Which riders have had the best spring?

[PremierAndrew]

Re:

Based on big wins, you have to put Degenkolb above anyone else. But he hasn't won outside of those 2 monuments. I rather give it to someone who showed himself the whole year. So i think i would rank it like this:

Kristoff
Degenkolb
Valverde
Porte

After that, it's quite easy. Pick the riders who actually won a big race (random sequence)

Purito
Quintana
Thomas
Stybar
Kwiatkowski

After that, the riders who showed good things at a regular basis

GvA
Terpstra
Matthews
Henao
Alaphilippe
Pozzovivo

No Cavendish?

 

[PremierAndrew]

Kristoff
Degenkolb
Porte
Valverde

Kristoff was ridiculously close to winning MSR and he looked unbeatable at one stage. Not to take away from Degenkolb's acheivements but at no point did he look anywhere near as commanding as Kristoff, Porte in stage races or Valverde in the Ardennes. Nonetheless he's above Porte and Valverde for me because two monuments is still an incredible feat and usually would mean he's at the top of this list. Porte slightly ahead of Valverde because his expectations would have been slightly lower after his poor 2014.

 

[Arredondo]

Re: Re:

Based on big wins, you have to put Degenkolb above anyone else. But he hasn't won outside of those 2 monuments. I rather give it to someone who showed himself the whole year. So i think i would rank it like this:

Kristoff
Degenkolb
Valverde
Porte

After that, it's quite easy. Pick the riders who actually won a big race (random sequence)

Purito
Quintana
Thomas
Stybar
Kwiatkowski

After that, the riders who showed good things at a regular basis

GvA
Terpstra
Matthews
Henao
Alaphilippe
Pozzovivo

No Cavendish?

Yeah you're right. Forgot Cav. But i forget sprinters quite often i have to admit

 

[Velolover2]

Zakarin has to be on the list now.

 

[Netserk]

Re: Re:

I like your rating, BigMac. Would love to see your top 10 with the last 6 rated as well.

I think Pozzovivo has raced better than ever. Top 10 in Down Under and Tirreno-Adriatico. 3rd overall in Catalunya and stage win where he attacked on the flat section. Stage win in Trentino on a punchy climb. His most consistent season yet. Definitely better than the average.

You forgot that Contador was also in Tirreno where he did good but just not good enough. In Catalunya, Contador seemed to be about as strong as Porte with his brutal attacks. But Porte rode a lot smarter, had a stronger team behind him and ultimately won.

Griepel was mostly his ability to survive harder hills than ever and his aggressive style in the cobblestone classics. I think he could be a factor next year.

I agree with you that Majka, Uran, Aru and Talansky have been bad. Peraud has a least a nice win in CI.

Sorry, my bad then, I thought it was an evaluation of the Spring only.

Tirreno is in the spring.

 

[Lexman]

Zakarin no doubt about it ;-)

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Agree with the top 4. If the question is "who can be the most happy with their spring campaign?", I'd probably pick Alaphilippe as 5th.

 

[Mr.White]

Re:

Agree with the top 4. If the question is "who can be the most happy with their spring campaign?", I'd probably pick Alaphilippe as 5th.

He hasn't got a single win, hardly a 5th, top 10 place max

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re: Re:

Agree with the top 4. If the question is "who can be the most happy with their spring campaign?", I'd probably pick Alaphilippe as 5th.

He hasn't got a single win, hardly a 5th, top 10 place max

Read what I wrote. Objectively, sure he's not top 5 material. But if everyone looked back at their spring, Alaphilippe is definitely among those who can be the most happy.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

Agree with the top 4. If the question is "who can be the most happy with their spring campaign?", I'd probably pick Alaphilippe as 5th.

I think it is a bittersweet experience for Alaphilippe. His debut in the Ardennes is amazing, but I think he needs a victory to feel completely satisfied. It doesn't even have to be a big win.

Zakarin is nr. 5 for me.

1-4. The big 4
5. Zakarin
6. Stybar
7. Matthews
8. Purito
9. Thomas
10. Alaphilippe

 

[Netserk]

Read what I wrote. Objectively, sure he's not top 5 material. But if everyone looked back at their spring, Alaphilippe is definitely among those who can be the most happy.

More happy than your avatar?

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Re:

Read what I wrote. Objectively, sure he's not top 5 material. But if everyone looked back at their spring, Alaphilippe is definitely among those who can be the most happy.

More happy than your avatar?

He's definitely a candidate as well

 

[BigMac]

Re: Re:

I like your rating, BigMac. Would love to see your top 10 with the last 6 rated as well.

I think Pozzovivo has raced better than ever. Top 10 in Down Under and Tirreno-Adriatico. 3rd overall in Catalunya and stage win where he attacked on the flat section. Stage win in Trentino on a punchy climb. His most consistent season yet. Definitely better than the average.

You forgot that Contador was also in Tirreno where he did good but just not good enough. In Catalunya, Contador seemed to be about as strong as Porte with his brutal attacks. But Porte rode a lot smarter, had a stronger team behind him and ultimately won.

Griepel was mostly his ability to survive harder hills than ever and his aggressive style in the cobblestone classics. I think he could be a factor next year.

I agree with you that Majka, Uran, Aru and Talansky have been bad. Peraud has a least a nice win in CI.

Sorry, my bad then, I thought it was an evaluation of the Spring only.

Tirreno is in the spring.

TDU sure's not, but it's clear the discussion is about the first half of the season (read, in this case, til the Giro), whereas I understood it was only about the Spring, as the thread title implies.

Doesn't change much, though. His Tirreno was hardly a good Tirreno for a Contador.

 

[jaylew]

Kristoff has been rider of the year, no question.

Degenkolb, Valverde and Porte come after that in some order.

 

[cineteq]

Porte
Kristoff
Degenkolb

 

[IndianCyclist]

Degenkolb (2 monuments)
Valverde(1m+1classic)
Kristoff(1m)

 

[TMP402]

Re: Re:

I agree with your first 4. Most definitely they had the best spring campaign of anyone. Also I agree with you on Kittel. I'm hoping he carries his current level of form into the Tour.

That would at least make the sprints more open. But Cav has had a very good year. Winning both stage races and somewhat hillier races. He seems to have developed as a rider.

Yeah, because he's obsessed with MSR at the detriment of his flat sprinting ability against Kittel.