The time of the new "pure Climber" resurgence

[Forunculo]

Carlos Sastre?

Well, regarding Astana ban (Contador, Levi and Kloden). But yes Sastre, 2/20 last 20 Tours.

If Jose Rujano, Purito Rodriguez and Igor Anton aren't pure climbers then I must know nothing.

Purito is at contention until the ITT, Rujano always lost minutes at one stupid stage and Anton needs to show something else.

If for a "Pure climber" we understand a Polka dot, this pure climber has to be fighting for GC.

And the only GC pure climber is Andy but he is not the trend.

 

[Duartista]

The problem is they are not GC contenders

Well, they kind of are. Podium contenders in the Giro or Vuelta, at least. Although personally I think Rodriguez is a little overrated in the high mountains.

 

[roundabout]

To me a pure climber can is someone who has days where he can go head-to-head with the very best, but those days aren't often enough to make them viable GC threats

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/2001/giro01/results/stage13.shtml

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/vuelta04/?id=results/vuelta049

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//giro06/?id=results/giro0613

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2006//giro06/?id=results/giro0617

"Pure" climbers being good enough to stay with GT winners who aren't bad climbers themselves.

 

[nvpacchi]

Mikel Landa for the future.

Sella springs to mind of the more recent crop

 

[markene2]

Mayo, Sella, Sastre and Piepoli

 

[Richeypen]

Moncoutié?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

When we talk about a "pure climber", are we talking about someone who is very good in the high mountains but not notably good at anything else? Or are we talking about someone who is very good on climbs, long and short, but not any good at time trials?

If the latter, then the likes of JRod and Dan Martin are obvious people to mention. But if being a good puncheur rules you out, then you can't really include guys who have been on the podium of major hilly classics. In fact, it would also rule out the Schlecks (although, they might be too good at the ITT to qualify anyway - Andy, for instance, is a bad time triallist by the standards of modern GT podium perennials, but he's actually pretty decent by the standards of pros at large.).

Some of the South Americans mentioned in the original article also strike me as riders who might potentially be good in the hilly classics.

 

[cineteq]

And the only GC pure climber is Andy but he is not the trend.

Let's apply some logic here: if Andy is a GC contender, then he's a pure climber.

If Rasmussen is considered, then Andy too.

 

[nvpacchi]

Everyone prepare to get "ryo-ed" for calling rujano a weak tt-er

 

[Forunculo]

Let's apply some logic here: if Andy is a GC contender, then he's a pure climber.

If Rasmussen is considered, then Andy too.

Yeah but he is not the trend

Contador, Evans, Nibali, Levi, Basso, Wiggo, even Gesink.

I understand people means the resurgence of pure climbers as proud and exciting rider because he is a threat to the GC.

I remember Bernard Khol or Ricco but...

 

[ferryman]

I've always thought of Dan Martin as a pure climber.

 

[Dancing On The Pedals]

The problem is they are not GC contenders

For me, that is the point. 'Pure climber' does not necessarily mean GC contender - the fact that the majority of tours in recent times have been won by more all round riders, eg, Contador, Armstrong, Evans etc., shows that the two are not one and the same. They might get into a top 10 due to the fact that they make up the time they need in the high mountains, but they will falter in the tt. Riders like Martin or Anton (and Contador, who is the best climber in the world) are the type however, who have the ability to excite us (the viewer) by effortlessly accelerating and attacking whenever the road goes up, and also are able to vary their pace at will.

Only time will tell, but races will certainly be enlivened in the next few years if Herrero is proved right. Duarte has already shown his tendency to attack at every possibility - he may not always be successful but it certainly makes for exciting viewing. Some one like Dan Martin is never going to win the tour, but I would far prefer to see him make a concerted effort on the Polka Dot (and a top 10 would be a bonus) than decide that he wants to be an all out GC rider, and as a result change his style.

 

[hfer07]

I've always thought of Dan Martin as a pure climber.

he is indeed-but has he committed his skills entirely to fight "only for the KOM honors? I don't think so....

 

[hfer07]

I think some people are missing the point of the opening post. A resurgence of 'pure' climbers would involve guys fighting it out for the KOM and mountain stages. 'Pure' climbers of the past were rarely in contention to win the Tour, at least post-Gaul/Bahamontes.

this

+10000

couldn't have expressed it better-that's exactly the criteria needed to belong in that category.

 

[killswitch]

Carlos Sastre?

He was also a decent (underrated) TT-er.

edit: should've read the other posts...

 

[masking_agent]

The "pure climber" is obsolete.

From 1991 only one "pure climber" won the Tour, Pantani.

People like Indurain, Armstrong, Contador, Evans and Ullrich were/are all-rounder.

And in the case of Contador is better climber than these "pure climbers". His only weakness is his team but it's not his fault... or yes?

I agree with this.

 

[the3verB]

The "pure climber" is obsolete.

From 1991 only one "pure climber" won the Tour, Pantani.

People like Indurain, Armstrong, Contador, Evans and Ullrich were/are all-rounder.

And in the case of Contador is better climber than these "pure climbers". His only weakness is his team but it's not his fault... or yes?

Not agree, the litle Boss match him, at least

 

[greenedge]

Andy Shleck, Gesink, JROD, Anton, Contador.

Mayo and Rujano are two others.

Chavez and Landa could develop into two pure climbers.

 

[skidmark]

Domenico Pozzovivo is about the most pure climber I can think of in the upper levels of the peloton. Or, if you want to talk about someone who is such a pure climber that they can't even ride at peloton pace to get to the last climb and have energy to show off their skills, Jesus Hernandez.

 

[hfer07]

Domenico Pozzovivo is about the most pure climber I can think of in the upper levels of the peloton. Or, if you want to talk about someone who is such a pure climber that they can't even ride at peloton pace to get to the last climb and have energy to show off their skills, Jesus Hernandez.

the same could be said about Sylwester Szmyd which is an amazing "pure climber"-sadly his abilities are at the disposal of the team-perhaps if he had free reign once in a while he could do some serious damage- I remember him during the 09 & 10 Dauphine....pure class indeed

 

[robertocarlos]

To me a pure climber is a rider so good in the mountains that he can ride them tempo or just explode with a devastating attack. The ability or inability to tt should not be taken into account. A true climber should be able to attack solo on any mtf with out domestics and ride people off his wheel. I have never seen basso do this, neither the shclecks or Levi and cadel our Rodriguez. At least not the way ricco, contador or pantani.

 

[gregrowlerson]

A little off topic, but I don't see the point in having a KOTM competition as the winner is virtually never the best climber, which to me removes it's purpose. Perhaps a change/rename to most aggressive (which I think they already have in another comp) rider instead would be more fitting. In almost every TDF the best climber is the rider who wins the yellow jersey; it's extremely rare to see otherwise and the same mostly goes for the other GT's. If you had 150kms of ITT and 70kms of TTT then a KOTM would serve a purpose, because there would be 5-10 riders thrown out of GC calculations who would really go for it.

 

[cineteq]

Andy Shleck, Gesink, JROD, Anton, Contador

Agree, except Contador is not a pure climber, that exactly why he's won many GTs.

 

[Altitude]

To me a pure climber is a rider so good in the mountains that he can ride them tempo or just explode with a devastating attack. The ability or inability to tt should not be taken into account. A true climber should be able to attack solo on any mtf with out domestics and ride people off his wheel. I have never seen basso do this, neither the shclecks or Levi and cadel our Rodriguez. At least not the way ricco, contador or pantani.

I take it you're not familiar with the 2006 Giro d'Italia.

 

[laziali]

Theunisse!!! Look up. No, not that far. Just to the avatar. The Axel Rose of 80s cycling.