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.

 

[BigCoward]

Pog has had a far better season overall, but MvDP still deserves it.

 

[Netserk]

1. Vingegaard
2. Pogi
3. Van der Poel

 

[jaylew]

Tough one.

MVDP: MSR, Roubaix, Worlds, Worlds CX, Belgium Tour wins and 2nd at RVV
Pogacar: RVV, Lombardy, Paris Nice, 2xTdF stages, Amstel, Flèche Wallone, Andalucia wins, 2nd at the Tour, 3rd at Worlds

So you figure the 2 monument wins cancel each other out as do Andalucia and Belgium Tour. So you're bascally looking at

Worlds win, CX Worlds win, and 2nd at RVV
vs
Amstel, Flèche, Paris Nice , and 2 Tdf stage wins and 2nd in the Tour, 3rd at Worlds

I'd give Van der Poel a very slight edge. 2 monuments, 2 world titles and wins in every major race he targeted except one in which he was 2nd

And then Vingegaard with Tour, 1 Tdf stage, Dauphiné, Itzulia, Grand Camino wins and 2nd at the Vuelta.

It's a tough call. I don't think there's really a wrong pick between those 3 but I'd go:

1 Van der Poel
2 Pogacar
3 Vingegaard
4 Roglic
5 Evenepoel or Philipsen

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Jeez, I forgot about Vingegaard in another thread when calling Pog rider of the year. I mentioned the arguments he has vs MVP but there's also the Fisherman: TdF victory, Vuelta runner-up and victories in other prestigious stage-races make him a strong candidate for the title.

 

[Red Rick]

1. Vingegaard
2. Pogi
3. Van der Poel

Vingegaard is a piss take IMO.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Tough one.

MVDP: MSR, Roubaix, Worlds, Worlds CX, Belgium Tour wins and 2nd at RVV
Pogacar: RVV, Lombardy, Paris Nice, 2xTdF stages, Amstel, Flèche Wallone, Andalucia wins, 2nd at the Tour

So you figure the 2 monument wins cancel each other out as do Andalucia and Belgium Tour. So you're bascally looking at

Worlds win, CX Worlds win, and 2nd at RVV
vs
Amstel, Flèche, Paris Nice , and 2 Tdf stage wins and 2nd in the Tour.

I'd give Van der Poel a very slight edge. 2 monuments, 2 world titles and wins in every major race he targeted except one in which he was 2nd

And then Vingegaard with Tour, 1 Tdf stage, Dauphiné, Itzulia, Grand Camino wins and 2nd at the Vuelta.

It's a tough call. I don't think there's really a wrong pick between those 3 but I'd go:

1 Van der Poel
2 Pogacar
3 Vingegaard
4 Roglic
5 Evenepoel or Philipsen

Does CX count for this award? I thought that only road races count. To me Tour runner-up + WC bronze + PN, Fleche and Amstel wins > WC gold + Flandres runner-up.

 

[Screecher]

Tough one.

MVDP: MSR, Roubaix, Worlds, Worlds CX, Belgium Tour wins and 2nd at RVV
Pogacar: RVV, Lombardy, Paris Nice, 2xTdF stages, Amstel, Flèche Wallone, Andalucia wins, 2nd at the Tour

So you figure the 2 monument wins cancel each other out as do Andalucia and Belgium Tour. So you're bascally looking at

Worlds win, CX Worlds win, and 2nd at RVV
vs
Amstel, Flèche, Paris Nice , and 2 Tdf stage wins and 2nd in the Tour.

I'd give Van der Poel a very slight edge. 2 monuments, 2 world titles and wins in every major race he targeted except one in which he was 2nd

And then Vingegaard with Tour, 1 Tdf stage, Dauphiné, Itzulia, Grand Camino wins and 2nd at the Vuelta.

It's a tough call. I don't think there's really a wrong pick between those 3 but I'd go:

1 Van der Poel
2 Pogacar
3 Vingegaard
4 Roglic
5 Evenepoel or Philipsen

Vélo d´Or is a road cycling award so CX Worlds win is irrelevant.

 

[Netserk]

MVDP: MSR, Roubaix, Worlds, Worlds CX, Belgium Tour wins and 2nd at RVV
Pogacar: RVV, Lombardy, Paris Nice, 2xTdF stages, Amstel, Flèche Wallone, Andalucia wins, 2nd at the Tour

Bit weird to count non-wins, but then not mentioning: 3rd at WCRR & 4th at MSR. Both matter more than CX and minor stage races.

 

[jaylew]

Bit weird to count non-wins, but then not mentioning: 3rd at WCRR & 4th at MSR. Both matter more than CX and minor stage races.

Bit weird to count non-wins, but then not mentioning: 3rd at WCRR & 4th at MSR. Both matter more than CX and minor stage races.

I just missed Pogs Worlds 3rd but I added it. For me, I count wins in GTs, GT stages, Worlds, Monuments, major classics, and stage race GCs. Also podiums in Monuments, Worlds, and GTs.

Honestly, it's almost a coin toss for me

 

[jaylew]

Vélo d´Or is a road cycling award so CX Worlds win is irrelevant.

I don't believe that is the case. I've seen nominee lists that include non-road racers.

 

[Screecher]

I don't believe that is the case. I've seen nominee lists that include non-road racers.

Apparently there is a separate cross-disciplinary award as well? Or is the main award cross-disciplinary? It's pretty confusing. I wish they had an official website where you could fact check this instead of having to rely on random articles.

 

[Big Doopie]

VDP may yet win but Pog, Vingo and Rog all have an argument.

My guess is Vingo wins.

However, Pog is still the best overall racer (as he was last year).

I know, shocker from a Remco fan.