Which male rider will dominate in 2013?

[El Pistolero]

Didn't you get the memo Pisti? Voeckler and Sanchez are lucky, random riders.

Yeah, just read Maltiv's post.

My post should be directed to him instead of theyoungest.

Anyway, I still think wins from a breakaway are less prestigious than winning from the favorites group, but that isn't to say that riders like Jens Voigt, Thomas De Gendt, Luis Leon Sanchez and Voeckler are bad. Not at all.

I think everyone can agree that Voeckler was the strongest at the Brabantse Pijl for example. These riders are strong rouleurs and often go in breakaways during stage races. Couple that with a lot of tactic prowess and you have a good combination.

 

[maltiv]

You don't win a GT stage at random, I'm sorry but you are way wide of the mark with that assertion.

Millar was strong enough to win and was the smartest guy in the break. I accept you may not see that as impressive (I doubt you even watched the stage - are you sure there were no attacks in that break? Funny that it came to a sprint-á-deux from a group of five, considering there were no attacks, yeah? Are you sure Millar didn't mark the moves that mattered?) but to mark it down as a random occurrence is doing stage hunters like Voeckler or Chavanel a disservice.

Actually, considering how "random" a breakaway win apparently is, isn't it odd how often Voeckler, Fedrigo, Moncoutie, Luis Leon Sanchez, Lastras win GT stages, from a break? Amazing how lucky Virenque and Jaja got through their careers too. Oh and isn't it odd that Hushovd was lucky enough to win two Tour stages last year, you know, with it being such a random occurrence?

Well, you once again miss my point. That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that breakaway wins might be random, not that they always are...That's why you can get stage winners like Calzati. Or why Simon Gerrans won one of the hardest MTF's in the 08 TDF, despite going up said mountain at snail pace.

Not quite sure what you mean about the sprint-a-deux point, the breakaway consisted of 5 people and it ultimately came down to a sprint of, well, five.

 

[maltiv]

I think everyone can agree that Voeckler was the strongest at the Brabantse Pijl for example. These riders are strong rouleurs and often go in breakaways during stage races. Couple that with a lot of tactic prowess and you have a good combination.

Of course, staying away from a group that's chasing is something entirely different, I was merely referring to the situation in which a small breakaway is virtually given the victory by the peloton because they want a rest day. Staying away when the peloton is actually trying to catch you is the most prestigious victory one can get.

 

[theyoungest]

Saying that Luis Leon and Voeckler win from breakaways because they're simply the strongest misses the point as well. Look at Laurens ten Dam in the Tour, arguably among the best climbers in some of the breaks he was in, but often one of the first to get dropped. Breakaway riding is just a different ballgame, requiring different qualities.

 

[Wigwan]

It was still a decent win due to three factors: 1) The peloton was partly chasing, the breakaway could never chill completely. 2) It was a huge breakaway involving lots of good riders, e.g Chavanel and Mollema 3) He won by being the strongest rider in the breakaway, not by being lucky.

But of course, had he done that attack from the peloton and held of it would've been far more epic. Anyway, my point isn't that every breakaway win isn't prestigious, it's just that they're sometimes kinda random, which TT's are not. I doubt that most people consider Fedrigo's or Millar's victories from this year's TDF as particularly impressive.

Did you watch the stage? It's so difficult to be in the break when there is about 120 riders who wants to be part of it..

 

[phanatic]

Basso agrees with this poll: "Asked to make a prediction for the best rider of 2013, Basso picked Alberto Contador for stage races and teammate Peter Sagan for the classic."

 

[Siriuscat]

Berto will win the Tour and Vuelta......

Giro is a toss up but probably not Wiggo I don't think he'll win another GT

Sagan will pick up lots of wins nut with his new found support and Specialised bikes Cav will dominate sprints again whenever he wants to.

Boonen will take the Cobbled season again possibly Astana and their gay blue outfits or Sagan the Hilly Classics. Much depends on Purito's invites!

Phil Gilbert will want to show off his new stripey jumper, I think the curse will return and he'll have a poor season!

 

[Pippo_San]

Voted Berto, Sagan & of course JTL.

 

[greenedge]

I voted Valverde, he will be the most consistent rider during the season, which does not mean dominant in one aspect but over the season.
All the other rides could dominate as well but in certain aspects.
Cancellara will have the most impressive rides and Tony Martin shall again win a lot of one week stage races.

 

[RownhamHill]

Voted other - Cavendish