The best 10 riders in the world

[Echoes]

But Echoes speaking said that the distance was the most important part of it. As opposed to Libertine Seguros, who says that in "hilly" classics the climbs would be the most important, and hence Milan-San Remo is something different, and arguably more unique.

..and that climbs came next. Both are related because the distance is enhancing the hardness of the climbs. That is why the Poggio in Milan-Sanremo is so hard, while idiots who are strictly looking at profiles think it's cakewalk. And so far I haven't even talked about the descents ...

By the way, the distance is also the key in every classic, as I also said. The Kapelmuur is not hard but in the former route of Flanders, it was because of the distance, primarily. Same for Liège. The Redoute is not the hardest climb in the Ardennes but it seems so because it's "well placed" on Liège-Bastogne's route. Lièbe-Bastogne over 150km, that would be a very different story, with why not a sprint in Ans. Some Ardennes stage in the Tour of Belgium, may back up that claim.

Cipolata still did win it, even if the unmentionable came into it.

You wouldn't mind if I say it cancels it?

Cav isn't the total mug on the hills that people often make him out to be. But still, any race that he wins is not one that I can consider a "hilly classic". Could Cav win in the Ardennes? San Sebastián? Lombardia? Tre Valli Varesine? Those are what I'm thinking of when I say 'hilly classics'. The hills of Sanremo are not the defining characteristic of the race; it is more multifaceted than that.

There are different kinds of hills, of course ! Van Petegem could've won Amstel, but Lombardy, no way. Yet you'd argue that the two are hilly. Flanders also is hilly but those who win Flanders are not necessarily potential winners in Liège.

Milan-Sanremo is more multifaceted, that is true. I never said the opposite. One of the facets is the hills, lol.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Milan-Sanremo is more multifaceted, that is true. I never said the opposite. One of the facets is the hills, lol.

Of course, but in the races known as "hilly Classics", the hills are THE facet. THE defining factor, rather than part of an ensemble cast as they are in MSR. More riders can possibly win San Remo than any other monument, which is part of its prestige, because it's not a full specialist's race (Flanders and Roubaix for rouleurs, LBL and Lombardia for puncheurs and grimpeurs) so you have to beat out legitimate contenders for victory from all walks of cycling.

 

[murali]

the article is a f-ing joke.

In the 2013 top-10 victory ranking of CQ, only 2 make to best riders.

1. SAGAN Peter CAN 26/01/1990 22
2. CAVENDISH Mark OPQ 21/05/1985 19
3. KITTEL Marcel ARG 11/05/1988 16
4. GREIPEL André LTB 16/07/1982 13
5. FROOME Chris SKY 20/05/1985 13
6. BOS Theo BEL 22/08/1983 12
7. MARTIN Tony OPQ 23/04/1985 12
8. KANKOVSKY Alois ADP 19/07/1983 11
9. BOUHANNI Nacer FDJ 25/07/1990 11
10. ZOIDL Riccardo GMS 08/04/1988 11

Where are the sprinters?
at least one of cav, kittel and greipel shud hav made the list.

 

[Panda Claws]

Just out of interest

Top cyclists by total amount of CQ-points

1. Alejandro Valverde 18.710
2. Davide Rebellin 17.992
3. Erik Zabel 16.558
4. Cadel Evans 15.003
5. Tom Boonen 14.963
6. Paolo Bettini 14.704
7. Joaquim Rodriguez 14.143
8. Fabian Cancellara 13.856
9. Oscar Freire 13.777
10. Philippe Gilbert 13.644
11. Alessandro Petacchi 13.302
12. Lance Armstrong 12.965
13. Samuel Sanchez 12.917
14. Damiano Cunego 12.910
15. Robbie Mcewen 12.262
16. Alexandre Vinokourov 12.128
17. Alberto Contador 11.774
18. Danilo Di Luca 11.626
19. Vincenzo Nibali 11.488
20. Thor Hushovd 11.367

 

[Panda Claws]

Best riders by most CQpoints obtained in 3 consecutive years

1. Joaquim Rodriguez 7.520
2. Alejandro Valverde 7.053
3. Philippe Gilbert 6.743
4. Alberto Contador 6.424
5. Erik Zabel 6.421
6. Peter Sagan 6.232
7. Tom Boonen 6.111
8. Vincenzo Nibali 5.797
9. Cadel Evans 5.770
10. Lance Armstrong 5.717
11. Paolo Bettini 5.677
12. Alessandro Petacchi 5.439
13. Francesco Casagrande 5.081
14. Davide Rebellin 4.999
15. Laurent Jalabert 4.986
16. Chris Froome 4.972
17. Fabian Cancellara 4.935
18. Damiano Cunego 4.914
19. Samuel Sanchez 4.857
20. Jan Ullrich 4.792

Best riders by most CQpoints obtained in 4 consecutive years

1. Joaquim Rodriguez 9.543
2. Alejandro Valverde 9.522
3. Erik Zabel 8.430
4. Philippe Gilbert 8.200
5. Vincenzo Nibali 8.001
6. Alberto Contador 7.646
7. Tom Boonen 7.560
8. Cadel Evans 7.396
9. Lance Armstrong 7.238
10. Peter Sagan 7.160
11. Paolo Bettini 7.061
12. Francesco Casagrande 6.514
13. Alessandro Petacchi 6.455
14. Davide Rebellin 6.398
15. Fabian Cancellara 6.369
16. Damiano Cunego 6.349
17. Laurent Jalabert 6.139
18. Edvald Boasson Hagen 6.004
19. Samuel Sanchez 5.985
20. André Greipel 5.863

Best riders by most CQpoints obtained in 5 consecutive years

1. Alejandro Valverde 10.522
2. Joaquim Rodriguez 10.404
3. Erik Zabel 10.381
4. Cadel Evans 9.353
5. Philippe Gilbert 9.286
6. Vincenzo Nibali 8.992
7. Lance Armstrong 8.964
8. Tom Boonen 8.888
9. Paolo Bettini 8.793
10. Alberto Contador 8.265
11. Damiano Cunego 8.149
12. Davide Rebellin 7.925
13. Francesco Casagrande 7.821
14. Alessandro Petacchi 7.704
15. Mark Cavendish 7.436
16. Fabian Cancellara 7.400
17. Samuel Sanchez 7.269
18. André Greipel 7.254
19. Robbie Mcewen 7.251
20. Peter Sagan 7.248

Conclusion: Peter Sagan is a legend and will be at the top of all those rankings if he repeats his 2013 season.

Ranking by total score of 3 best seasons

1. Alejandro Valverde 7.625
2. Joaquim Rodriguez 7.520
3. Tom Boonen 6.834
4. Philippe Gilbert 6.743
5. Vincenzo Nibali 6.685
6. Erik Zabel 6.481
7. Alberto Contador 6.424
8. Peter Sagan 6.232
9. Paolo Bettini 5.957
10. Cadel Evans 5.848
11. Lance Armstrong 5.730
12. Damiano Cunego 5.495
13. Davide Rebellin 5.457
14. Alessandro Petacchi 5.439
15. Laurent Jalabert 5.194
16. Francesco Casagrande 5.182
17. Mark Cavendish 5.045
18. Robbie Mcewen 5.035
19. Danilo Di Luca 5.013
20. Samuel Sanchez 5.004

 

[phanatic]

Taking a cue from Panda Claws, I looked at CQ for efficiency. This is the top 11 for 2013 with a minimum of 5000 kms. It makes sense to exclude Horner as he raced so much less, which is why I did the Top 11. It's an interesting list, but I think it shows CQ's bias toward GT's and placings. Kittel should probably be put ahead of Cav if there is only one pure sprinter in the list. I would want to put Cance in the top 3 for his cobbles triple and MSR podium even though if I imagine a 500 point bonus for each monument victory, it still doesn't place him ahead of Sagan in points.


Name Team KMs Points Efficiency

FROOME SKY 9,079.50 2766 30.46
NIBALI AST 13,512.70 2760 20.43
(HORNER RLT 5,505.60 1122 20.38)
SAGAN CAN 13,647.20 2673 19.59
VALVERDE MOV 12,861.50 2402 18.68
RODRIGUEZ KAT 13,498.30 2336 17.31
COSTA MOV 10,805.40 1820 16.84
QUINTANA MOV 10,211.30 1634 16.00
PORTE SKY 10,766.60 1486 13.80
CANCELLARA RLT 11,484.10 1461 12.72
CAVENDISH OPQ 14,934.30 1843 12.34

(sorry bout my formatting incompetence)

 

[Panda Claws]

Yeah, I agree with you about CQranking undervaluing several riders. Good idea with the efficiency by the way.

I hope you do not mind I made a ranking of that too.

Since 2007 with a min. of 25 race days (though no-one in this ranking has less than 36).

1. 2012 Bradley Wiggins 47.14
2. 2013 Chris Froome 46.10
3. 2011 Philippe Gilbert 42.97
4. 2009 Alberto Contador 42.07
5. 2012 Joaquim Rodriguez 41.03
6. 2007 Danilo Di Luca 37.67
7. 2008 Alberto Contador 37.06
8. 2009 Alejandro Valverde 36.14
9. 2012 Alberto Contador 35.47
10. 2008 Alejandro Valverde 35.03

 

[Echoes]

Of course, but in the races known as "hilly Classics", the hills are THE facet.

No. I already said it but I insist, no classic are like that. Liège-Bastogne is a 260km long classic and the distance is also a factor. Same for Amstel Gold. That is why Contador can't shine on it. It's less of a factor than in Milan-Sanremo, perhaps but it still is. It's all a matter of proportion, really.

More riders can possibly win San Remo than any other monument, which is part of its prestige, because it's not a full specialist's race (Flanders and Roubaix for rouleurs, LBL and Lombardia for puncheurs and grimpeurs) so you have to beat out legitimate contenders for victory from all walks of cycling.

More riders if they can handle the distance. You know that the 200k mark is often when the selection between the best and the very best occurs. I guess you meant more types of riders.

Flanders for rouleurs, are you sure? I don't like it when Flanders and Roubaix are gathered together. These two races are radically different !

Where are the sprinters?
at least one of cav, kittel and greipel shud hav made the list.

They are reigning in the kingdom of wheelsuckers. None of them should be there. Cycling hall of fame is strictly for classic winners. Not for sprinters !

 

[Netserk]

They are reigning in the kingdom of wheelsuckers. None of them should be there. Cycling hall of fame is strictly for classic winners. Not for sprinters !

You surely mean Tour winners, right?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

the article is a f-ing joke.

In the 2013 top-10 victory ranking of CQ, only 2 make to best riders.

1. SAGAN Peter CAN 26/01/1990 22
2. CAVENDISH Mark OPQ 21/05/1985 19
3. KITTEL Marcel ARG 11/05/1988 16
4. GREIPEL André LTB 16/07/1982 13
5. FROOME Chris SKY 20/05/1985 13
6. BOS Theo BEL 22/08/1983 12
7. MARTIN Tony OPQ 23/04/1985 12
8. KANKOVSKY Alois ADP 19/07/1983 11
9. BOUHANNI Nacer FDJ 25/07/1990 11
10. ZOIDL Riccardo GMS 08/04/1988 11

Where are the sprinters?
at least one of cav, kittel and greipel shud hav made the list.

lol, who cares about sprinters. they are incrediblly overrated most of them

 

[barmaher]

the article is a f-ing joke.

In the 2013 top-10 victory ranking of CQ, only 2 make to best riders.

1. SAGAN Peter CAN 26/01/1990 22
2. CAVENDISH Mark OPQ 21/05/1985 19
3. KITTEL Marcel ARG 11/05/1988 16
4. GREIPEL André LTB 16/07/1982 13
5. FROOME Chris SKY 20/05/1985 13
6. BOS Theo BEL 22/08/1983 12
7. MARTIN Tony OPQ 23/04/1985 12
8. KANKOVSKY Alois ADP 19/07/1983 11
9. BOUHANNI Nacer FDJ 25/07/1990 11
10. ZOIDL Riccardo GMS 08/04/1988 11

Where are the sprinters?
at least one of cav, kittel and greipel shud hav made the list.

You have managed a worse list than the OP Top 10, which is a big achievement. Only Sagan and a peak form Cavendish of the sprinters could get in Top 20. Only Sagan in Top 10. Who cares about number of wins?

 

[Gloin22]

You have managed a worse list than the OP Top 10, which is a big achievement. Only Sagan and a peak form Cavendish of the sprinters could get in Top 20. Only Sagan in Top 10. Who cares about number of wins?

What? Cavendish easily got in the Top 10 last year.. Sagan Top 5...