The best one-day racer who has never won a monument?

[Anderis]

Having seen Van Avermaet missing yet another monument win today made me thinking about that question. Who do you think is the best rider ever in one day races who has never won a monument?

Van Avermaet:
- Olympic Games Road Race
- 2xOmloop
- Paris-Tours
- GW
- E3 Harelbeke
- GP Cycliste de Montreal
- 3xtop3 in Flanders
- 1xtop3 in Roubaix

Another rider with significant success in one-day races who has never won a monument is Thor Hushovd:
- WC Road Race
- Omloop
- GW
- 2xtop3 in MSR
- 2xtop3 in Roubaix

I don't know how about any older riders since I only watch cycling on a regular basis since 2010. Were there some great one-day race riders in the past who haven't managed to win any monument? Who would you rate as the best one day racer among all of them?

 

[Alexandre B.]

Freddy Maertens.

 

[loge1884]

from those who actually cared about monuments (so ruling out the likes of Indurain or Contador) the greatest was pretty sure Freddy Maertens, as mentioned in the previous post ..... long way for GVA to go ....

 

[GuyIncognito]

Re:

Freddy Maertens.

There's really no contest

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

Freddy Maertens.

There's really no contest

Can we lock the thread? No more posts necessary...

 

[42x16ss]

Phil Anderson has something to say about that, surely? Maertens probably does edge him out but he's still right in the mix:

2x 2nd RVV, 1x 3rd
2x 2nd LBL
3rd GDL

Plus wins at Amstel, E3, Paris-Tours, Zuri-Metzgete, Frankfurt GP, 2nd Gent-Wevelgem and others

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Phil Anderson has something to say about that, surely? Maertens probably does edge him out but he's still right in the mix:

2x 2nd RVV, 1x 3rd
2x 2nd LBL
3rd GDL

Plus wins at Amstel, E3, Paris-Tours, Zuri-Metzgete, Frankfurt GP, 2nd Gent-Wevelgem and others

There were no Monuments then, Paris-Tours was on the same level as Milan-San Remo for example. And E3 wasn't in the same league as those races, it was a semi-classic back then

 

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

Phil Anderson has something to say about that, surely? Maertens probably does edge him out but he's still right in the mix:

2x 2nd RVV, 1x 3rd
2x 2nd LBL
3rd GDL

Plus wins at Amstel, E3, Paris-Tours, Zuri-Metzgete, Frankfurt GP, 2nd Gent-Wevelgem and others

There were no Monuments then, Paris-Tours was on the same level as Milan-San Remo for example. And E3 wasn't in the same league as those races, it was a semi-classic back then

Certainly, but look at the thread title.

When you go back over the two careers, Maertens was certainly the better classics rider, but Anderson had marginally better results at the biggest classics.

 

[GuyIncognito]

Anderson was a great rider, but Maertens was Maertens. The only reason Maertens isn't remembered in the same breath as Kelly is that due to his mental issues his peak was short lived. His 1976 results alone, if spread out over a career would make for a legend. And 77 was looking to be better until the crash.

 

[loge1884]

Re:

Anderson was a great rider, but Maertens was Maertens. The only reason Maertens isn't remembered in the same breath as Kelly is that due to his mental issues his peak was short lived. His 1976 results alone, if spread out over a career would make for a legend. And 77 was looking to be better until the crash.

not to forget 1981: after three years of almost oblivion. FM was back, completely out of the blue, winning 5 stages in TdF and the World's - right after: gone again, this time for good unfortunately ....

 

[Arredondo]

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

What's the story about that one?

 

[GP Blanco]

Re: Re:

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

What's the story about that one?

A bike change at Koppenberg that was deemed unregulatory.

 

[Billie]

Re: Re:

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

What's the story about that one?

long long story

Merckx on his last legs attacked early. He was still in the lead entering the Koppenberg. There De Vlaeminck and Maertens accelerated. De Vlaeminck crested the top as first with a small gap ahead of Maertens who had stopped halfway up to get a bike from a spectator (even thought he jury had forbidden it). De Vlaeminck got a flat a bit further but ultimately both would make it up to Merckx. On the Varent they dropped Merckx who'd quickly abandon (one of his last notable races).

A bit further Maertens' DS Lomme Driessens rides along the two leaders and tells Maertens that he'll be disqualified. Maertens makes a deal with De Vlaeminck that he'll keep riding for 300.000 BEF. 150.000 for Maertens teammates and 150.000 for Freddy himself. Maertens rides all the way to the finish with De Vlaeminck in his wheel, the latter only attempting to overtake on de Muur but he couldn't even get past Freddy. 150 metres from the line De Vlaeminck jumps out of Maertens wheel and wins. Maertens at that point had ridden over 60 kms with De Vlaeminck in his wheel.
This would result in this incredible scene at the finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8eDMUx9zk (this is the guy who gave Maertens his bike )

The Ronde 1977 till this day has a as results 1. De Vlaeminck 2. X 3. X cause Walter Planckaert who finished 3rd got caught for Stimul. Same amfetimine Maertens would get caught for a couple weeks later.

There's still discussion about part of the money that hasn't been paid yet by De Vlaeminck.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

What's the story about that one?

long long story

Merckx on his last legs attacked early. He was still in the lead entering the Koppenberg. There De Vlaeminck and Maertens accelerated. De Vlaeminck crested the top as first with a small gap ahead of Maertens who had stopped halfway up to get a bike from a spectator (even thought he jury had forbidden it). De Vlaeminck got a flat a bit further but ultimately both would make it up to Merckx. On the Varent they dropped Merckx who'd quickly abandon (one of his last notable races).

A bit further Maertens' DS Lomme Driessens rides along the two leaders and tells Maertens that he'll be disqualified. Maertens makes a deal with De Vlaeminck that he'll keep riding for 300.000 BEF. 150.000 for Maertens teammates and 150.000 for Freddy himself. Maertens rides all the way to the finish with De Vlaeminck in his wheel, the latter only attempting to overtake on de Muur but he couldn't even get past Freddy. 150 metres from the line De Vlaeminck jumps out of Maertens wheel and wins. Maertens at that point had ridden over 60 kms with De Vlaeminck in his wheel.
This would result in this incredible scene at the finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8eDMUx9zk (this is the guy who gave Maertens his bike )

The Ronde 1977 till this day has a as results 1. De Vlaeminck 2. X 3. X cause Walter Planckaert who finished 3rd got caught for Stimul. Same amfetimine Maertens would get caught for a couple weeks later.

There's still discussion about part of the money that hasn't been paid yet by De Vlaeminck.

Wow, great story! Thanks a lot

 

[RedheadDane]

Are there any people who - for some reason - only got one race day? Would be the ultimate - and literal - definition of a one-day racer...

 

[Max Rockatansky]

Re: Re:

Maertens was an absolute legend. That guy whon the Vuelta by dominating (winning) almost all of the stages!

He should have won Flanders '77. Still an absolute disgrace he was DQ there.

What's the story about that one?

long long story

Merckx on his last legs attacked early. He was still in the lead entering the Koppenberg. There De Vlaeminck and Maertens accelerated. De Vlaeminck crested the top as first with a small gap ahead of Maertens who had stopped halfway up to get a bike from a spectator (even thought he jury had forbidden it). De Vlaeminck got a flat a bit further but ultimately both would make it up to Merckx. On the Varent they dropped Merckx who'd quickly abandon (one of his last notable races).

A bit further Maertens' DS Lomme Driessens rides along the two leaders and tells Maertens that he'll be disqualified. Maertens makes a deal with De Vlaeminck that he'll keep riding for 300.000 BEF. 150.000 for Maertens teammates and 150.000 for Freddy himself. Maertens rides all the way to the finish with De Vlaeminck in his wheel, the latter only attempting to overtake on de Muur but he couldn't even get past Freddy. 150 metres from the line De Vlaeminck jumps out of Maertens wheel and wins. Maertens at that point had ridden over 60 kms with De Vlaeminck in his wheel.
This would result in this incredible scene at the finish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8eDMUx9zk (this is the guy who gave Maertens his bike )

The Ronde 1977 till this day has a as results 1. De Vlaeminck 2. X 3. X cause Walter Planckaert who finished 3rd got caught for Stimul. Same amfetimine Maertens would get caught for a couple weeks later.

There's still discussion about part of the money that hasn't been paid yet by De Vlaeminck.

That's a great story, yes. And there are a lot more about him and his way of Vandenbroucking.

 

[El Pistolero]

Me, one day I'll start training, I promise. :lol: