Top 10 Cyclists from your country of all time

[ProTour]

You really have got a bad case of DH fan-boi fanaticism going on.

No, just an appreciation for cyclists of all kinds, not just the ones who shave their legs follow other riders most of the time.

I'm sorry but there's absolutely no way that you could even reasonably start to argue that Nico's achievements in Downhill come even close to surpassing guys with five Tour victories, plus endless other race wins at the top level.

Yes there is. Quite simply, Nico is the most dominant French cyclist ever. What other French cyclist won 7 senior World Championships in a row(along w/ 3 as a junior) and won the World Cup overall in 5 of those years? Nico's records will never be touched, he is the best Downhiller ever, and the best French cyclist ever. And he also showed some cycling diversity in competing in and winning some of the MagaAvalanche races.

France has had some great cyclists, but none of them were ever even close to being as dominant as Nicolas Vouillouz.

Road racing is a sport that has far more depth of competition than DH!!

I disagree. Downhill racing is a sport that takes a lot of skill and courage, much more than road racing takes. It is much more psychologically intense than road racing, in terms of the pressure and extreme circumstances the athlete faces. DH racing may not have as many participants as road racing, but it is every bit as competitive, if not more.

And no place at all in your top 10 for Bernard Hinault? WTF???

He never really had any dominant years, like Nico did repeatedly. He just focused on select races and cherry-picked them, and the whole time he was apparently doping. And I lost some respect for him for the way he acted after Lemond beat him in the final TT stage of the TdF that one year.

 

[auscyclefan94]

No, just an appreciation for cyclists of all kinds, not just the ones who shave their legs follow other riders most of the time.


Yes there is. Quite simply, Nico is the most dominant French cyclist ever. What other French cyclist won 7 senior World Championships in a row(along w/ 3 as a junior) and won the World Cup overall in 5 of those years? Nico's records will never be touched, he is the best Downhiller ever, and the best French cyclist ever. And he also showed some cycling diversity in competing in and winning some of the MagaAvalanche races.

France has had some great cyclists, but none of them were ever even close to being as dominant as Nicolas Vouillouz.


I disagree. Downhill racing is a sport that takes a lot of skill and courage, much more than road racing takes. It is much more psychologically intense than road racing, in terms of the pressure and extreme circumstances the athlete faces. DH racing may not have as many participants as road racing, but it is every bit as competitive, if not more.
He never really had any dominant years, like Nico did repeatedly. He just focused on select races and cherry-picked them, and the whole time he was apparently doping. And I lost some respect for him for the way he acted after Lemond beat him in the final TT stage of the TdF that one year.

So descending down the Col du Galibier when you have to be concentrating for a longer period of time doesn't take a lot of skill and courage? You also have other riders around you who can cause you trouble to crash into. i find it hard to believe that DH is as competitve as RR. I think road cycling is more psychologically intense especally with the amount of coverage and press world wide compared to DH whic would cause much pressure. Does DH racing have a GT which lasts over 23 days with 21 days of racing. I don't think so...

 

[Tugboat]

No, just an appreciation for cyclists of all kinds, not just the ones who shave their legs follow other riders most of the time.


Yes there is. Quite simply, Nico is the most dominant French cyclist ever. What other French cyclist won 7 senior World Championships in a row(along w/ 3 as a junior) and won the World Cup overall in 5 of those years? Nico's records will never be touched, he is the best Downhiller ever, and the best French cyclist ever. And he also showed some cycling diversity in competing in and winning some of the MagaAvalanche races.

France has had some great cyclists, but none of them were ever even close to being as dominant as Nicolas Vouillouz.


I disagree. Downhill racing is a sport that takes a lot of skill and courage, much more than road racing takes. It is much more psychologically intense than road racing, in terms of the pressure and extreme circumstances the athlete faces. DH racing may not have as many participants as road racing, but it is every bit as competitive, if not more.

He never really had any dominant years, like Nico did repeatedly. He just focused on select races and cherry-picked them, and the whole time he was apparently doping. And I lost some respect for him for the way he acted after Lemond beat him in the final TT stage of the TdF that one year.

Ummmm ok... Riiiiiight.


Cuckoo!

 

[TRDean]

No, just an appreciation for cyclists of all kinds, not just the ones who shave their legs follow other riders most of the time.


Yes there is. Quite simply, Nico is the most dominant French cyclist ever. What other French cyclist won 7 senior World Championships in a row(along w/ 3 as a junior) and won the World Cup overall in 5 of those years? Nico's records will never be touched, he is the best Downhiller ever, and the best French cyclist ever. And he also showed some cycling diversity in competing in and winning some of the MagaAvalanche races.

France has had some great cyclists, but none of them were ever even close to being as dominant as Nicolas Vouillouz.


I disagree. Downhill racing is a sport that takes a lot of skill and courage, much more than road racing takes. It is much more psychologically intense than road racing, in terms of the pressure and extreme circumstances the athlete faces. DH racing may not have as many participants as road racing, but it is every bit as competitive, if not more.

He never really had any dominant years, like Nico did repeatedly. He just focused on select races and cherry-picked them, and the whole time he was apparently doping. And I lost some respect for him for the way he acted after Lemond beat him in the final TT stage of the TdF that one year.

Your whole Hinault argument looses you all credibility. No dominant years? WTF...you are insane!! So just because you lost some respect for him he gets taken off your list...who the heck are you? Not only is Hinault a top 10 but he is top 3 at the very least.

 

[Henrik]

Hinault should top that list! If I was to make a list of he greatest cyclists from all countries, he would be at a solid #2, behind the ever dominant Merckx!

 

[Echoes]

I'm surprised no mention of Ron Kiefel by the Americans.

I agree on Gary Clively for the Australians and, for the Dutch, I rate Kuiper above Raas.


My Belgian list:

Eddy Merckx (...)
Roger De Vlaeminck (consistent and versatile)
Rik Van Looy (a bit less versatile than De Vlaeminck but great attacking rider)
Herman Van Springel (very underrated, versatile and consistent)
Rik Van Steenbergen (more talented than above mentioned riders but rode only for the money. A big waste)
Walter Godefroot (very fast and consistent)
Louis Mottiat (the specialist of very long races, the best Walloon ever)
Frans Verbeeck (brave, laborious and loyal opponent to Merckx often lost but could benefit from the rivalry between Merckx and De Vlaeminck)
Freddy Maertens (very talented but too short a career probably because of doping)
Brik Schotte (brave rider, the last "Flandrien" and so strong)

I could add Raymond Impanis (record of finished Paris-Roubaix) or Frans Bonduel (the most consistent of the 1930's) or Patrick Sercu for the track.

 

[ProTour]

So descending down the Col du Galibier when you have to be concentrating for a longer period of time doesn't take a lot of skill and courage?

It takes some skill and courage, of course. But nowhere near the amount required to race a DH bike down a pro-level DH course. There are many more variables in DH descending than in road descending. The road racers are mainly conditioned to pedal, in DH racing you have to not only be able to pedal strong, but also have bike handling skills that you would never even imagine using on a road bike.

You also have other riders around you who can cause you trouble to crash into.

Sounds kind of like 4x racing, which many DH racers also compete in.

i find it hard to believe that DH is as competitve as RR. I think road cycling is more psychologically intense especally with the amount of coverage and press world wide compared to DH which would cause much pressure.

Many riders are comfortable being around the press, so I'm not sure what you mean there. Not every rider is like Cadel Evans, thinking the press is out to get them. DH racers are especially comfortable around the press, probably because there isn't any doping in DH racing, so they aren't all paranoid like they are on the road.

Does DH racing have a GT which lasts over 23 days with 21 days of racing. I don't think so...

Not sure what your point was there, I'm aware that road racing is an endurance sport and DH racing is not.

 

[auscyclefan94]

It takes some skill and courage, of course. But nowhere near the amount required to race a DH bike down a pro-level DH course. There are many more variables in DH descending than in road descending. The road racers are mainly conditioned to pedal, in DH racing you have to not only be able to pedal strong, but also have bike handling skills that you would never even imagine using on a road bike.


Sounds kind of like 4x racing, which many DH racers also compete in.


Many riders are comfortable being around the press, so I'm not sure what you mean there. Not every rider is like Cadel Evans, thinking the press is out to get them. DH racers are especially comfortable around the press, probably because there isn't any doping in DH racing, so they aren't all paranoid like they are on the road.


Not sure what your point was there, I'm aware that road racing is an endurance sport and DH racing is not.

In RR, you have a longer period time when descending down a mountain and you are also fatigued from climbing up the mountain.

My point about the press is, their is a lot more scrutiny by the public and the media as their is more which causes pressure. If someone is not performing or has had a dissapointing tour, the press are going to scrutinise a road racer more than a DH rider as RR is far more popular. Road racing is a far tougher sport and in my and many others opinion a more competitve sport.

 

[il_fiammingo]

I'm surprised no mention of Ron Kiefel by the Americans.

I agree on Gary Clively for the Australians and, for the Dutch, I rate Kuiper above Raas.


My Belgian list:

Eddy Merckx (...)
Roger De Vlaeminck (consistent and versatile)
Rik Van Looy (a bit less versatile than De Vlaeminck but great attacking rider)
Herman Van Springel (very underrated, versatile and consistent)
Rik Van Steenbergen (more talented than above mentioned riders but rode only for the money. A big waste)
Walter Godefroot (very fast and consistent)
Louis Mottiat (the specialist of very long races, the best Walloon ever)
Frans Verbeeck (brave, laborious and loyal opponent to Merckx often lost but could benefit from the rivalry between Merckx and De Vlaeminck)
Freddy Maertens (very talented but too short a career probably because of doping)
Brik Schotte (brave rider, the last "Flandrien" and so strong)

I could add Raymond Impanis (record of finished Paris-Roubaix) or Frans Bonduel (the most consistent of the 1930's) or Patrick Sercu for the track.

Verbeeck above Maertens & Schotte?? Van Springel above Van Steenbergen??

How can you ever justify that? Verbeeck had a hard time winning races ("only" 2x Het Volk, Amstel, Fleche Wallonne, E3) and is defenitely not in the same leage as the other 9.

 

[Echoes]

This is all very subjective but I don't really like Maertens and Van Steenbergen.

I think they're both big waste actually. Van Steenbergen was just concerned about money. On the road his main concern was to win but one classic a year in order to have enough "prestige" to be invited in every track contests he wanted. He could have won so many other great road races but wasn't interested.

Maertens' career was MUCH too short at high level. Poor involvment. The way he ended his career was just pitiful.


On the other hand, Van Springel was so versatile and consistent throughout his career. De Vlaeminck said he had great admiration for him and that we couldn't realise how strong and versatile he was. The man could win a Tour de France, be among the best in Paris Roubaix, win Lombardy and 7 Bordeaux-Paris.

Verbeeck had trouble to win races but he rode in a very strong era. He was always present in every races. Many good results in classics and he was not afraid to duel Merckx. The Flanders' from 1975 was awesome. I think he deserves a lot of credit.

For Schotte you may be right. More great victories than Verbeeck but not as many good results. But it was another era, he rode during WWII. Hard to compare.

 

[rghysens]

My Belgian list:

1) Eddy Merckx
2) Philippe Thys
3) Rik Van Looy
4) Roger De Vlaeminck
5) Rik Van Steenbergen
6) Freddy Maertens
7) Briek Schotte
8) Fred De Bruyne
9) Louis Mottiat
10) Walter Godefroot

 

[ProTour]

In RR, you have a longer period time when descending down a mountain and you are also fatigued from climbing up the mountain.

My point about the press is, their is a lot more scrutiny by the public and the media as their is more which causes pressure. If someone is not performing or has had a dissapointing tour, the press are going to scrutinise a road racer more than a DH rider as RR is far more popular. Road racing is a far tougher sport and in my and many others opinion a more competitve sport.

Even though DH is more intense, road racing is tougher than DH as far as pushing your body to the limits and considering the length of the grand tours. And road racing also does have more competitors.

But on the subject of toughness, mountainbike XC racing is even tougher than road racing because there is very little drafting or resting, the downhills at times are a full-body workout for the racers, the climbs are usually steeper and traction is more of an issue, and the terrain is much more technical and unpredictable.

 

[perico]

I'm not going to argue about whether Major Taylor or whoever is included in my list. Frankly, I didn't see them, so I can't really have an opinion on whether or not they were better or as good as the riders I have seen with my own two eyes. Been following the sport since 1982, so that's my cut off point

(I'm leaving out those who have been suspended because of doping, so no Tyler or Floyd).

Also, I have never been interested in mountain bike racing, so no one from that discipline is included on my list. I also didn't include any of our women racers, not because I don't respect their accomplishments, but because it's really unfair to both the men and the women to try and make that argument.

In the end, it comes down to the best pro road racers. Not the most groundbreaking, persay, but the best.


So the 10 best that I have personally seen from the USA:

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Greg LeMond
3. Andy Hampsten


4. Levi Leipheimer
5. Bobby Julich


6. Davis Phinney
7. George Hincapie
8. Jock Boyer or Christian Vande Velde
9. Alexi Grewal
10. David Zabriskie or Jeff Pierce


The first three are pretty obvious. Don't want to get into the whole "Lance vs. Greg" debate. Some who have followed the sport as long as I have tend to rate LeMond higher, but in the end, it comes down to your own views of Lance and his post-cancer career. Without any definitive verdict in regards to his controversy, I have to give him the nod.

Levi is pretty obvious at #4, though it was close between him and Julich.

People tend to overlook Julich's success because he never really put in another TdF ride on the level of 1998. They forget the fact that in his career, he won Paris Nice, Tour de Beneleux, Criterium International (2x), and the Route de Sud. He had a top 10 ride in the Vuelta, and numerous stage victories and high results in many world class events. He is easily the 5th best that I have seen, and the gap behind those riders is pretty wide.

Jeff Pierce makes the nod with his victory on the final stage of 1987 TdF, knocking out Ron Kiefel (though I was a big fan of the latter). I saw someone mention Eric Heiden earlier, but he never did anything spectacular in regards to road racing and didn't make any cut. Alexei Grewal could've been much better than his career ended up being, and he is the only rider who is included more or less due to potential never met. Vande Velde, on the other hand, finally has started to fulfill his potential.

Jock Boyer's a tough one. He was obviously talented, but I still get a queezy feeling (which has nothing really to do with cycling) when I include him. Everybody deserves a 2nd chance in life, but man... child molestation is not something to be taken lightly. I try not to judge him, but it's pretty difficult.

 

[TheObjectiveBelgian]

Here, the list of my heart.
If you want a ranking list, just look at the rankings...

I just started follow cycling since i was born so, only riders after 1980 are in...

1) Frank VDB (nothing to do with him RIP, i have always been a very big fan)
2) Philippe Gilbert (always been a fan, ...)
3) Stijn Devolder

and then, in no particular order...

Nico Mattan
Johan Museeuw
Dirk Demol
Peter Vanpeteghem
Axel Merckx
Tom Boonen
Johan Vansummeren

 

[Moondance]

Here, the list of my heart.
If you want a ranking list, just look at the rankings...

I just started follow cycling since i was born so, only riders after 1980 are in...

1) Frank VDB (nothing to do with him RIP, i have always been a very big fan)
2) Philippe Gilbert (always been a fan, ...)
3) Stijn Devolder

and then, in no particular order...

Nico Mattan
Johan Museeuw
Dirk Demol
Peter Vanpeteghem
Axel Merckx
Tom Boonen
Johan Vansummeren

This list...... is scandalous. Belgium has perhaps the proudest tradition of producing great riders. You dishonor your country's great history with this list. Eddy Merckx, Rik van Looy, Lucien van Impe, Roger de Vlaeminck, Rik van Steenbergen, Briek Schotte, Freddy Maertens.... These names mean nothing to you? Only Museeuw, and perhaps Boonen deserve to be anywhere near that list.

 

[rghysens]

This list...... is scandalous. Belgium has perhaps the proudest tradition of producing great riders. You dishonor your country's great history with this list. Eddy Merckx, Rik van Looy, Lucien van Impe, Roger de Vlaeminck, Rik van Steenbergen, Briek Schotte, Freddy Maertens.... These names mean nothing to you? Only Museeuw, and perhaps Boonen deserve to be anywhere near that list.

read what the guy wrote: it was a list of his heart, composed of riders after the 1980's
But you're right that most (all of them, in fact) of these cyclists don't belong among the 10 best belgian cyclists

 

[Moondance]

read what the guy wrote: it was a list of his heart, composed of riders after the 1980's
But you're right that most (all of them, in fact) of these cyclists don't belong among the 10 best belgian cyclists

If the dude is a cycling fan, from Flanders no less, how can he not be steeped with the rich cycling history of Belgium. I was barely alive in the 1980s and yet i've still seen plenty of performances by the great Dutch riders of yesteryear. I've seen more of Joop Zoetemelk and Jan Raas than I have of Erik Dekker or Robert Gesink. Maybe I have the benefit of having a cycling devoted father who was showing me races before i could ride a bike, and telling stories of seeing Joop Zoetemelk, Hennie Kuiper and Gerrie Knetemann before he was telling me about Robin Hood or King Arthur, but still.

Axel but not Eddy, that's a travesty. And even if I accept his point, Museeuw and Boonen are unquestionably 1 and 2 respectively in that list.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

And even if I accept his point, Museeuw and Boonen are unquestionably 1 and 2 respectively in that list.

I totally agree on these two. WTF with devolder on 3? Good rider,yes, but not the 3th best belgian in 30 years! (Maybe 10 or so)

 

[TheObjectiveBelgian]

This list...... is scandalous. Belgium has perhaps the proudest tradition of producing great riders. You dishonor your country's great history with this list. Eddy Merckx, Rik van Looy, Lucien van Impe, Roger de Vlaeminck, Rik van Steenbergen, Briek Schotte, Freddy Maertens.... These names mean nothing to you? Only Museeuw, and perhaps Boonen deserve to be anywhere near that list.

As I stated, my list has nothing to do with riders performances, but everything with how I remember those riders since I was young and started ACTIVELY following cycling.. based on the heart... After 1980.

Everyone can read cyclingrankings, can't we?

If everyone would think his top 10 cyclists are the ones with the best results,
it would be a bit boring, wouldn't it?

Oh, and I forgot Eric Vanderaerden and Eddy Planckaert, and Jo Planckaert (always fun to watch him)

Don't worry, I know my cycling history... this thread is just no matter of history in my opinion...

"The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be"
Try another baseline, Moondance

 

[Moondance]

"The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be"
Try another baseline, Moondance

Hey, I never said that I was wise.

 

[TheObjectiveBelgian]

Hey, I never said that I was wise.

Ok, then you are 4given

 

[Moondance]

Ok, then you are 4given

I did take your suggestion though.

 

[nobilis]

you're sexist, you idiot ****.

it's about the 10 best cyclist to come from a country and women can't physically compete with men.

i admire nicole cooke and her abilities, but putting her above wiggins makes no sense at all. she may have won great races, but if wiggins competed he would have won them all. that's nature. therefor wiggins is a better cyclist and should be ranked above cooke in a 'who is/was a better cyclist' ranking.

but i guess i'm a old school gentlemens' club member for measuring both man and women by one standard.

Well I think you are not completely wrong.
We can put a list of 10 best cyclists irrespective of sex, adjusting for sex, but i don't think it's a good idea because it's not that simple. We should take into account other factors.
First, women are not competing within the same field and the same level. The competition is much weaker, due mainly to the fact that it's not a professional discipline yet and lacks more development.
Take for instance Jeannie Longo (which i respect her palmares), still winning the national championchip in her 50s (followed by a 42-year old cyclist!) and still among the top 10 cyclists worldwide. Why is that? Because the field is weak. So i think it's more convenient to make 2 seperate lists, like it's done everywhere and all the disciplines.

PS: Jeannie Longo is the only professional female cyclist in France, earning just 3,000 Euros a month.

 

[cyclingforall]

My big of Italy

1 Coppi
2 Pantani
3 Bartali
4 Gimondi
5 Binda
6 Moser
7 Magni
8 Cipollini
9 Bettini
10 Argentin

 

[pradel]

What about Camenzind?

And:

Hans Knecht (World Champion)
Fritz Schär (Green Jersey of Tour)
Carlo Clerici (Giro winner)

Ciao ...pradel