Tommeke, The Greatest Cobblestone Rider of All Time?

[analogue17]

Tom Boonens 2012 PR victory is the most Dominant performance in the last 15 years. Had Cancellara been there I think I can safely say he would have ate dust

it depends on what form Cancellara could have had.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

it depends on what form Cancellara could have had.

Judging from 2012 Milan San Remo, I think it's safe to say that he was in top shape. I kind of agree with De Vlaeminck about Boonen's 2012 victory: the competition was weak and the other teams practically let him go away without sending anyone with him. SKY and BMC failed tactically. Speaking of the most dominant cobbled victory in regent years, I think it's pretty obvious that 2010 Paris Roubaix is the one. Boonen was actually there in top shape, but just couldn't match Cancellara.

 

[Tournesol]

Tom Boonens 2012 PR victory is the most Dominant performance in the last 15 years. Had Cancellara been there I think I can safely say he would have ate dust

I wouldn't necessarily agree with that as Canc at 2010 Roubaix was more dominant IMO,i would also suggest that most cycling fans of a neutral nature who have no particular preference between Boonen/Canc would say exactly the same.Boonen 2012 was impressive but Canc 2010 P-R was off the scale as regards the nature of the win,40k solo,put 3 mins into them in no time and the field was world class,Boonen,Hushovd,Pippo and Flecha,won by 2 mins.

 

[FreeSpirit]

I do believe Boonen is better on the cobbles, he always starts breaking the race apart early. Typically we don't see Cancellara in the race at all until his one attack. I do think Boonen has lost out to Cancellara on a couple of occasions playing his hand rather that following the wheels like Cancellara. Sundays race was good but I do wonder what could have been had Cancellara taken the race more into his own hands earlier perhaps making a more elite group. Can't argue with his overall numbers really. The next year will tell, I think the young group is coming through it will be interesting to see in Cancellara can adapt his game again, he's still got a bit of an advantage being the stronger climber in Flanders but not so sure about P-R

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

As for Cancellara: he was the strongest one during a 5 year period. Judging over the last 10 years, there's is no other option than Boonen.
For some reason (even though his results were really good) I am really disappointed in Cancellara this year, and somehow think his reign is over.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Without doubt he most successful (Bolded is record):

Boonen:

Omloop: 0
K-B-K: 3
Dwars: 1
E3: 5
G-W: 3
RVV: 3
P-R: 4

Total: 19

Museeuw:

Omloop: 2
K-B-K: 2
Dwars: 2
E3: 2
G-W: 0
RVV: 3
P-R: 3

Total: 14

Van Looy:

Omloop: 0
K-B-K: 0
Dwars: 0
E3: 4
G-W: 3
RVV: 2
P-R: 3

Total: 12

Raas:

Omloop: 1
K-B-K: 2
Dwars: 1
E3: 3
G-W: 1
RVV: 2
P-R: 1

Total: 11

De Vlaeminck:

Omloop: 2
K-B-K: 2
Dwars: 0
E3: 1
G-W: 0
RVV: 1
P-R: 4

Total: 10

Merckx:

Omloop: 2
K-B-K: 0
Dwars: 0
E3: 0
G-W: 3
RVV: 2
P-R: 3

Total: 10

Cancellara:

Omloop: 0
K-B-K: 0
Dwars: 0
E3: 3
G-W: 0
RVV: 3
P-R: 3

Total: 9

Van Petegem:

Omloop: 3
K-B-K: 1
Dwars: 0
E3: 1
G-W: 0
RVV: 2
P-R: 1

Total: 8
...

Sum up:

Boonen: 19
Museeuw: 14
Van Looy: 12
Raas: 11
De Vlaeminck: 10
Merckx: 10
Cancellara: 9
Van Petegem: 8

*I didn't include The Greatest Race In The World, as that obviously is in a league of it's own. Anyway, Kittel should get a mention here together with Cav.
**The list is not perfect, but other than Petegem, I don't think there can be any doubt if any of the others deserves to be on the list.
***I guess this thread can both be used to discuss/compare riders on cobbles from all time, contemporary riders, and as a Boonen thread, given he doesn't have any (yikes!).

One thing is palmares, but who do you think is the greatest cobblestone rider of all time? Will this list change next season? Are there any riders currently other than Boonen and Canc, who someday will make this list?

PS: for the love of god, don't add a poll to this thread. It's a discussion thread, not a poll thread.

succesful maybe. but definitely not the best. cancellara for instance is and was a lot better he beat hi8m 6-3 in classical showdowns including 2 this year

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I do believe Boonen is better on the cobbles, he always starts breaking the race apart early. Typically we don't see Cancellara in the race at all until his one attack. I do think Boonen has lost out to Cancellara on a couple of occasions playing his hand rather that following the wheels like Cancellara. Sundays race was good but I do wonder what could have been had Cancellara taken the race more into his own hands earlier perhaps making a more elite group. Can't argue with his overall numbers really. The next year will tell, I think the young group is coming through it will be interesting to see in Cancellara can adapt his game again, he's still got a bit of an advantage being the stronger climber in Flanders but not so sure about P-R

same with boonen. he attacks once and then wins or doens't win. cancellara 2010 roubaix is the most impressive cobbles performance that I remember for a long time

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

succesful maybe. but definitely not the best. cancellara for instance is and was a lot better he beat hi8m 6-3 in classical showdowns including 2 this year

How did Cancellara beat him this year in PR?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

How did Cancellara beat him this year in PR?

you didn't see carrefour?

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

you didn't see carrefour?

I did. Don't really see your point though.
I agree Cancellara wins in direct confrontations, but this wasn't one.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I did. Don't really see your point though.
I agree Cancellara wins in direct confrontations, but this wasn't one.

cancellara was better sunday than boonen. no doubt. boonen was dropped like a stone in the final. terpstra had to pull him and they lost a lot of time. they only got back because at thefront they didn't ride

 

[Ferminal]

The whole reason Boonen went early and worked with a random group was because he knew he couldn't match the power of Cancellara (and Vanmarcke) H2H...

*That's just a comment on his form on Sunday not his career.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I don't agree on that. Cancellara was really not impressive at all. That he had more energy left in the final is obvious.

When Boonen was asked the question why he went that early, he said: "because it's Roubaix". He didn't want to anticipate, he wanted to start the final. He was a but disappointed non of the big guys followed (he said: maybe I went a bit too hard), but decided to go for it anyway.
But non of the lieutenants in his group wanted to ride of course, so he basically did a 30k solo.

The biggest tactical mistake he made (or maybe he just had nothing left), is not following Sagan.

 

[Ferminal]

Of course Cancellara wasn't impressive, but Boonen was not to know that. Tactically his move was fine and on another day may have got him the result, but on current form winning the race was always going to be a struggle. If he was brutally strong he would have ditched those he was with and wouldn't have been caught by a group where the work largely came from mid-tier helpers.

 

[rainman]

I'd agree its probably between Cance and Boonen, thats a tough call.
Just to divert for a moment lets not forget the old Flanders lions like Melkenbeek and De Cabooter who used to ride almost exclusively on cobbles, sometimes three kermesse events in a single day, for a pittance. 36 sided wheels! Hard *******s.

 

[RiccoDinko]

It's obviously Boonen based on his records.

 

[Jagartrott]

cancellara was better sunday than boonen. no doubt. boonen was dropped like a stone in the final. terpstra had to pull him and they lost a lot of time. they only got back because at thefront they didn't ride

What a ridiculous statement. Boonen had ridden nearly 50 kms at the front by then and lost the wheel because Boom fell in front of him. Cancellara did nothing all day and he 'won'? Lol.

 

[scholar]

Is this the only Boonen thread? I do hope that crash isn't serious.

 

[Netserk]

So many god damn crashes throughout his career

This one was pretty much his own fault, but he still has had his fair share of bad luck

 

[scholar]

This one was pretty much his own fault, but he still has had his fair share of bad luck

Even if this one was his own fault, ending up with a broken collarbone from it is still pretty bad luck. I've not seen video yet, but by all accounts I've seen he did everything right in the fall/landing.

 

[Netserk]

And timing of it! No race days for him between now and MSR I think. Didn't really get anything out of yesterday and today.

 

[Miburo]

Probably broke his collarbone, those are the reports

 

[scholar]

Probably broke his collarbone, those are the reports

Cobblebone is brilliant, and might have to go into a signature.

 

[scholar]

Cobblebone is brilliant, and might have to go into a signature.

Hmm, did you edit that, or did I imagine that you'd typed cobblebone?

 

[lemon cheese cake]

Cobblebone is brilliant, and might have to go into a signature.

From a picture, the angle he landed at would syggest he hit it hard