Teams & Riders The Big 6

[Oldman]

Would anyone deny that MVdP is a "Legend" of the sport at this point? Or at least that he will be when all said and done? I have him as a legend, whatever that means in my brain. Would I call Vingegaard a legend? I wouldn't. 3 Tours, probably. All 3 GT's, probably, but not unequivocally. So likely both are legends when all is said and done. But for me, MVdP has the more impressive domination of his domain at this point.

I really like MVdP and I really like classics. I don't dislike Vingegaard, but his personality and riding style do little for me. So I have bias. But I also would say that MVdP has an objectively more attacking style, a more committed style, and has wins which made me stand up and shout out loud watching, while Vingo...not so much. MVdP in my view has a better palmares in his discipline, and has a style and panache which make him a legend. Where Vingo is a great rider, but not terribly inspiring.

MVdP's World's win was against all of them except Jonas (who wouldn't have fared well). It was a tough, serious and a technical race crammed together. He even managed to soundly drop the remaining break companions, crash and finish solo in dominant style. Mega Panache'

 

[saunaking]

Roglic going down this way too. We are soon to have Big 4, as in Tennis. Remco probably taking the Andy Murray role.

Seixas already better than Remco. Just has to supply the results.

 

[jono]

MVdP's World's win was against all of them except Jonas (who wouldn't have fared well). It was a tough, serious and a technical race crammed together. He even managed to soundly drop the remaining break companions, crash and finish solo in dominant style. Mega Panache'

And famously pooped in a rural Scotsman's toilet mid-race.

 

[AlfaLum]

There hasnt been a big six for a long time.

Pogacar is the big 1 now. Van der Poel is the number 2. Vingegaard the number 3 and Evenepoel still the number four.

In the back part of the big 6 Wout has regressed towards Pedersen level and maybe even further. Roglic is probably now on par or on a lower level than Del Toro and Ayuso and Seixas is coming closer fast as well.

The big 6 was a very temporary thing.

 

[Alexandre B.]

Was it even a thing to begin with? Prior to 2024 season maybe.

 

[Berniece]

Was it even a thing to begin with? Prior to 2024 season maybe.

Depends on the way you look at it. Is it a ranking riders, or is it the dominance of those 6 riders on races? In case of the latter that was also the case after 2024.

 

[AlfaLum]

Depends on the way you look at it. Is it a ranking riders, or is it the dominance of those 6 riders on races? In case of the latter that was also the case after 2024.

Yeah but you do not have to include 6 to get to that dominance after 2024.

Edit: And while I think Van Aert deserved to be in the list at some point in his career, one might even argue that he was never really an important factor in assessing the dominance of the ‘big 6’ over all other contenders in the big races.

 

[Berniece]

Yeah but you do not have to include 6 to get to that dominance after 2024.

Edit: And while I think Van Aert deserved to be in the list at some point in his career, one might even argue that he was never really an important factor in assessing the dominance of the ‘big 6’ over all other contenders in the big races.

I think WVA was last part of that list in 2022

 

[Breh]

Big6 was a thing because when 1 of them showed up, they'd usually win.

In that regard I still fully trust Pog, MVDP and Vingegaard to clean up everyone else.
Evenepoel is too inconsistent in stage races, Roglic is probably aging and WvA was maybe never even part of the Big6

 

[AlfaLum]

I think WVA was last part of that list in 2022

I agree, but 2022 was also the year that Mohoric won San Remo, van Baarle won Roubaix, Pedersen won Gent-Wevelgem, Hindley won the Giro, Kwiatkowski won Amstel Gold, Teuns won Fleche Wallone.

So one could also argue that the “big 6” were not that dominant in that year yet.

 

[Balthazar]

It is quite interesting. Pogacar will go down as the greatest of all time when he is done based on palmares alone. Mvdp will be remembered as an all time great classics specialist. Since 2023 they have pretty much divided up the big races where they were both at the start line, with Pogacar being heavily responsible. But the result alone don't do it justice I think. The change in level and the way they win, for the worse according to some, has had a huge impact. The percentage of riders in the pro peleton that have won and are capable of winning world tour races, let alone the big ones, must be remarkably low by historical standards. Cycling has always been hard but damn. I feel that the Pogacar Van der Poel rivalry has resulted in the highest level we have seen of them both, compared to the other riders on the list. Pogacar is no discussion but that's why for me, van der Poel tops Vingegaard and the others at this moment.
Just my opinion, I am biased like everybody else Fingers crossed for Seixas!