Who is the most talented rider of the XXI century?

[Libertine Seguros]

Yea, but there's also more competition for those jerseys in the Netherlands than in France.

Pauline's a better climber and time triallist than Marianne overall I'd say, but Marianne is nigh on untouchable on short hills, better on rough surfaces and is by far the better sprinter of the two.

I've been hyping Pauline on here for a few years now as a potential new Vos and am glad that she is justifying that hype to be correct, but she's going to need to continue to achieve at her current level for a few years to match the female Eddy Merckx. Marianne hit the ground running while still a teenager and has only slowed down for injury since.

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

[quote="Akuryo]

Most complete is easy. Kwiatkowski by a country mile. There is nothing where he is really bad at.

Wait what?
He's got maybe one and a half season at the top of the sport.

And he's really bad on Twitter anyway.[/quote]

So? The question was about talent and not results. Or why did some people say Sagan was the most talented and that was okay?!

 

[Akuryo]

Re: Re:

[quote="Akuryo]

Most complete is easy. Kwiatkowski by a country mile. There is nothing where he is really bad at.
Wait what?
He's got maybe one and a half season at the top of the sport.

And he's really bad on Twitter anyway.

So? The question was about talent and not results. Or why did some people say Sagan was the most talented and that was okay?!

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Valverde, Cancellara, Contador - 3 most talented riders. Period.

It's way too early to talk about Sagan/Kwiatkowski.

 

[The fridge in the blue trees]

Oscar Mason

 

[Merckx index]

do you mean talented, or has the most diverse talents?

I suppose the latter would be "most complete". "most talented" is hugely subjective and pretty worthless.

Most complete is easy. Kwiatkowski by a country mile. There is nothing where he is really bad at.

I’d say Evans. At his peak, he could climb, he could descend, he could TT, he could win bumpy stages, he could win uphill sprints, he could even win flat sprints if there was no world-class competition. Before he even became a roadie, he won mountain bike championships. Then he won the TDF, the WC, a Fleche, and is one of a fairly small group of cyclists to have podiumed in all three GTs, as well as to wear the leader’s jersey in all three.

But Vino makes the short list. Could climb, TT, attack at a distance, and sprint pretty well, too. I mean, a GC contender winning the stage into Paris? Also Valverde.

Most talented? Contador, Cancellara, Boonen. To make that list, you have to do one thing better than everyone else, and something else very well.

 

[Akuryo]

I still think there is a difference between "talent" for something and the accomplishments of a certain rider. Betancur for instance: Highly talented, but so far has pretty little to show for in his palmares (compared to what was expected of him at least).

 

[Singer01]

i suppose another way to look at this is who is the most pre eminent in their chosen field. is for example contador the best stage racer by more or less than cav is the best sprinter. i don't think cancellara or boonen come close to being significantly better than each other in classics to be counted. same with tony martin ahead of cancellara and wiggins in TTs.

 

[SafeBet]

Re: Re:

[quote="Akuryo]

Most complete is easy. Kwiatkowski by a country mile. There is nothing where he is really bad at.
Wait what?
He's got maybe one and a half season at the top of the sport.

And he's really bad on Twitter anyway.

So? The question was about talent and not results. Or why did some people say Sagan was the most talented and that was okay?!

You can't know how talented he is until he proves himself on a very consistent basis year in and year out.
He could be a very good rider who peaked early in his career. I'm with you on Sagan.

 

[Bushman]

Re: Re:

do you mean talented, or has the most diverse talents?

I suppose the latter would be "most complete". "most talented" is hugely subjective and pretty worthless.

Most complete is easy. Kwiatkowski by a country mile. There is nothing where he is really bad at.

Geraint Thomas could have a say, but I agree with you.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Sagan

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Andy Schleck, obviously

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Most talented? Contador, Cancellara, Boonen. To make that list, you have to do one thing better than everyone else, and something else very well.

With that definition you would have to include Armstrong and Wiggins in the discussion as well.

I think the most talented rider has to be able to regularly challenge for and win both GTs and monuments - non of those three can do that.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Why? As far as I can see most talented rider is the rider who has most natural talent? Not the one who has the most diverse talent? Contador is by far the most talented stage racer, Tony the most talented TTer, Cancellara and Boonen the most talented classics riders.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Why? As far as I can see most talented rider is the rider who has most natural talent? Not the one who has the most diverse talent? Contador is by far the most talented stage racer, Tony the most talented TTer, Cancellara and Boonen the most talented classics riders.

Fair enough, I can't really argue with you because it's a very subjective word. I just see it slightly differently.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re: Re:

Why? As far as I can see most talented rider is the rider who has most natural talent? Not the one who has the most diverse talent? Contador is by far the most talented stage racer, Tony the most talented TTer, Cancellara and Boonen the most talented classics riders.

Fair enough, I can't really argue with you because it's a very subjective word. I just see it slightly differently.

Indeed it is very subjective

 

[DBotero]

 

[freddybobs]

I would put Wiggins into the mix. Not as great a palmares as some, but I think he has been more targeted in his ambitions. The coming weeks (PR) and months (Hour) might just push him a little higher on the list.

 

[SafeBet]

Re:

Why? As far as I can see most talented rider is the rider who has most natural talent? Not the one who has the most diverse talent? Contador is by far the most talented stage racer, Tony the most talented TTer, Cancellara and Boonen the most talented classics riders.

I agree with this.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

If this is purely about talent, clearly the only correct answer is Mathieu van der Poel

 

[burning]

The good old days when Gato and Sevilla were in their prime.

Can't decide between Rebellin and Valverde. But I think Valverde is the answer.

 

[jens_attacks]

rebellin
valverde
contador
and ricky ricco

 

[SeriousSam]

Stage racing is about having a diverse talent. It's not just about climbing, it's also about time trialling in the flat which calls for other attributes, and recovering. The elite stage racers are diverse talents.

Evans, Valverde for me, because I value well-roundness

 

[Miburo]

Valverde, not even close imo.

 

[DFA123]

Re:

Stage racing is about having a diverse talent. It's not just about climbing, it's also about time trialling in the flat which calls for other attributes, and recovering. The elite stage racers are diverse talents.

Evans, Valverde for me, because I value well-roundness

I agree with this, but would extend it further and also include monuments - because to win a monument you often need to excel at all three different energy systems in the same race (aerobic, anaerobic and neuromuscular).

For me, the most 'talented' rider has to be very good at all three energy systems. That rules out Contador and Wiggins (excellent w/kg at threshold, but quite poor anaerboic and neuromusclar), it obviously rules out pure sprinters as well. That leaves guys like Valverde, Cancellara, Boonen and Evans - who are excellent at all three systems (even if they may be stronger at one than the other).