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The Golden CN 2021

End of season time, time for the awards. In this case: The Golden CN, awarded in the following categories:


Most surprising moment in a race

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike

Best winner's interview

Unluckiest rider

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch

Pro-bike I want to have

Worst organized pro race

Best moment of the season


You can name one rider, race or moment for each category. You don't have to fill out all categories to make your vote count.
Count is on 1st of December.

Please note: Other awards or end-of-season polls are not tied to the Golden CN and can still be conducted. Every member is free to open a poll or make a new thread. :)
 
Most surprising moment in a race
Champoussin bursting past Roglic/Mas/Yates etc Vuelta stage 20

Best winner's interview
Esteban Chaves, Catalunya stage 4

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Giro stage 9 to Campo Felice

Pro-bike I want to have
Any (but probably only Femke's would make a real difference to my performance)

Worst organized pro race
Women's Tour

I will remember something for other categories before 1 Dec, probably.
 
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Worst organized pro race:
The Giro d'Italia, for this abomination:
stage-16-profile2.jpg


Best moment of the season:
sRo5oMMtQCNCYeuoaTxCin-768-80.jpeg
 
I’m not sure I will have anything for the other categories, but for these:

Most surprising moment in a race:
Has to be Lopez climbing off his bike in the Vuelta

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike:
Bernal warming down on trainer after Vuelta stage, tries to toss garbage in trash bin and misses badly.
Roglic, who happens to walk by at that very moment, to Bernal: “You’re a terrible basketball player—it’s a good thing you ride a bike.” :)

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch;
Initial pave’ sections of Paris-Roubaix-femmes

Pro-bike I want to have:
I wouldn’t be picky about this!

Worst organized pro race:
Not exactly the race organization, but rather the Italian network’s worldwide video feeds from the Giro in bad weather. This one is a Lifetime Achievement award!

Best moment of the season:
Kiesenhofer’s Olympic gold: not exactly one moment, but a slowly dawning realization of “holy sh*t, they’re not going to catch her!”

Close 2nd are several of the stunning attacks winners made to take titles:
-MVDP blasting up the climb in Sienna to take Strade
-Pogacar’s ruthless, almost preposterous mountain solo to wipe out his competition at the Tour
-Alaphilippe’s final surge to get his winning gap at the WCs
 
Most surprising moment in a race
Bernal and Rolgic going on a raid on stage 17 of the Vuelta.

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez DNF and the whole day trying to figure out what happened.

Best winner's interview
Jakobsen after first win. To comeback fighting for your life and win again is remarkable.

Unluckiest rider
Moscon Paris-Roubaix was just a stream of bad luck.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
The sprinters having a free for all in Sparkassen Münsterland Giro that no one knew about because of Paris-Roubaix going on at the same time.

Pro-bike I want to have
Any as all I have is a cheap $250 mountain bike.

Worst organized pro race
I don’t know, I feel like Vuelta gets this a lot but I’m not very educated on what races are badly organized and this is a bad route and they should have went this way. I just like watching the racing.

Best moment of the season
Cav proving all the doubters and 98% of the forum wrong with not only winning stage 4 of TdF, but doing it without a leadout when the consensus was that is what is enabling him to win, coming back from 9 riders back and 5 behind Philipsen who was having a perfect leadout which the consensus was he couldn’t do and can only maintain his position and not move up on someone, riding through the gaps to Philipsen’s wheel, and coming around him to win.
 
Most surprising moment in a race
Cav not winning stage 21, I thought it was pre ordained.

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez spitting his dummy

Unluckiest rider
Moscon had the worst 15 mins imaginable.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Bernal in the rain or Deignan breaking away

Pro-bike I want to have
I have never owned nor wanted a road bike.

Best moment of the season
Evenepoel pulling his earpiece out in a huff.
 
Most surprising moment in a race
Asgreen outsprinting Van der Poel in Ronde van Vlaanderen

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez, Vuelta

Best winner's interview
Victor Campenaerts after winning stage 15 in the Giro. Or any of his English interviews really.

Unluckiest rider
Sure Moscon was in a leading position when he had his puncture, but Lampaert actually looked mighty strong but never even got to a winning position because of multiple punctures.
However, since punctures are an essential part of Paris Roubaix, I can't see that as unlucky, and I'll choose Roglič his crash in the TdF.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Giro stage 16 it was I believe, Bernals raid to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Pro-bike I want to have
Don't care.

Worst organized pro race
EuroEyes Cyclassics, because they failed to organize it.

Best moment of the season
Vingegaard showing us on Mont Ventoux that Pogačar is not unbeatable. There is hope for a fight in the future!
 
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Most surprising moment in a race. The Lopez abandonment.

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike. Sam Bennett getting dropped at the Euros after about 5km.

Best winner's interview - I didn't actually see it but it has to be Cecillie Uttrup Ludwig. I wish she won more.

Unluckiest rider - Tony "Omi, Opi" Martin

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch - early stages of women's Paris-Roubaix

Pro-bike I want to have. Julian Alaphippe's. Hello Ebay!

Worst organized pro race - Tour de France. Danger and boring parcours.

Best moment of the season - Seeing Fabio Jacobsen back to winning ways
 
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Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez DNF and the whole day trying to figure out what happened.
Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez spitting his dummy
Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Lopez, Vuelta

I like that fact that this truly fulfills the part about being on and off-bike. He was on his bike, and then he was off his bike.
 
Worst organized pro race:
The Giro d'Italia, for this abomination:
stage-16-profile2.jpg

Sure, let's criticise the stage which made the biggest gaps of the year.

Unless you're talking about the lack of television, this is the ultimate example of how you completely disregard what actually happens on the road when assessing race designs.

And yes, I was disappointed with the route change at the time, too.
 
Sure, let's criticise the stage which made the biggest gaps of the year.

Unless you're talking about the lack of television, this is the ultimate example of how you completely disregard what actually happens on the road when assessing race designs.

And yes, I was disappointed with the route change at the time, too.
There is no deeper philosophical reason beyond "they removed Fedaia, and it turned out they had no reason to remove Fedaia, therefore Vegni must pay". You seem to think everything I post is super cereal and I'm not capable of laughing at my own expense once in a while.
 
Most surprising moment in a race
The first that comes to mind is Colbrelli outclimbing Quintana and a bunch of other climbers in Tignes. Oh, and the Lopez saga in Galicia of course, but everyone's mentioned it already.

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
On-bike: the Dutch choking away Olympic gold in the women's RR to an amateur

Off-bike:
x2uh8XgcJGF4M3k4uUmX6D-1200-80.jpeg


Unluckiest rider

Yves Lampaert. Feels like he had at least one poorly-timed mechanical in every big classic he raced. Also Giulio Ciccone, imagine crashing out of both GTs you're leading your team in.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Jakobsen's first stage win in Wallonie, his first victory post-crash.

Worst organized pro race
The Tour really deserves a shoutout for that sprint stage, but I think the CRO Race takes the cake for some of those sprint finishes.
8b64933c04.jpg



Best moment of the season
The big breakaway forming at Paris-Roubaix, it was really what set up the best race of the season (together with the weather).
 
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Most surprising moment on a race:
Lutsenko ITT win in Dauphine

Honourable mentions:
-Padun wins in Dauphine and then not selected for the TDF
-Masnada not given giro leadership, instead Remco and Almida
-Tom Dumoulin return
-Roglic collapse in Alpes
-Thomas crash on Romandie sprint vs Woods

Most hilarious moment in cycling world:
Crampanaerts cramping after following in the wheel of a Remco attack for 10km and having to stop by the side of the road.

Honorable mentions:
-People thinking Remco could win the Giro.
-Landa attacking on vuelta mountain stage and then abandoned when he was caught.
-Campanaerts tactics on Dwars door Vlaanderen
-Nairoman singing in a chameleon outfit.
-Dutch women Olympics tactics.
-Bora scheldeprijs Leadout

Best winner interview:
Sonny Colbrelli Paris Roubaix


Unluckiest rider:
Giulio Ciccone

Honoroable mentions:
-Fausto Masnada (giro tendinitis, crash in July, missing vuelta, not given leadership)
-Mikel Landa
-Domenico Pozzovivo
-Yves Lampaertt


Best moment in a race whn we couldn't watch :
Bernal attacking on the Passo Giau and Bardet's descent in pursuit.

Honorable mentions:
-diegnan attack on Roubaix
-Masnada devastating attack on Coppa Bernocchi with Remco in his wheel.

Pro bike I want to have:
Any of them.... I can't think of one yet.

Worst organised pro race:
Women's Britain tour, terrible highlights with no finish replays, no graphics, no live television, awful route.

Honourable mentions:
-Tour de France

Most best moment of the season:
Caruso stage win on stage 20 of the Giro. The long range attack with Bilbao, Storer and Bardet. The attacking for win instead of defending podium. The brief couple of hours when the Giro hung in the balance on wet Mountain passes, with Ineos on the ropes.

Honourable mentions:
-Alaphilippe winning attack in Leuven World championships
-Roglic taking Itzulia overall win with a Landis style move.
-Asgreen winning Flanders by outsprinting Van der Poel
-Paris Roubaix - the whole race
-Carapax and Keisenhoffer Olympics gold
 
Most surprising moment on a race:
Lutsenko ITT win in Dauphine

Honourable mentions:
-Padun wins in Dauphine and then not selected for the TDF
-Masnada not given giro leadership, instead Remco and Almida
-Tom Dumoulin return
-Roglic collapse in Alpes
-Thomas crash on Romandie sprint vs Woods

Most hilarious moment in cycling world:
Crampanaerts cramping after following in the wheel of a Remco attack for 10km and having to stop by the side of the road.

Honorable mentions:
-People thinking Remco could win the Giro.
-Landa attacking on vuelta mountain stage and then abandoned when he was caught.
-Campanaerts tactics on Dwars door Vlaanderen
-Nairoman singing in a chameleon outfit.
-Dutch women Olympics tactics.
-Bora scheldeprijs Leadout

Best winner interview:
Sonny Colbrelli Paris Roubaix


Unluckiest rider:
Giulio Ciccone

Honoroable mentions:
-Fausto Masnada (giro tendinitis, crash in July, missing vuelta, not given leadership)
-Mikel Landa
-Domenico Pozzovivo
-Yves Lampaertt


Best moment in a race whn we couldn't watch :
Bernal attacking on the Passo Giau and Bardet's descent in pursuit.

Honorable mentions:
-diegnan attack on Roubaix
-Masnada devastating attack on Coppa Bernocchi with Remco in his wheel.

Pro bike I want to have:
Any of them.... I can't think of one yet.

Worst organised pro race:
Women's Britain tour, terrible highlights with no finish replays, no graphics, no live television, awful route.

Honourable mentions:
-Tour de France

Most best moment of the season:
Caruso stage win on stage 20 of the Giro. The long range attack with Bilbao, Storer and Bardet. The attacking for win instead of defending podium. The brief couple of hours when the Giro hung in the balance on wet Mountain passes, with Ineos on the ropes.

Honourable mentions:
-Alaphilippe winning attack in Leuven World championships
-Roglic taking Itzulia overall win with a Landis style move.
-Asgreen winning Flanders by outsprinting Van der Poel
-Paris Roubaix - the whole race
-Carapax and Keisenhoffer Olympics gold
Glad you reminded me about Caruso’s long-range assault—that seems soooo long ago now but it was one of the best days of watching racing all year.
 
Apologies in advance for any redundancies:

  1. The Movistar guy who bailed while in control of a grand tour podium position
  2. How many planets from the sun is the cycling world?
  3. Anyone who breaks down in tears; bonus points go to those whose faces are caked in mud.
  4. Sam Bennett
  5. How would we know?
  6. Look, I love Look.
  7. n/a
  8. When I collect the prize for filling out this survey. Hopefully it's a Look bike.
 
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Most surprising moment in a race.
Asgreen beating van der Poel comfortably in a 2 man sprint in the RvV.

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike.
Lefevere and Bennett's war

Best winner's interview
Jakobsen first victory in the Tour de Wallonie

Unluckiest rider
Brent van Moer. Taking a wrong turn in the last km of a solo raid in the Ronde van Limburg and getting caught in the last km in a sprint stage in the TdF. Also missing the WC in his home country because of a crash after being told he was a certainty to be selected.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Bernal rainy Giro raid

Worst organized pro race
Pretty much any Italian race with rain, but because of the importance I choose the Giro stage 16

Best moment of the season
Also Jakobsen first victory in the Tour de Wallonie
 
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@Everyone: No need to be original, it's an award which is given to the most mentioned. :)

My own picks:

Most surprising moment in a race
When I tuned in in the Olympics women's race in the morning... watched with one eye while doing the washing or something... hm, a bit surprising that they don't go after the break more determined... hm, the time gaps are wrong, aren't they... wait, why aren't they working... dude, they totally messed this up, she's going to make it!!!
In short: Kiesenhofer, OWRR

Most hilarious moment in the cycling world, on- and off-bike
Okay, maybe hilarious is not the best word, but I'm still voting the Opi-Omi sign taking out half the peloton. Sorry, can't help it. The irony of such a cute, neatly painted message having such a devastating effect.

Best winner's interview
Hodeg's after his Slovakia win :p

Unluckiest rider
There are some serious candidates, but I'm choosing Lampaert, who, despite being in pretty good form in a lot of races, didn't come away with much this year, and then the punctures, as told by him, at P-R were really, really bad... He didn't even get the chance to shine at the front.

Best moment in a race when we couldn't watch
Giro, rain, Bernal...
Although Deignan's attack comes close, but at least we got to see her ride a good while before the finish line...

Pro-bike I want to have
tn3gDvTHvoHpDf4CFUKh2n-1024-80.jpg.webp


Worst organized pro race
Hm, there were a few, I'd rather not vote here.

Best moment of the season
When Hodeg won Marcel Kint?
But no, this doesn't stand a chance in the voting process, so:
Ala getting world champion again.
 
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I think someone who deserves an honorable mention as "unluckiest rider" is Senechal, who reportedly missed the front in P-R because the DS didn't see him after a puncture. Or... saw him, but didn't recognise him. Though, to be fair, I guess recognising riders was a bit... tricky that day.
Lets not rule out the third option:
Saw him, recognized him and then left him. :p
 

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