Rough Attempt at an All-Time Ranking

[VayaVayaVaya]

Valverde never the best classics rider? You’ve seen how many times he won LBL?

He was a phenomenal classics rider with amazing palmares, no doubt. But in which years would you say he was the best classics rider overall?

 

[Berniece]

He was a phenomenal classics rider with amazing palmares, no doubt. But in which years would you say he was the best classics rider overall?

2015, he won LBL, Fleche and NC, podium on AGR (2nd), Strade (3rd), San Sebastian (3rd), and 4th Lombardia and 5th WC.

Maybe also even in 2014.

 

[Peyroteo94]

2015, he won LBL, Fleche and NC, podium on AGR (2nd), Strade (3rd), San Sebastian (3rd), and 4th Lombardia and 5th WC.

Maybe also even in 2014.

Valverde's best year was 2015 or even 2017. His crash in the 2017 Tour was such a pity because he was flying that year

 

[Jan the Man]

I guess in the debate between Valverde and Contador it depends on what you rate more versatility or specialism. For me Contador was more dominant in GTs than Valverde was in classics at their peak but Valverde was clearly more versatile, could win a far broader range of races and in fact did so over a longer period of time.

I am not a huge fan of comparing cross generations particularly Eddie v Pog. Times were so different, different races had different levels of importance, everybody raced loads, super teams weren't much of a thing and cycling has become far more global and specialised so there is more depth in competition.

Times change- people can spin arguments whichever way you suit and people will always have their favourites.

All I can judge is what I've seen since watching the sport. Since 1994 Pog is clearly all round the most dominant rider in that time although when people complain about team dominance by UAE I still remember the Gewiss dominance of the 1995 liege and Mapei's dominance of Roubaix 1996...

 

[Squire]

I'm as big a Valverde fanboy as they come, but even I have to admit that Contador was the greater and more mythical cyclist. For me Contador is easily the greatest cyclist of the 21st century pre-Pog (with only Armstrong as a possible discussion). And with 9 GTs for Contador, I don't even think Pog is head-and-shoulders ahead yet in terms of palmares.

All I can judge is what I've seen since watching the sport. Since 1994 Pog is clearly all round the most dominant rider in that time although when people complain about team dominance by UAE I still remember the Gewiss dominance of the 1995 liege and Mapei's dominance of Roubaix 1996...

In terms of dominance in one particular race, I think Jumbo-Visma's 2023 Vuelta beats the Gewiss and Mapei monuments hands down. At least those races were over after a few hours, and we didn't have to watch a team playing on easy mode for three weeks.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

2015, he won LBL, Fleche and NC, podium on AGR (2nd), Strade (3rd), San Sebastian (3rd), and 4th Lombardia and 5th WC.

Maybe also even in 2014.

Yeah, great year, but nothing compared to Contador winning Giro-Vuelta in 2008, clearly head and shoulders above anyone else in GTs, becoming all the sixth person to ever win all 3 GTs, or beating his own teammate/team, against his DS’s wishes, for his second Tour, or being the third person to win all 3 GTs more than once. He also won the Velo d’Or 4 times. He burned much brighter and faster than Valverde.

Valverde was definitely more versatile and his longevity was insane, but I put Contador above him for the reasons listed. Also, yes, Valverde won 4 Monuments, but they were all the same Monument, and not the most prestigious. (Plus a WCRR, which is more prestigious). Again, very good, but below Contador’s 3-3-3 across GTs. 9 big wins vs 6. 7 vs 6 if you go by the books.

Regardless, Pogacar is miles above them both.