Season 2010 in review - Your thoughts?

[ak-zaaf]

I find it amusing everyone is saying sky for biggest disappointment. Sad really.

Because they did so well with their tiny budget and were up there in all the classics and the GT's?

 

[stefrees]

Because they did so well with their tiny budget and were up there in all the classics and the GT's?

They didn't do great but they did ok, IMO not biggest disappointment of whole cycling season

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Best one Day Race of the year?
k-b-k -- epic epic epic. I enjoyed the worlds also. (was disappointed with the spring on a whole)

Best grand tour of the year?
Giro hands down

Best Stage of a grand Tour?
easy, stage 7 of giro.

Best Rider?
I honestly cannot pick one.

Best win?
In terms of how I enjoyed it, Gesink in canada -- epic effort too.
I appreciate thor's wc win also. And in epicness cuddles giro stage deserves a mention.

Biggest Surprise?
I didn't expect Kruijswijk to perform like he has. Oh and sagan blew any expectations I had also...
Quote of the year?
meh

Biggest Disappointment of the year?
cunego maybe?
And sky are only disappointing in the way the hyped them selves up, and claimed to be some revolution to cycling. bunch of to$sers.
Vasc. being snubbed by all 3 GTs was really disappointing also.

One to watch in 2011?
For purposely bias reasons.. gesink
I also expect some more progress from kruijswijk.
oh wout poels too
and basically all other young dutchies

 

[auscyclefan94]

It was sad that the classics were crap this year. So much promise but the cobbles were quite boring and AGR and LBL were not fun.

Grand tours: Well the giro was the best stage race I have ever watched. Tour was above average (though the average wasn't high) and la vuelta...watched a few stages but I thought other than Bola del mundo I though it was a snoozfest.

Hopefully tonight we will have a great race which means I can change my favourite one day classic of the year to lombardy.

Timmy, you did not mention TGBM to be one to watch next year??!!! Disgraceful!!!!!!!

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Hopefully tonight we will have a great race which means I can change my favourite one day classic of the year to lombardy.

Timmy, you did not mention TGBM to be one to watch next year??!!! Disgraceful!!!!!!!

I assume tonight's greatness depends on the winner ey



oh and TGBM is above mention to look out for, he is already far and above any cyclist ever to hit the road.

 

[auscyclefan94]

I assume tonight's greatness depends on the winner ey



oh and TGBM is above mention to look out for, he is already far and above any cyclist ever to hit the road.

Exactly right. I guess TGBM's greatness goes without saying!

Bauke Mollema hopeful about Giro di Lombardia - Velonation

 

[Kwibus]

Best one Day Race of the year?

Worlds, despite ending in a sprint.

Best grand tour of the year?

The Giro. It was the bump for me of a Tour/spring classic fan to an all out cycling fan that wants to watch everything.

Best Stage of a grand Tour?

The dirt roads in Italy ofcourse

Best Rider?

Gilbert. He has the advantage over Cancellara who won P-R and Flanders, but Gilbert also shined in the Vuelta where he was very very impressive. And any course he rides with hills he is THE BIG rider.

Best win?

Gesink in Montreal (biased ofcourse)

Biggest Surprise?

Probably forgetting some stuff, but I never expected Jurgen VDB to hold on in the TDF.

Quote of the year?

Dunno, allthough Roche intimidating Gadret was pretty good

Biggest Dissapointment of the year?

Ardennes stage in the TDF.

One to watch in 2011?

Dan Martin. Didn't know him before the Tour of Poland, but he's showing quite some promiss. Interesting to see how he will do in a GT imo.

An additional question: Funniest moment of the year?

All the riders thought they won, but had 1 more lap to go. For example Marcato in the Tour of Poland.

 

[scribe]

Best one Day Race of the year?
It was amazing to watch Canc power away from Boonen on the Muur...I do accept the subsequent result was predictable.

Best grand tour of the year?
Vuelta was great, but I watched the Tour highlights with my dad every night so good memories...

Best Stage of a grand Tour?
Stage 14 of the tour. It was great seeing Schleck and Contador pulling away from the rest, then mark each other out so attentively they slow right back down and let the others pass.

Best Rider?
Cancellara was imperious

Best win?
Vino at L-B-L was GREAT

Biggest Surprise?
At the time it was surprising to see then MJ wearer Cadel dropped so easily. Obviously we learned the reasons afterwards...

Quote of the year?
"It was the crashes that ruined it for me" (Or something to that affect)
As if that was the reason he didn't win the Tour...

Biggest Dissapointment of the year?
Team Sky didn't really match up to the hype

One to watch in 2011?
Ben King

An additional question: Funniest moment of the year?
It was funny seeing Cav get cross about coming second instead of first in the Vuelta's final sprint stage when the sprint jersey was already more than wrapped up...that guy loves winning so much...not necessarily a bad thing..

Best, first post ever! I couldn't have written this any better myself. Perfect alignment.

 

[scribe]

Somewhere on my list, I'd add watching guys slip backwards whilst climbing the zoncolon.

 

[The Hitch]

Im surprised not to see Richie Porte appear more. In the surprise section because he has been a surprise.

But also in the "one to watch section", considering some posters have concrete evidence (which they wont share with us) that he will definately be winning GTs.

 

[The Hitch]

Gilbert. He has the advantage over Cancellara who won P-R and Flanders, but Gilbert also shined in the Vuelta where he was very very impressive. And any course he rides with hills he is THE BIG rider.

To be fair what the Vuelta was to Gilbert, the Tour was to Cancellara. Gilbert won 2 stages in the Vuelta and helf the leaders jersey for a few days.

Cancellara won 2 stages in the Tour and held the leaders jersey for a few days.

You might say Gilberts stages were more impressive but then Cancellaras at the Tour were against tougher opposition, and he also shined in the cobbles stage where he would have won easily, but since he was working for Schleck he put that effort into helping Andy. Still was unquestionably the star of that stage even if Hushovd won. And he was working for Andy for most of the Tour, while Gilbert was for himself.

i think its a case of us being used to seeing Canc win 2 stages a gt, but not so much with Gilbert so its more of a surprise when he does.

Bare in mind also that Canc won 2 monuments, to Gilberts 1 (if he wins Lombardy today that is)

 

[auscyclefan94]

Im surprised not to see Richie Porte appear more. In the surprise section because he has been a surprise.

But also in the "one to watch section", considering some posters have concrete evidence (which they wont share with us) that he will definately be winning GTs.

Everyone is obsessed with Ricco! I hope he epically fails or Vacansoleil don't get any invites

 

[The Hitch]

Everyone is obsessed with Ricco! I hope he epically fails or Vacansoleil don't get any invites

Ricco or no Ricco, if any team deserves invites its Vaconsolei.

Besides, Ricco plays the role of heel vs Andy Schleck/ Cadel Evans baby face. Controversy creates cash. Hes the bad guy and people will tune in to hate on him.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Ricco doped.. He's a cheat. We get it.

But you'd be an ignorant fool to not recognize how much talent the guy has.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Ricco doped.. He's a cheat. We get it.

But you'd be an ignorant fool to not recognize how much talent the guy has.

I still dislike the guy The doping just made me really really hate the guy and his attitude about it all.

 

[The Hitch]

I still dislike the guy The doping just made me really really hate the guy and his attitude about it all.

He plays the Andre the Giant role. Big bad foreigner who cheats while your white knights - Hulk Hogans try to win fair (in theory).

Ratings go up.

 

[nvpacchi]

Best one Day Race of the year?
GP Montreal, it was awesome to witness live

Best grand tour of the year?
Giro, Vuelta was close 2nd

Best Stage of a grand Tour?
Mortirolo stage of Giro, Andorra and Bola del Mundo in Vuelta

Best Rider?
Gilbert, Freire (won the two biggest sprinter's classics in as quiet a fashion as possible)
Nibali was fantastic too

Best win?
Evans in Giro stage 7 was impressive (I was convinced Cunego was going to outsprint him), Anton in Castilla y Leon (riding Contador, Mosquera, and Soler off his wheel)

Biggest Surprise?
Sagan, Nieve

Quote of the year?
The entire World's TT broadcast from Liggett and Sherwin (ONLY 1 mention of Armstrong , proves they still can be good unbiased journalists when not working for Versus)

Biggest Dissapointment of the year?
Anton's crash in the Vuelta

One to watch in 2011?
Anton and Ricco- such potential for an epic battle between these two

 

[The Hitch]

Best one Day Race of the year?
GP Montreal, it was awesome to witness live

Best grand tour of the year?
Giro, Vuelta was close 2nd

Best Stage of a grand Tour?
Mortirolo stage of Giro, Andorra and Bola del Mundo in Vuelta

Best Rider?
Gilbert, Freire (won the two biggest sprinter's classics in as quiet a fashion as possible)
Nibali was fantastic too

Best win?
Evans in Giro stage 7 was impressive (I was convinced Cunego was going to outsprint him), Anton in Castilla y Leon (riding Contador, Mosquera, and Soler off his wheel)

Biggest Surprise?
Sagan, Nieve

Quote of the year?
The entire World's TT broadcast from Liggett and Sherwin (ONLY 1 mention of Armstrong , proves they still can be good unbiased journalists when not working for Versus)

Biggest Dissapointment of the year?
Anton's crash in the Vuelta

One to watch in 2011?
Anton and Ricco- such potential for an epic battle between these two

My favourite choice so far.

 

[nvpacchi]

My favourite choice so far.

I'm flattered Hitch

 

[auscyclefan94]

lombardy will only be mentioned in the bad areas of this thread. boring race. I would of rather watched 1000 laps of a velodrome

 

[luckyboy]

Best one day race of the year?
World Championships/Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne

Best stage race of the year?
Pais Vasco was pretty cool

Best Grand Tour of the year?
The Giro.

Best Stage of a Grand Tour?
Giro stage 15: Mestre to Zoncolan

Best rider?
Gilbert

Best win?
Gilbert at Amstel Gold Race & Chavanel to Station des Rousses (Tour). And Voeckler.

Biggest surprise?
Contador testing positive.
Sylvain regaining yellow.
Sagan, Porte.

Quote of the year?
Something from Lance before the Tour probably.

Biggest disappointment of the year?
Gilbert not winning the Worlds.

Ones to watch in 2011?
The Killer from Spoltore.
Gilbert again.
Ricco.
Sella in the Tour?

 

[The Hitch]

Best one Day Race of the year?

Liege Bastogne Liege

Best grand tour of the year?

Giro d Italia

Best Stage of a grand Tour?

Mortirolo No doubt.

Best Rider?

Fabian Cancellara

Best win?

Chris Horner - Vuelta a Pais Vasco. Mosquera Bola del Mundo. Vino stage 13.

Biggest Surprise?

Laquilla

Quote of the year?

Jens Voigt - "My ribs are hurting but hey, broken ribs are overrated anyway". Especially the way the Eurosport tdf presenter quoted it. (this guy Voigt is nuts)

Biggest Dissapointment of the year?

The Pyranees. Mosquera not winning. Samu crash giving Pope the podium. Crash taking out Anton, and Caisse.

One to watch in 2011?

Henao, other colombians



Additional:

most heart warming moment ?

Italian kid winning Giro stage in his home town, then crying out of joy.

Most guts: Cuddles in Giro. Winning Moltacino, going into the red none stop. Arroyo on Mortirolo. Farrar riding Cobbles with broken wrist.

 

[mulletCobra]

Best one day race of the year?
PR. Seeing Cancellara motor away from Boonen was amazing.

Best stage race of the year?
Critérium du Dauphiné

Best Grand Tour of the year?
The Giro, hands down..

Best Stage of a Grand Tour?
Stage 3 TdF. I really enjoyed the chaos. The *****ing afterwards was funny too.

Best rider?
Gilbert was excellent to watch. Fabian too, but I expected more of him in the Worlds RR.

Best win?
Tyler Farrar at the last stage of the Vuelta. Made me very happy.

Biggest surprise?
Tejay van Garderen

Quote of the year?
Wiggans saying his 2009 TdF was a fluke.

Biggest disappointment of the year?
Valverde getting the axe

Ones to watch in 2011?
I'm really looking forward to watching Ricco. I'm a fan of anyone who attacks vigorously.

 

[luckyboy]

most heart warming moment ?

Italian kid winning Giro stage in his home town, then crying out of joy.

Ah yeah, that was pretty great.

 

[Barrus]

Best one Day Race of the year?
Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne, really completely epic

Best grand tour of the year?
obviously the giro

Best Stage of a grand Tour?
Stage 7 of the giro, Montalcino

Best Rider?

I would say it's a toss-up between Nibali, Cancellara and Rodriguez

Best win?
Voeckler his win on the 15th stage of the Tour, the way he and the entire French public went crazy

Biggest Surprise?
Sagan, Kruiswijck and Porte


Biggest Dissapointment of the year?
To be quite honest the tour, especially the second stage and the neutralisation.

One to watch in 2011?
Oss, Sagan, Slagter

An additional question: Funniest moment of the year?
the fight of Barredo (I thought it was him) in the tour