The most exciting cyclist last few seasons

[El Pistolero]

I've had some off topic discussions about me finding a certain cyclist not so exciting at all, so I'm curious to your top 5(or 10) of most exciting cyclist last 2 seasons?

Mine:

1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Vinokourov
4. Purito
5. Contador(his 2010 Tour was quite boring, that's why he's so "low" on my list)

Philippe Gilbert is just the most classy cyclist to watch right now to be honest. His 2 Paris-Tours victories in a row were amazing if not surprising. As were his Omloop het Volk victories. What he did this Vuelta also shows he's in a good form. There's no one that can follow him on uphill parts.

 

[GoGarmin]

Cancellara and it's not really close IMO.

From his TdF stage win in Compeigne (2007) to his dominance in the spring classics to his Olympic rides to his efforts to double up at last year's Worlds Fabian has been fabulous. The most impressive thing for me to see, as a fan, is a rider riding off the front of a charging peloton on the flats or into the wind.

 

[El Pistolero]

Cancellara and it's not really close IMO.

From his TdF stage win in Compeigne (2007) to his dominance in the spring classics to his Olympic rides to his efforts to double up at last year's Worlds Fabian has been fabulous. The most impressive thing for me to see, as a fan, is a rider riding off the front of a charging peloton on the flats or into the wind.

Gilbert does that as well.

But I was only taking into consideration of the last two seasons, or otherwise I'd have included Boonen as well.

But for me Gilbert and Cancellara are really close as well. The reason why I picked him over Cancellara is just because I'm a Belgian. If I was a Swiss I'd probably have picked Cancellara. But even then Gilbert would still be a close second.

 

[The Hitch]

I've had some off topic discussions about me finding a certain cyclist not so exciting at all, so I'm curious to your top 5(or 10) of most exciting cyclist last 2 seasons?

Mine:

1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Vinokourov
4. Purito
5. Contador(his 2010 Tour was quite boring, that's why he's so "low" on my list)

Philippe Gilbert is just the most classy cyclist to watch right now to be honest. His 2 Paris-Tours victories in a row were amazing if not surprising. As were his Omloop het Volk victories. What he did this Vuelta also shows he's in a good form. There's no one that can follow him on uphill parts.

5Contador- meh. Wasnt that exciting to watch him win easy in 09
4 Purito - yeah hes good
3 Vino - only been a year, good but not good enough to compensate
2 Fabian Cancellara- tts arent that exciting. Neither are 18km RVV tts or 50 km PR tts.
1 Phillipe Gilbert- What have you done for me. Lately.



THis year Cadel Evans.
Also
Kolobnev and Ignatiev
Tommy Voeckler. because he won flattest stage in 09 tdf and mountain stage in 10 + Quebec
Sammy Sanchez
Cunego attacks now and again.
im liking what i see from Gesink recently

tbc

 

[Archibald]

I've had some off topic discussions about me finding a certain cyclist not so exciting at all, so I'm curious to your top 5(or 10) of most exciting cyclist last 2 seasons?

Mine:

1. Philippe Gilbert
2. Fabian Cancellara
3. Vinokourov
4. Purito
5. Contador(his 2010 Tour was quite boring, that's why he's so "low" on my list)

I'd put Cuddles in for your no.5 simply for his racing between the worlds and his broken elbow - contador has been a bit predictable...

 

[elapid]

Fabian Cancellara
Phillipe Gilbert
Edvald Boassen Hagen

Heinrich Haussler for last year's efforts

 

[ttrider]

Contador and Gesink are always awesome riders to watch, i love that sense of anticipation you get waiting for Contador to launch a stinging attack!

Vinokourov is number one for excitement though....

 

[Luis Ocaña]

1. Gilbert: speaks for itself.
2. Vino: idem.
3. Leukemans: never rides an anonymous race. Very few riders are more attractive than he is.
4. Kolobnev: relentless attacker too.
5. Flecha: a bit more quiet lately, though, but an obvious choice.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

In random order

Contador - except for the Tour this year, he suddenly turned boring there
Gilbert - well duh
Flecha - who doesn't love his (poorly timed) attacks?
Gesink - whenever he has the chance and is not already on his limit, he tries to attack
Vinokourov - doesn't care about his limit, he just attacks whenever he feels like it

I don't really see Rodriguez as exciting, all he does is wait for the final km/500m to attack. Meh.

 

[Jan the Man]

Gilbert
Vino
Ricco (don't like the personality, but aggressive rider)
Kolobnev
Cancellara

Honourable mentions-

Vockler, Fedrigo, Gesink, Contador and Sastre.

 

[maltiv]

1.Philippe Gilbert - no one are even close
2.Tom Boonen - I liked his surprisingly poor timed attacks in the spring classics!
3. Cancellara - he's a bit boring, cause you know that when he got a gap, no matter how many kilometers there are left, he has already won.
4. Contador
5. the pre-Sky version of Edvald Boasson Hagen

 

[Vonn Brinkman]

Agree with the pre-sky Boasson Hagen.
But for me, the most exciting rider is probably Mark Cavendish. Yes yes I know, it might be a bit boring the way he wins as much as he does, but his style, arrogance, tribute to his teammates, crazy exclamations and vitory salutes, and most of all, his impossibly great wins; they are all so unique and exciting. The way he comes out of all corners with 75 km/h, I think it's incredible. The risk that guy takes....2009 Milan San - Remo and his sixth TDF victory of that same year are two of my best victories ever.

 

[luckyboy]

Gilbert
Voeckler
Cance
etc.

 

[jens_attacks]

gillbert,sylvain chavanel,ricco,vino,contador,scarponi,rodriguez,kolobnev,ignatiev and others i don't remember right now.

 

[the3verB]

Michael Rasmussen
Floyd Landis
Alexandre Vinokourov

 

[Murphyscu]

Most exciting? Has to be Greg Lemond and Floyd Landis.

 

[liamlarkin]

I'd have to say Gilbert and Cancellara are easily the tops of this. Despite all the hype, Sagan is pretty exciting to watch. Hesjedal is pretty exciting too, between the Spring Classics, the Canadian 1 days and then the Roubaix stage of the tour this year.

 

[insideout leadout]

There could only be one. Im still watching my recordings of Planet Armstrong every night before I go to sleep. The excitement never stops...

IMO Cadel Evans' transformation from being an unlucky underdog to become a winner is the most exciting thing. Im thinking of worlds in Mendrisio (even though he made his luck pretty good there), Fleche Wallonne where he beat everyone including Contador, J-Rod, Schlecks, Valverde. And last but not least the epic Montalcino stage where he all covered in mud destroys Cunego from the front in a uphill sprint. In addition to that the Monte Zoncolan stage was very good as well even though he couldn't follow Basso to the top. It was just a year ago when Evans couldn't win a thing so the progression is quite remarkable.

And no a BMC groupie didn't steal my login.

 

[ingsve]

My list:

Edvald Boasson Hagen: Has a remarkable ability to always be in with a shot at the end.

Thor Hushovd: It's been great seeing Hushovd getting great support and finally delivering good results in the classics.

Alberto Contador: I enjoy him because of my dislike for Lance Armstrong and I wouldn't mind at all if Contador wins 8 Tours in a row to overshadow Lance in the history books. Also his wins have been more exciting than Armstrongs boring win by 10 minutes tours.

Peter Sagan: Only really active this yar but boy is he interesting.

I can't think of anyone else that I've been overly excited about. I like good racing but apart from a few riders that I've been following closely for a long while I don't really who wins. Except for riders that I don't like who I don't want winning.

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Alberto Contador: I enjoy him because of my dislike for Lance Armstrong and I wouldn't mind at all if Contador wins 8 Tours in a row to overshadow Lance in the history books. Also his wins have been more exciting than Armstrongs boring win by 10 minutes tours.

I was cheering for Contador when he won his first Tour. I have never once cheered for him in any race since. Indurain and Armstrong throttled the Tour for year after year after year, slowly squeezing all life from it. The last thing I ever want to see is someone doing that again. It's nothing against Contador personally, but I want him to lose every time he gets on a bike.

If he loses a couple of Tours I might well cheer for him again afterwards. But I have no interest in cheering on an unbackable favourite.

 

[Cobblestoned]

1. Alejandro Valverde (pure elegance and just everything)
2. Mark Cavendish (unbelievable and outstanding)
3. Fabian Cancellara (impressive)
4. Peter Sagan (he is coming)
5. Denis Menchov (this helmet incident and his Giro win were just great)

 

[ingsve]

I was cheering for Contador when he won his first Tour. I have never once cheered for him in any race since. Indurain and Armstrong throttled the Tour for year after year after year, slowly squeezing all life from it. The last thing I ever want to see is someone doing that again. It's nothing against Contador personally, but I want him to lose every time he gets on a bike.

If he loses a couple of Tours I might well cheer for him again afterwards. But I have no interest in cheering on an unbackable favourite.

The difference for me is that Contador has had to fight for his wins. Eventhough he might feel rather secure his wins have not been the crushing victories that Armstrong had where no one really had a realistic chance to win after the first mountain. Except for last years tour where he won by over four mintutes his wins have most often been with under one minute to number 2. And last year was still interesting because of the abuse he got from Lance.

I wouldn't want him to be as dominant as Lance was, if that happens I would probably turn sour on him as well but if the races are close and interesting throughout I don't mind him winning.

 

[Winterfold]

Gilbert (the most exciting rider by a mile)
Cav (whatever you think of his personality his speed when really goes for it is electrifying)
Vino (canny and superhard)
post WC Cuddles (honouring the rainbow jersey)
whichever 2 Euskatel riders are currently on the deck

 

[TheDude]

Cancellara
Gilbert, I've not followed him closely, but very impressed recently
Hushovd
Evans
Vino, because he is just crazy
Nibali, based on Giro and now Vuelta performance, more to come, and
Menchov, because every time I watch him I am waiting for him to crash. I've never figured it out, but that guy can ride like anythign, but can not stay upright on a bike.

 

[Bike Boy]

1. Cancellara.. Well ever since he won the prologue in the 2004 tour. but especially the last 4 seasons has been "spartacular"
2. Gilbert.. It's kind of boring but I'm helpless not to gather around in the crowd calling him a cycling hero.
3. Contador.. He's the best stage racer in the world an I have been a fan since Paris - Nice 2007. He's been labeled predictable, but next year he will be teaming up with Bjarne, which I'm very excited about
4. Cadel Evans.. He tries very hard, which I appreciate
5. Rodriguez. reminds me a little bit of Gilberto simoni only Rodriguez is probably more durable through the season.
6. Hushovd.. He's up there in Paris Roubaix and he's able to win the "hard" stages in the Grand tours. And I really like the fact that he beat Cavendish in the sprinters competition in 2009.