Tour of Britain Winners

[Gubby Allen]

Hi, new to the board. Other than the big 3 or 4 races, one of the only others I follow each year is the Tour of Britain.

I know as a race it cops a bit of flak & gives people like me a false perspective when the likes of Tony Martin, Pozzatto & Rogers are being dropped by domestic club riders.

But if anyone, has the time, where do any of the past winners stand in terms of quality? Are any good enough (or still good enought) to compete for a place at a GT or in one of the classics?

Just as a reminder they were:

2004 Mauricio Ardila (COL) Chocolade Jacques-Wincor Nixdorf
2005 Nick Nuyens (BEL) Quick Step-Innergetic
2006 Martin Pedersen (DEN) Team CSC
2007 Romain Feillu (FRA) Agritubel
2008 Geoffroy Lequatre (FRA) Agritubel
2009 Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) Team Columbia-HTC
2010 Michael Albasini (SUI) Team HTC-Columbia

 

[ingsve]

Well Nick Nuyens won Ronde Van Vlaanderen this year which is many people is the most prestigious classic to win. Many of the others are also solid top pros but none is really a GT contender.

 

[taiwan]

Ardilla or Albasini would be the closest to being GC contenders, but Ardilla is strictly a domestique and Abasini's limit would be week long stage races. Others could only win stage races which were basically flat.

 

[Mambo95]

The thing is, Britain is pretty flat. Certainly compared with France, Italy and Spain. There's nothing even remotely like the Alps, Pyrenees and Dolomites, and what mountains there are exist in pretty remote areas not really suitable for hosting a stage. As such the ToB will always favour the sprinters and classics riders rather than GC riders.

The only way a GC rider could win if there is a time trial (like this year) and a strong time triallist (like Wiggins) rides.

 

[greenedge]

Romain wore yellow for a day and is winning a lot of races. EBH won G-W and should as the future goes on win some other races. Nuyens also won Flanders so yeah they are good enough riders. Ardilla has not lived up to potential and Albasini is strong enough. Lequarte and Pederson are just domestiques however.

 

[ksmith]

Although you say your only intrested in the "big races" have a look at the TOB predecessors Prudential tour, Kellogs tour.

Not as many "famous" riders but important in Britains cycling, the Milk race, Tour of Britain 51-54, last but not least Circuit of Britain.

I don't know how old you are Gubby, but have you heard of Jimmy Saville (yeah, I'm old) he was a DJ on BBC. He was a cyclist in the 1951 TOB.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

non are real GT men.

EBH is a superstar, massive talent. His career could go a number of ways.
Albasini is a bit of a stage hunter really. Never a threat in tougher stage races.
Felliu is a versatile sprinter. Likes a more challenging finish. Very underrated rider as far as i'm concerned.
Pedersen and ardilla although some promise and good have been anonymous for a couple years, playing more of an domestique role.
Nuyens a good classic guy. Just won Ronde, maybe not the most deserving winner, but an intelligent race he rode.
And Geoffroy Lequatre has some nice results I guess, but nothing super. hasn't done anything of late.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

non are real GT men.

And Geoffroy Lequatre has some nice results I guess, but nothing super. hasn't done anything of late.

Apart from a totally surprising 3rd place at the French TT champs the day before yesterday...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Apart from a totally surprising 3rd place at the French TT champs the day before yesterday...

whoops didn't know. Truth be told I couldn't tell you who won that one.

 

[theyoungest]

whoops didn't know. Truth be told I couldn't tell you who won that one.

Of course you could. Lately the only French rider that matters is Christophe Kern. He can do everything.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Of course you could. Lately the only French rider that matters is Christophe Kern. He can do everything.

not without effort

Nice for Kern. Maybe he can do a good placing at le tour? He sure was climbing well at the Dauphine.

 

[Oreknan]

Lequatre was near to win the Paris-Tours but he was caught in the last kilometer