Top 10 Cyclists from your country of all time

[beroepsrenner]

I'd be happy with that list for the male road cyclists.Since it's the list of the top 10 Australian cyclists of all time, I think we have to start thinking about track riders as well. Danny Clarke and Gary Gilmour to start.

Gary Gilmour???? I think you mean Graeme Gilmore or maybe his son Mat. Or maybe Gary Wiggins, father of the guy the poms are claiming just because he has one of their passports. Don Alan would have to be included in this company as well.

 

[beroepsrenner]

One rider who didn't get a mention by the Irish contingent - Alan McCormack was one of the leading lights on the American circuit. While it was viewed as the poor relation to the Euro scene back in the 80's it was nonetheless very fast and competitive.

Ah yes! Alan McCormack, the man whose motto was "you win or you lose. there's no second place"

 

[beroepsrenner]

I am from the United States so here is my list (its going to be a little rough since I am not great on my cycling history)

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Greg Lemond
3. Andrew Hampsten
4. Levi Leipheimer
5. Christian Vande Velde
6. George Mount
7. Bobby Julrich
8. George Hincapie
9. David Zabriskie
10. Davis Phinney

Unhonorable Mention
1. Floyd Landis
2. Tyler Hamilton
3. Scott Moninger

You dont think that Jock Boyer deserves a place on this list? Along with George Mount, one of the true pioneering Americans in Europe.

 

[Jim Gosger]

You dont think that Jock Boyer deserves a place on this list? Along with George Mount, one of the true pioneering Americans in Europe.

How about Major Taylor the "Worcester Whirlwind". Being a World Champion on the track should count for something. OK, it was 1899.

 

[SergeDeM]

Hi guys. This is my first post in the forum. Here is my list (Colombia):

1. Luis Herrera
2. Fabio Parra
3. Martin "Cochise" Rodriguez
4. Ramon Hoyos
5. Santiago Botero
6. Oscar de J. Vargas
7. Francisco Rodriguez
8. Rafael Niño
9. Oliverio Rincon
10. Alvaro Mejia

Honorable mention:
Martin Ramirez ('84 DL winner)

 

[marinoni]

Let's add Jocelyn Lovell to Canada's shortlist.

http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=14236

I was wondering when someone was going to mention him. But if we're only talking about roadies then:
1. Steve Bauer
2. Genvieve Jeanson(if we're not considering doping issues)
3. Michael Barry
4. Clara Hughes
5. Ryder Hesjedal
6. Gord Fraser
7. Brian Walton
8. Lynn Bessette
9. Allison Sydor
10. Hugh Walton
Normally a world's TT medal would be enough to get Svein Tuft on my list but frankly he's done nothing to prove that wasn't a fluke in a very weak field. Prove me wrong pal! Oh and BTW how the hell has Jeannie Longo not been included on the French lists?!

 

[Avoriaz]

How about a list of Swiss riders:

1. Ferdi Kubler
2. Hugo Koblet
3. Tony Rominger
4. Fabian Cancellara
5. Alex Zuelle
6. Pascal Richard
7. Beat Breu
8. Urs Zimmerman
9. Urs Freuler
10. Robert Dill-Bundi

 

[runninboy]

You dont think that Jock Boyer deserves a place on this list? Along with George Mount, one of the true pioneering Americans in Europe.

I agree, Bob Roll always has some stupid commentary on what it was like to be the first American team in Europe. But guys who were the real pioneers Boyer, Mount & Lemond had to do it without a team. People forget what those guys had to suffer through.

 

[marinoni]

How about a list of Swiss riders:

1. Ferdi Kubler
2. Hugo Koblet
3. Tony Rominger
4. Fabian Cancellara
5. Alex Zuelle
6. Pascal Richard
7. Beat Breu
8. Urs Zimmerman
9. Urs Freuler
10. Robert Dill-Bundi

What about Camenzind?

 

[beroepsrenner]

I agree, Bob Roll always has some stupid commentary on what it was like to be the first American team in Europe. But guys who were the real pioneers Boyer, Mount & Lemond had to do it without a team. People forget what those guys had to suffer through.

Maybe not top 10 candidates but 2 more I just thought of; John Eustice and Gavin Chilcott were flying the Stars and stripes in Europe before the red and green machine

 

[marinoni]

Greedy, Greedy!

I think the Belgian list will include mostly guys who could be in the Top 20 cyclists ever. I lived in Belgium for a year so gonna be arrogant and do a list for Belgium. Its near impossible so here goes, let the fun begin.

Eddy Merckx
Rik Van Looy
Roger De Vlaeminck
Rik Van Steenbergen
Freddy Maertens
Lucien Van Impe
Johan Museeuw
Claude Criquelion
Walter Planckaert
Tom Boonen

Briek Schotte, Philippe Thys, Eric Leman, Sylvene Maes are others way before my time. We could have a Top 10 Belgian list from the 70s alone and it would beat most other lists.

C'mon that's just mean! You're leaving off a 3-time Tour winner amongst others and us Canadians are arguing about which guy who never really won anything to include on our sad little list. If Briek, Phillipe, Eric, and Sylvere would like to immigrate to our list I can offer a case of Molson Canadian, some dodgy back bacon I found in my fridge, and the complete Celine Dion catalogue. Let me know.

 

[Hugh Januss]

Maybe not top 10 candidates but 2 more I just thought of; John Eustice and Gavin Chilcott were flying the Stars and stripes in Europe before the red and green machine

Mike Neel was there before those guys.

 

[Avoriaz]

What about Camenzind?

Fair point. He did actually slip my mind. When I eventually remembered about him (after taking ages to come up with Robert Dill-Bundi at number 10 solely on the back of his once winning Swiss Sports Personality of the year) I figured out I could give him a miss since he confessed to winning his big races illegally and retired on the spot.

 

[beroepsrenner]

Fair point. He did actually slip my mind. When I eventually remembered about him (after taking ages to come up with Robert Dill-Bundi at number 10 solely on the back of his once winning Swiss Sports Personality of the year) I figured out I could give him a miss since he confessed to winning his big races illegally and retired on the spot.

I think for this thread we should ignore doping or we would all struggle to come up with any lists at all

 

[Martin]

SK:
1. Peter Velits...
2. and if the Czech woul be so kind, I'd like to add Jan Svorada (there is no other, please let me pretend we have/had at least two bigger cyclists)).

 

[pmcg76]

SK:
1. Peter Velits...
2. and if the Czech woul be so kind, I'd like to add Jan Svorada (there is no other, please let me pretend we have/had at least two bigger cyclists)).

Martin Velits?

 

[pmcg76]

Fair point. He did actually slip my mind. When I eventually remembered about him (after taking ages to come up with Robert Dill-Bundi at number 10 solely on the back of his once winning Swiss Sports Personality of the year) I figured out I could give him a miss since he confessed to winning his big races illegally and retired on the spot.

I dont think you can exclude Camenzind but include Zulle. What about Laurent Dufaux, surely above a few on that list.

 

[hayleyy]

i only just started paying attention to cycling this year, and know not many people at all...

aussies:
1.Cadel Evans
2. Stuart O'Grady
3. Robbie McEwan
4. Matt Lloyd
5. Jack Bobrige

thats all i know.... and Jack bobrige probably isnt even known anywhere else....

 

[beroepsrenner]

i only just started paying attention to cycling this year, and know not many people at all...

aussies:
1.Cadel Evans
2. Stuart O'Grady
3. Robbie McEwan
4. Matt Lloyd
5. Jack Bobrige

thats all i know.... and Jack bobrige probably isnt even known anywhere else....

All good present day aussies hayleyy, but if you have a look at some earlier posts on this thread you will see a list or two of the all time top ten.

 

[elapid]

Welcome to cycling hayleyy. As Beroepsrenner said, there have been a few lists floating around, but no problem bringing the Aussies to the front again! This was my list after some obvious missed riders were pointed out by other Aussie posters. We also had to separate the roadies from the trackies. These lists are always controversial, but we have had some good riders both past and present!

Sir Hubert Opperman
Phil Anderson
Robbie McEwen
Stuey O'Grady
Cadel Evans
Brad McGee
Russell Mockridge
Michael Rogers
Alan Peiper
Neil Stephens

Alternates: Baden Cooke and Simon Gerrans

Leaving out Cookie was difficult as an ex-green jersey winner, but he never really capitalized on that form and hence I've given Brad McGee the nod instead. Simon Gerrans is also difficult to leave out as a stage winner in both the TdF and Giro and winner of the TDU, but I think some of the trail blazers and hard men of yesteryear deserve their dues. I have purposely not included Haussler, just because it is a convenient excuse that he is German this year. I would have otherwise included him, but I would know who to take out! Others current professionals that didn't make it, but deserve honourable mentions include Matt White, Matt Lloyd, William Walker, Nick Gates, Matthew Hayman, Allan Davis, Ben Day, Brett Lancaster, and Mark Renshaw, just to name a few.

 

[Old Derailleur-in-the-mist]

An ecclectic Canuck post:
Max speed: Sam Whittingham (World Records for 1hr (recumbant/aerodynamic) 90.6km and for 200m 132.5 kmh)
Track: Curt Harnett, Gord Singleton, and Lori-Ann Meunzer... and in the 70s Jocelyn Lovelle
MtnBike: Ryder Hesjedal......... now road........... and Geoff Kabush
Road: (we're abit thin here, but coming up...... bit slippery in the winter) : Pierre Harvey in the 80s (ok he was a skier who used it for training), Alex Steida (first NorthAmerican Yellow jersey), Michael Barry, Gord Fraser, Ryder again, Svein Tuft.... REAL cycle touring (with a trailer for his doggie and tent)........ Have I hit 10 yet? Gadzooks, I almost forgot Steven Bauer !!!

 

[hayleyy]

Welcome to cycling hayleyy. As Beroepsrenner said, there have been a few lists floating around, but no problem bringing the Aussies to the front again! This was my list after some obvious missed riders were pointed out by other Aussie posters. We also had to separate the roadies from the trackies. These lists are always controversial, but we have had some good riders both past and present!

Sir Hubert Opperman
Phil Anderson
Robbie McEwen
Stuey O'Grady
Cadel Evans
Brad McGee
Russell Mockridge
Michael Rogers
Alan Peiper
Neil Stephens

Alternates: Baden Cooke and Simon Gerrans

Leaving out Cookie was difficult as an ex-green jersey winner, but he never really capitalized on that form and hence I've given Brad McGee the nod instead. Simon Gerrans is also difficult to leave out as a stage winner in both the TdF and Giro and winner of the TDU, but I think some of the trail blazers and hard men of yesteryear deserve their dues. I have purposely not included Haussler, just because it is a convenient excuse that he is German this year. I would have otherwise included him, but I would know who to take out! Others current professionals that didn't make it, but deserve honourable mentions include Matt White, Matt Lloyd, William Walker, Nick Gates, Matthew Hayman, Allan Davis, Ben Day, Brett Lancaster, and Mark Renshaw, just to name a few.

im even more clueless than what i thought. Think I might do some googling now

 

[180mmCrank]

An ecclectic Canuck post:
Max speed: Sam Whittingham (World Records for 1hr (recumbant/aerodynamic) 90.6km and for 200m 132.5 kmh)!!!

Sam is a great guy he fixed my (15 yr old) frame for me when no one else would! He has a shop on Quadra Island and makes some groovey bikes...

Naked Bikes - http://timetogetnaked.com/

 

[beroepsrenner]

Welcome to cycling hayleyy. As Beroepsrenner said, there have been a few lists floating around, but no problem bringing the Aussies to the front again! This was my list after some obvious missed riders were pointed out by other Aussie posters. We also had to separate the roadies from the trackies. These lists are always controversial, but we have had some good riders both past and present!

Sir Hubert Opperman
Phil Anderson
Robbie McEwen
Stuey O'Grady
Cadel Evans
Brad McGee
Russell Mockridge
Michael Rogers
Alan Peiper
Neil Stephens

Alternates: Baden Cooke and Simon Gerrans

Leaving out Cookie was difficult as an ex-green jersey winner, but he never really capitalized on that form and hence I've given Brad McGee the nod instead. Simon Gerrans is also difficult to leave out as a stage winner in both the TdF and Giro and winner of the TDU, but I think some of the trail blazers and hard men of yesteryear deserve their dues. I have purposely not included Haussler, just because it is a convenient excuse that he is German this year. I would have otherwise included him, but I would know who to take out! Others current professionals that didn't make it, but deserve honourable mentions include Matt White, Matt Lloyd, William Walker, Nick Gates, Matthew Hayman, Allan Davis, Ben Day, Brett Lancaster, and Mark Renshaw, just to name a few.

I have mentioned them before, but 2 notable exceptions on all the Aussie lists are;
1. Clyde Sefton - Silver medalist in the road race at 72 Munich Olympics behind Hennie Kuiper and went on to a 10 year pro career based in Italy.
2. Michael Wilson - 1980 Moscow Olympian, went on to a 12 year pro career also based in Italy. There is an old black and white photo above the bar in a pub in Devonport, Tasmania. It shows Michael winning a stage of the Giro (cant remember what year) outsprinting Laurent Fignon.

And no one has mentioned Eddy Salas?? Shane and Gary Sutton also deserve a mention although they could equally justify a place on a track list as well.
Don Allan has not received a mention. Although he made a name for himself as a six day rider, he did start his European career on the road ,riding for the Frisol team competing in the TDF and Vuelta.
Another Aussie who competed with distinction in Europe and has been largely forgotten is Gary Clively.

 

[elapid]

I have mentioned them before, but 2 notable exceptions on all the Aussie lists are;
1. Clyde Sefton - Silver medalist in the road race at 72 Munich Olympics behind Hennie Kuiper and went on to a 10 year pro career based in Italy.
2. Michael Wilson - 1980 Moscow Olympian, went on to a 12 year pro career also based in Italy. There is an old black and white photo above the bar in a pub in Devonport, Tasmania. It shows Michael winning a stage of the Giro (cant remember what year) outsprinting Laurent Fignon.

Good calls. Would you include Sefton and Wilson in the top 10 or on the alternate list? If in the top 10, who would you replace?