Who is the best climber in the world (excluding El Pistolero and Andrew)

[The Hitch]

At the moment the position of best climber in the world seems to clearly held by Alberto Contador, followed by Andrew Schleck in second.

Bit if we take out Al and Andy, who is the greatest climber of the rest.

 

[taiwan]

I'm giving Rodriguez some support, but for me it's him or Basso.

 

[luckyboy]

Struggling to separate Basso and Rodriguez.

 

[Havetts]

Aww that is such a hard question..
Really doubting between Samu and Gesink, all fanboyism and bad form these days aside from Gesink..

I'll let my fanboyism take the upper hand between those two cause I cant choose, as I have to vote for one .

 

[luckyboy]

Also Ricco would definitely be up there if he was still around.

Voted for Basso anyway.

 

[The Hitch]

I came up with this because I was thinking how I now see that Purito is the second best behind Contador atm, but then realised that Scarponi has been on some improve curve that mirrors Gilbert over the last 2 years - from 2 stages in Giro, to 4th in Giro, TA, 2nd Lombardy, and this season podiuming everything bar MSR where he absolutely owned everyone in the second group and came top 10.

So its between Purito and Scarponi atm though part of my mind is screaming "Cobra!" then theres Anton in jaen and Andorra, and Samu was the best of the rest in the Tour which we could argue was where the title for "best climber other than Contador and Schleck" was fought out. And Frank has impressed me a lot recently.

the others just there to give people the full 10 options of course.

 

[luckyboy]

Would've been better to see Anton in the rest of the Vuelta. Haven't remembered him doing really well in the mountains apart from the Vuelta.

Have to wait and see how Gesink goes this year also.

 

[Havetts]

though part of my mind is screaming "Cobra!"

Knowing what Ricco was doing with stuff that belongs into the clinic it made me feel like an instant no, maybe other gc contesters do clinic stuff too but weren't/arent as obvious as Ricco.

Samu was the best of the rest in the Tour which we could argue was where the title for "best climber other than Contador and Schleck" was fought out.

Exactly, I agree on this one. The moment when 'it matters' Samu was there and actually was the best climber behind Andrew and Berty. It kind of gives me the feeling if Samu wants to peak for something he has set his mind on he can contend it when he wants to. So thats why I was doubting between him and Gesink's potential, though he hasnt shown it this year yet.

 

[The Hitch]

Knowing what Ricco was doing with stuff that belongs into the clinic it made me feel like an instant no, maybe other gc contesters do clinic stuff too but weren't/arent as obvious as Ricco.



Exactly, I agree on this one. The moment when 'it matters' Samu was there and actually was the best climber behind Andrew and Berty. It kind of gives me the feeling if Samu wants to peak for something he has set his mind on he can contend it when he wants to. So thats why I was doubting between him and Gesink's potential, though he hasnt shown it this year yet.

Its weird. He thrashed everyone in GP Miguel Indurain, then was only decent in Vasco winning that stage only because he won it before but sucked bad in tt.

he then came 3rd in FW in what seems to have been again not his best as he didnt do so well in Amstel and ok in liege.

So I have no idea where he is at, just hope he manages to get a similar peak this Tour as last year.

Strangely if you look at the top 10 in this years cq rankings hes already 6th. What has he done, Gp mig a basque stage and disapointment not to make podium in either PN or PV.

By contrast he is beaten only by Goss, Gilbert, Scarponi and kloeden, all of whom are having the season of their lives, and Canc who well we all know what hes been doing.

Below him is 5 wins already Contador, Gesink - another best season so far guy, and Voeckler whos been bringing in the wins big time.

So hes actually going ok.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Would've been better to see Anton in the rest of the Vuelta. Haven't remembered him doing really well in the mountains apart from the Vuelta.

Have to wait and see how Gesink goes this year also.

How about winning a mountain stage of the Vuelta back in '06 and being the only person to be able to stay with Contador and Valverde in the '08 one until crashing out?

 

[Yeahright]

At the moment the position of best climber in the world seems to clearly held by Alberto Contador, followed by Andrew Schleck in second.

Bit if we take out Al and Andy, who is the greatest climber of the rest.

LOL, how can you have a thread asking who is the best climber in the world but then put a qualifier on it by excluding the best two climbers??! Thats just dumb.

 

[luckyboy]

@Libertine Seguros

Didn't start watching the Vuelta til 2007.

First Tour 2003 (13yo), started watching all stages 2005. Giro + classics came in 2006.

It's really hard to find footage of Vueltas to download.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Had to go for Ivan based on last years Giro, though I'm interested to see how Robert and Frank go against him this July.

 

[The Hitch]

LOL, how can you have a thread asking who is the best climber in the world but then put a qualifier on it by excluding the best two climbers??! Thats just dumb.

Actually if you read the thread and the question, Al and Andy are eliminated first, then the question is posed.

Everyone else seemed to understand it fine.

 

[deValtos]

Voted for Basso, but it so so hard to tell!
Also I think Menchov is better than most climbers on the list, add him !

 

[greenedge]

think it was hard to choose between Anton and Rodriguez. I think Anton can drop who ever is following him whilst this yr Rodriguez has maybe lost a bit of explosiveness, due to fact he is 32/33. Also he relies solely on his climbing talent which is undisputably great, but maybe not at that level. He has to work on other abillities too. Anyone can be a great climber, Moncoutie who A. Schleck says is the best climber but never achieves results. That is what Rodriguez is becoming. Sorry if i alienate anyone but was just brooching a topic/ line of discussion.

I think good questions to ask would be if Pozzovio, Uran and Sastre should be on that list and who is the best Young climber ( monsalve, santoro ) and who has been the best climber ever, Jimenez, Virenque, Bahamontes, Pantani or Contador.

Basso should not be on the list based on current form, his heyday was in 2004-06 and Gesink needs to show signs he is still a great climber. Also is this based on pure climbers because we could put Cadel in there for his diesel engine.

 

[luckyboy]

Rodriguez consistently achieves results. He just doesn't win much. Not really comparable to Moncoutie who wins from a break every now and then.

And if Basso shouldn't be in this list, Evans definitely should not. And neither should Scarponi.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

depends on the climb.

 

[titleshot]

I really think Menchov should be on the list, but I went with Rodriguez for the poll as is.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

for me it's either between Basso or Purito. But atm Purito has shown more and Basso's a bit of a question mark at his age (+2 on Purito) and following the comeback from his ban. Even though Basso should be much stronger this year, I'm giving the nod to Purito.

 

[Ryaguas]

Would've been better to see Anton in the rest of the Vuelta. Haven't remembered him doing really well in the mountains apart from the Vuelta.

He dropped Contador, Soler and Mosquera last year in CyL in El Morredero... dropped Contador cuz He covered every attack and cooked himself in the process...

I think good questions to ask would be if Pozzovio, Uran and Sastre should be on that list and who is the best Young climber ( monsalve, santoro ) and who has been the best climber ever, Jimenez, Virenque, Bahamontes, Pantani or Contador.

Young climber ----> Henao as proved more than Monsalve and Sontoro together...
Best Climber ever.... hard desicion... Heras could be in that list too...

depends on the climb.

Lets talk about real climbs! anything over 10%...
Also I would add to the post be the best climber every moment... not just 3 weeks...
Dont know why ppl say that Andrew is the 2nd best climber in the world... how many high mountains stage Has He won? How many solo?
You can't be the best only 3 weeks and then sucks all the year... if you are the best you are the best always... maybe you are not going to win every mountain stage but You have to be with the bests...

I've never totally decided my personal list for this... is too hard! but one thing is sure... Contador is the number 1 for me!

 

[Yeahright]

Actually if you read the thread and the question, Al and Andy are eliminated first, then the question is posed.

Everyone else seemed to understand it fine.

Oh I understood it fine as well but that doesn't change the fact that it is a non sequitur and therefore irrelevant. The best climber is the best climber, period. Essentially you are actually asking; "Who is the third best climber in the world?"

Plus the thread title is: "Who is the best climber in the world (excluding El Pistolero and Andrew)" Correct me if I am wrong but to me that poses the question before you eliminate Bertie and Andy not after...You then reverse it on the poll.

 

[Frosty]

I'll go for Basso based on last year's Giro. Maybe Valverde would be a strong challenger if he wasnt banned.

 

[Konfronto]

Vino's one of the greatest climbers!

Taking into account Vino's great performance in La Fleche Wallone 2011, he might be concidered as one of the purest climbers

 

[Sasquatch]

Purito or Basso. Hard to seperate the two. But I think Purito is third best climber. This time next year, it will probably be Anton.