenkolb - out of all the new neo pros entering the ranks, I suspect this guy will be the most successful.
Matthews - similar to above.

regarding stybar, I'm certainly not expecting an instant hit. He'll have a quiet season imo. Cross to road is a difficult transition.

 

[Angliru]

Excellent thread!

I'm looking at Romain Sicard to podium at a major weeklong stage race.

Igor Anton to win a stage of the Giro and then win the Vuelta.

I'm in hurry so I'll finish up later.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Should be good to see Jonathan Cantwell have go against some top pros next year. He will be one to watch.

 

[sublimit]

I have a few

Greg van Avermaet - very impressive in late season classics, expecting a big year from one of the former golden boys of belgian cycling.

Paul Martens - Has had some very strong rides in some one day races against some strong competition. Shuld do well. Seems to go unoticed.

Martens is a bit under the radar, he looks a good rider - particularly good at the Worlds.

Oss, Sagan(s), Uran, G Thomas, Van Garderen, Adam Blythe should be worth looking out for.

 

[profff]

i'm going to leave out the obvious ones... gilbert, sagan, ebh, schleck, gesink () etc.

Terpstra - has been knocking on the door...
Rujano - he could go either way... but if all goes right could be the most exciting prospect of the giro.
Poels - I have a lot of faith in this guy, big talent imo.
Martin - I don't think he will rip races apart, but should continue his steady progress. Will have a good season I feel.
Degenkolb - out of all the new neo pros entering the ranks, I suspect this guy will be the most successful.
Matthews - similar to above.

regarding stybar, I'm certainly not expecting an instant hit. He'll have a quiet season imo. Cross to road is a difficult transition.

ruyano can win the giro , if he goes the right way... it depends a lot how he prepare himself, on his motivation and on the mind aspect.
savio has been the only one able to make ruyano do the right things.
if "il principe" will be able to do that again, ruyano will be a very serious contender .

regarding stybar, the main difficulty of the transition cross to road is that while the other are doing the base training, stybar is full gas for the cross season. he will arrive to the cobble classic ( the races that most suit a cross cyclist) season very tired and having had already a peak in winter. if stybar wants really to do the transition he has to almost stop cross next winter and prepare the road season as the others usually do. ok , he can compete in some cross events, but not compete every week at the top level.
franzoi and others have already proved this.
the era of de vlaeminck , doing both cross and road was completely different. noboby went into milano -sanremo with 20.000 km in the legs , while today that is usual for the guys going foe the win.

 

[Christian]

Let's see what happens when Maxime Monfort is let loose (provided he will be let loose)

 

[L'arriviste]

Let's see what happens when Maxime Monfort is let loose (provided he will be let loose)

I really hope so. I think Monfort is a good rider who's still waiting for his time to come, as was mentioned in the excellent wasted talents thread.

 

[Archibald]

haussler, swift and goss - reckon one will step up into the mix

can't wait for the anton/nibali Giro either

 

[The Hitch]

So no one else here thinks much of Niemiec and Gadret

I guess ill be the only one laughing when John Gadret gets a top 10 in the Tour with a stage win then.