Velo d’Or 2023

[Samu Cuenca]

The real question is; who'll win the "Velo d'Oh"?

Probably you. You might get the Velo Door as well.

 

[topcat]

I nominate Berniece and Tonton for the Velo d’Hors d’ouvres.

 

[RedheadDane]

Probably you. You might get the Velo Door as well.

I'm not affiliated with pro cycling.
And Velo Door sounds a bit like getting doored, and I don't want that!

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I'm not affiliated with pro cycling.

And that's why I assumed your made up "Velo d'Oh" award wouldn't be either.

 

[RedheadDane]

And that's why I assumed your made up "Velo d'Oh" award wouldn't be either.

I made up an award to be given to pro cyclists.
There have been some "D'oh moments" throughout the season.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

First of all, IMO Pogacar is still the best rider due to his superb level in both stage races and one-day races. However, as things stand now, it's between Vingegaard and MVP:

Vingegaard: TdF victory, Vuelta runner-up, Basque and Duaphine victories
MVP: Roubaix, San Remo and WC gold, also Flandres runner-up

It depends what you value more and how much the TdF counts vs monuments. To me it's actually Vingegaard for his ridiculous Tour level, strong Vuelta showing afterwards and high stage-races level all season long.

if Pog wins Lombardy then: he has two monuments (like MVP) so it's WC gold and Flandres runner-up (MVP) vs TdF runner-up, PN, Fleche, Amstel victories and WC bronze (Pog). It's not obvious at all that MVP has an edge then, maybe it's the other way around (due to Pog's all-season excellence). Then again Pog may still lose to Vingo.
If Rog wins Lombardy then: he has Giro + Lombardy big wins and also Vuelta 3rd and Catalunya, Tirreno victories
If Remco wins Lombardy then: he has Liege + Lombardy and also WC TT gold. Plus San Sebastian and a few impressive GT stage wins.
Again, in those cases I still rate the above riders highly and with a shot at Velo d'Or (still probably behind Vingo and MVP in the odds).

 

[Valanga]

If Remco wins Lombardy then: he has Flandres + Lombardy

That's for next year, this year he has Liège ;⁠-⁠)

 

[Bolder]

First of all, IMO Pogacar is still the best rider due to his superb level in both stage races and one-day races. However, as things stand now, it's between Vingegaard and MVP:

Vingegaard: TdF victory, Vuelta runner-up, Basque and Duaphine victories
MVP: Roubaix, San Remo and WC gold, also Flandres runner-up

It depends what you value more and how much the TdF counts vs monuments. To me it's actually Vingegaard for his ridiculous Tour level, strong Vuelta showing afterwards and high stage-races level all season long.

if Pog wins Lombardy then: he has two monuments (like MVP) so it's WC gold and Flandres runner-up (MVP) vs TdF runner-up, PN, Fleche, Amstel victories and WC bronze (Pog). It's not obvious at all that MVP has an edge then, maybe it's the other way around (due to Pog's all-season excellence). Then again Pog may still lose to Vingo.
If Rog wins Lombardy then: he has Giro + Lombardy big wins and also Vuelta 3rd and Catalunya, Tirreno victories
If Remco wins Lombardy then: he has Liege + Lombardy and also WC TT gold. Plus San Sebastian and a few impressive GT stage wins.
Again, in those cases I still rate the above riders highly and with a shot at Velo d'Or (still probably behind Vingo and MVP in the odds).

I'm still giving MvdP the edge for crushing everyone, including Pog, at MSR and the WCRR, plus winning Roubaix as favorite. His WC win by itself was massive and as impressive in its own right as Vingegaard's Tour win.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

I'm still giving MvdP the edge for crushing everyone, including Pog, at MSR and the WCRR, plus winning Roubaix as favorite. His WC win by itself was massive.

Fair enough, the style of his victories matters as well.

 

[rallybanana]

The real question is; who'll win the "Velo d'Oh"?

Stefan Küng?

 

[Blanco]

Why?

No doubt mvdp has the biggest wins.

Remco has the most wins.

Among who?

 

[Blanco]

The thing is that while Vingegård's Tour win was dominant so were Van der Poel's MSR and especially his World Championships win and if I am not mistaken the Velo d'Or also takes into account non-road cycling races so that also plays into Van der Poel's hands with his CX world title.

Plus, I don't think Vingegård was clearly stronger than Roglič in this Vuelta, not that it matters much because none of them actually won.

He wasn't stronger, he was weaker...

 

[jaylew]

Among who?

Right, don't know where he got that from as both Pog and Rog have more wins than Remco this year.

I'm tempted to say VdP but I'm going to wait until after GdL to have the whole picture.