Velo d’Or 2023

[Bolder]

Obviously too many unknowns at this point but I would love to see Mvdp win worlds and hence the Vélo d’Or. MSR and PR in a single season is a serious feat.

If the season ended today I would give it to Vingegaard. His level this year was phenomenal.

 

[tobydawq]

Obviously too many unknowns at this point but I would love to see Mvdp win worlds and hence the Vélo d’Or. MSR and PR in a single season is a serious feat.

If the season ended today I would give it to Vingegaard. His level this year was phenomenal.

Imagine if Mathieu wins the Worlds and Jonas the Vuelta. Two Grand Tours versus three major one-day races.

 

[Tonton]

It's a three-horse race for the men, and there are three ways to boost a claim for the trophy: win the WRRC, win La Vuelta, win the GdL. Right now, no one between Remco-Pog-Vingo is clear of the rest. Yes, Remco is third. If Jonas wins Le Tour and La Vuelta, game, set, and match.

I voted for Tadej Pogacar, the most dangerous rider in the world (not named Pinot) and after Le Tour's disappointment, the RRWC is his chance for redemption.

The WRRC is massively important for Remco. He needs it and more...

When the smoke clears up in Scotland, we'll see who drinks the good single-malt, we'll know a bit more...

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

It's a three-horse race for the men, and there are three ways to boost a claim for the trophy: win the WRRC, win La Vuelta, win the GdL. Right now, no one between Remco-Pog-Vingo is clear of the rest. Yes, Remco is third. If Jonas wins Le Tour and La Vuelta, game, set, and match.

I voted for Tadej Pogacar, the most dangerous rider in the world (not named Pinot) and after Le Tour's disappointment, the RRWC is his chance for redemption.

The WRRC is massively important for Remco. He needs it and more...

When the smoke clears up in Scotland, we'll see who drinks the good single-malt, we'll know a bit more...

Honestly, how on earth can you justify Remco in third and Roglic not even on your list?

 

[gregrowlerson]

In the sprit of a Vino/other option and no matter how unlikely it is to happen (0.01%) Almeida is a dark horse if by some miracle he wins Worlds RR and TT while following up with winning the Vuelta. We’ve seen a crazy season and this would be the extremely huge cherry on top of it.

That's all well and good, but the big question is:

What is better; a dark horse or a one trick pony?

 

[SHAD0W93]

That's all well and good, but the big question is:

What is better; a dark horse or a one trick pony?

Dark horse just reminds me of the loyal steed Shadowmere so has my vote.

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

I think the WCRR will decide if Pogacar or MvdP have a chance, after that the Vuelta will have a big say in it as well, and I think will probably decide who wins it. For Vingo or Roglic a win would mean 2 GTs, which should be a safe bet. If Remco wins all of them would have 1 GT, out of which Vingo has the most important but has nothing to show for in terms of classics. Tour and Dauphine on it's own shouldn't do it considering the competition.

That being said I think Vingegaard will win with two GTs. Sure the double is hard, but given his recovery ability I don't see why he shouldn't be able to do it, he probably does not even need his astronomical level from the Tour to win handily. I hope that I am wrong though.

I am hoping for a Pogacar miracle in form of a win on Sunday and in Lombardia plus a handful more one day races, while Remco wins the Vuelta. This way no one has two GTs and I think Pogacar would edge it.

 

[houtdffan]

What if this scenario happens?

Remco wins both RR and ITT, but finishes second at the Vuelta to Rog or Vingegaard, taking 4 stage wins along the way. He then wins Lombardia

Normally, 2 GT is an automatic, but this scenario would be a very interesting vote

 

[gregrowlerson]

What if this scenario happens?

Remco wins both RR and ITT, but finishes second at the Vuelta to Rog or Vingegaard, taking 4 stage wins along the way. He then wins Lombardia

Normally, 2 GT is an automatic, but this scenario would be a very interesting vote

Remco if Rog wins the Vuelta. But Vingegaard if he wins it (especially if he does so relatively convincingly over Remco).

Okay, If Roglic won by 5 plus minutes then it's close.

 

[rallybanana]

What if none of the big 5 wins another big race this season? Imagine Ayuso wins the Vuelta and Lombardia. And Wout does the road race TT double in Scotland. It could become interesting...

 

[BigCoward]

What if none of the big 5 wins another big race this season? Imagine Ayuso wins the Vuelta and Lombardia. And Wout does the road race TT double in Scotland. It could become interesting...

Them we need to change the big 6 thread to a big 7 one.

 

[Peter von]

What if none of the big 5 wins another big race this season? Imagine Ayuso wins the Vuelta and Lombardia. And Wout does the road race TT double in Scotland. It could become interesting...

Vingegaard probably takes it; Tour> >>>>everything else plus he also won two WT week long stage races.

Pogi a close second unless you either don't rate weeklongs at all or if you give many bonus points for his versatility(Flanders win plus 2nd at le Tour). Remco and Roglic aren't really close unless they do something at Worlds and Vuelta*. MVP probably had too weak of a Tour as well, though double monument winner is a great achievement.

And Obvioulsy winning Vuelta + Lombardia sees Ayuso leapfrog most of the other riders.

 

[BigCoward]

What's the best season to never win the velo d'or? Or best season that would have not won pre 92 because someone else had an even better one?

 

[Netserk]

Boonen 2012, Indurain 1995

 

[CyclistAbi]

It's too soon to say but after thinking some more in my opinion the rightful owner this season will be:

Vingegaard if none from the below list happens.

Roglič if winning Vuelta.
Evenepoel if winning Vuelta and wins WC RR.
Pogačar if he wins more or less every race he participates in for the rest of the season.

I don't feel van der Poel will win it this year. As GC guys had too good season for that to be a realistic option.

 

[rallybanana]

What's the best season to never win the velo d'or? Or best season that would have not won pre 92 because someone else had an even better one?

On the subject of hypothetical Velo d'Ors, I think maybe 1978.

The young Frenchman Hinault would probably have won the Golden Bicycle award with wins at the Tour, Vuelta, GP des Nations, and French Championship.

However, the best rider in the world that year was Francesco Moser with 23 wins including Roubaix, Lombardia, Catalunya, Tre Valli Varesine, and 4 Giro stage wins. Podiums in Giro, Liege, Worlds RR, Italian RR, Amstel, Gent-Wevelgem, Tirreno-Adriatico, GP des Nations, Zuri-Metzgete, Trofeo Laigueglia. Top 10 in Sanremo and RVV.

 

[Red Rick]

Boonen 2012, Indurain 1995

Boonen 2012 isn't particularly close to that IMO.

Plenty of 2 monument seasons didn't win Velo d'Or. Cancellara and Degenkolb have bricked the top 3 entirely IIRC.

For me Di Luca 2007 and Cunego 2004 are much better seasons.

 

[tobydawq]

Boonen 2012 isn't particularly close to that IMO.

Plenty of 2 monument seasons didn't win Velo d'Or. Cancellara and Degenkolb have bricked the top 3 entirely IIRC.

For me Di Luca 2007 and Cunego 2004 are much better seasons.

E3, GW, Ronde, PR. You don't get a better cobbled spring than that.

It's not just a "two monument season".

 

[Netserk]

E3, GW, Ronde, PR. You don't get a better cobbled spring than that.

It's not just a "two monument season".

Some would say that getting the record in the three most important races of those four in that season carries special significance. Like a fifth Tour is more valuable than a fourth.

 

[Red Rick]

Some would say that getting the record in the three most important races of those four in that season carries special significance. Like a fifth Tour is more valuable than a fourth.

And that's judging someone's season for what happened in the many seasons before.

 

[ice&fire]

And that's judging someone's season for what happened in the many seasons before.

According to Cancellara what happened in the seasons before can make someone being marked to the point of being followed even if he stops for a coffee. Not sure if that makes a win in those conditions more valuable.

 

[Red Rick]

According to Cancellara what happened in the seasons before can make someone being marked to the point of being followed even if he stops for a coffee. Not sure if that makes a win in those conditions more valuable.

Well we can hardly argue Boonen faced some coordinated attacks based on his 2011 and 2010 seasons. He was quite lucky Cancellara crashed out in RVV, won bunch/group sprints in E3 and GW, and got a 3rd rate chase behind him in Roubaix having the strongest team behind him. It's also kinda funny how often riders get berated for only showing up in July but Boonen essentially had a 2 week season in 2012, doing nothing of note in a big race in 2012, apart from winning one stage in PN.

If style matters, Boonen is out. If competition matters, Boonen is out. If winning year round matters, Boonen is out unless we suddenly started caring about 2.1 stages.

I know I mentioned Cunego and Di Luca earlier, but honestly how none of us have mentioned Roglic' 2021 season is a joke

 

[Big Doopie]

What's the best season to never win the velo d'or? Or best season that would have not won pre 92 because someone else had an even better one?

Fignon in 1989?

LeMond would have won it, but an argument could definitely be made...

 

[ice&fire]

Well we can hardly argue Boonen faced some coordinated attacks based on his 2011 and 2010 seasons. He was quite lucky Cancellara crashed out in RVV, won bunch/group sprints in E3 and GW, and got a 3rd rate chase behind him in Roubaix having the strongest team behind him. It's also kinda funny how often riders get berated for only showing up in July but Boonen essentially had a 2 week season in 2012, doing nothing of note in a big race in 2012, apart from winning one stage in PN.

If style matters, Boonen is out. If competition matters, Boonen is out. If winning year round matters, Boonen is out unless we suddenly started caring about 2.1 stages.

I know I mentioned Cunego and Di Luca earlier, but honestly how none of us have mentioned Roglic' 2021 season is a joke

I was half joking and I agree with all you say about Boonen 2012.
But if we count big wins Pogacar has the edge on Roglic in 2021. It's TDF + 2 monuments + Tirreno vs Vuelta + Olympic ITT + Itzulia. Unless beating Masnada devalues that Lombardía to 1.1 level.

 

[rallybanana]

Fignon in 1989?

LeMond would have won it, but an argument could definitely be made...

I think Fignon would have won it that year with wins in the Giro and Sanremo and second by 8 seconds in the Tour. Also, I think Lemond would have won it previously in 1986 whereas Fignon would have been denied by Kelly in 1984. That might edge it in Fignon's favour.