who is the most wheelsucker in the peloton??

[42x16ss]

Leiphosuction.

You owe me a new keyboard!!! I just sprayed coffee all over mine laughing

That's an even better nickname than Bottle!

 

[42x16ss]

what ????????

I'll book you in for a sarcasm implant

 

[brianf7]

well they said Pozzato was the was he was because he was deprived of women that didnt work either.

 

[Andre.J]

That one is too easy: Evans is the biggest wheelsucker

 

[Cimber]

****ing hell how can 13% vote Evans. He used to be a wheelsucker but the last few years he tend to attack alot.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

yes but if the press understood cycling and that people can't always attack then maybe they'd know why he 'wheelsucks'.

But it isn't just the press though is it? A lot of fans called him a wheelsucker. Evans has thrown off that reputation now.

One post earlier said "can you blame him for it given the poor teams he's had?" Well, in fact, perhaps attacking early is a sensible approach there as you burn off other teams' domestiques and make it closer to 1 on 1. Evans has changed. His teams are still as weak as they were before, but his mentality has been the difference.

Also, part of it that you say about people not always attacking is that Evans, at times, may have benefited from taking the Carlos Sastre approach of letting go and riding your own race. How often have we seen Sastre blown out the back door, only to reappear near the front at the top of the climb? Evans has always had a tendency to be afraid of falling behind, and this has meant that he follows paces he really can't manage (hence appears a wheelsucker as he's in the red and unable to do a turn) which means he drops really badly when finally dropped.

Also, of course, the advantage that Evans is capable of obtaining in the time trial has suffered over the last few years, which has negated the benefits of simply wheelsucking your way to glory, since he can't just make up the gaps in the ITT anymore, and needs to be more competitive in the mountains. Evans has always seemed to be quite diesel-tastic in the high mountains, but has a strong kick in shorter, puncheur-like climbs at odds with this. It's obvious that what Evans has done right in the last two years is not get any better as a cyclist or have any more support, but simply working out how best to use his skills.

Leipheimer is a far more insidious wheelsucker.

 

[Angliru]

I went with Menchov. I've only see him attack once in the last 2-3 years.

Levi tries to attack sometimes but he comes up short. Menchov doesn't even try. Basically, Levi can only stay behind while Menchov might be able to do something if he tried.

The only time Levi attacks is in domestic races, otherwise he's tucked in, head to his stem sucking the life out of whose ever wheel he's attached his tentacles to.

 

[Michielveedeebee]

But it isn't just the press though is it? A lot of fans called him a wheelsucker. Evans has thrown off that reputation now.
.....

Leipheimer is a far more insidious wheelsucker.

Wonderfully balanced post once again Libertine. Couldn't agree more

 

[William H]

I don't mind people wheelsucking intelligently - tactics are part of the sport, and part of that is spending no more time on the front than necessary.

Pozzato seems to wheelsuck self destructively, though. His tactics might make sense if he had strong teammate which could take advantage of him marking the favourite out of the race, but as sole leader they seem to effectively count him out of winning.

 

[Dalakhani]

Hushovd seems a bit harsh, IMO.

The last couple of Tours, he's gone up the road on his own to get points. (In the mountains, no less.)

Given he's nominally a sprinter, I'd say that's pretty attacking. (Even if he does sit up after the intermediate sprints.)

More attacking than Cav, Petacchi, Farrar - definitely.

I know that people will point to Roubaix, but that was teamwork, surely?

From the options in the poll, I'd probably go for Wiggins... defend, defend, defend, time trial, defend...

Steve

 

[Michielveedeebee]

Hushovd seems a bit harsh, IMO.

I know that people will point to Roubaix, but that was teamwork, surely?

From the options in the poll, I'd probably go for Wiggins... defend, defend, defend, time trial, defend...

Steve

The tour he might attack once yes.

But PR 2009, wheelsucking until he fell, 2010 wheelsucking and glad with 2nd, 2011 wheelsucking Canc to almost get to the front group until Canc stops and still he does nothing, afterwards he let's his team chase(tactics? ) his own teammate

 

[maltiv]

The tour he might attack once yes.

But PR 2009, wheelsucking until he fell, 2010 wheelsucking and glad with 2nd, 2011 wheelsucking Canc to almost get to the front group until Canc stops and still he does nothing, afterwards he let's his team chase(tactics? ) his own teammate

PR 2009: You're wrong, he attacked just before Flecha etc fell.
PR 2010: Correct, but he was in quite horrible shape (he said himself that he was only at 80%).
PR 2011: I don't really bother to once again explain why Hushovd shouldn't have pulled an insanely strong Cancellara up to Hushovd's own teammate who ended up winning. His team hit the front because it was the least risky decision, this way they would keep them at a decent distance in case Van Summeren couldn't get away whilst Hushovd still wouldn't spend energy on the front. He ended up getting dropped by Cancellara nonetheless...

I'll also add that this year he attacked, amongst others, in T-A, P-R, RVV, ToC. How many times have other sprinters been on the attack this year? The simple truth however is that he isn't nearly as strong as some classics specialists but he can beat almost any of them in a sprint, so what tactic do you choose then...Simple logic.

 

[boomcie]

"Who is the most wheelsucker in the peloton??"

I keep trying to find a hidden meaning behind this question because it's formulated so meticulously. It confuses me so much that I'm starting to think the poster is a total genius.

Every time I read the question I feel like I'm one step closer to finding out the true meaning of life, only to discover I'm never going to find out. It is agonizing.

The following diagram is a compilation of the work I have done trying to solve this mystery.

Trust me, it will make sense if you study it long enough.

 

[Dalakhani]

The tour he might attack once yes.

But PR 2009, wheelsucking until he fell, 2010 wheelsucking and glad with 2nd, 2011 wheelsucking Canc to almost get to the front group until Canc stops and still he does nothing, afterwards he let's his team chase(tactics? ) his own teammate

Your criticisms are fair. But if we're talking "the most" in the peleton, even just one attack a year puts him ahead of some people.

Steve

 

[JA.Tri]

@ boomcie

My brain hurts...there is no way am I intelligent enough to figure out your puzzle.

I therefore proffer "42" given you mention meaning of life and I infer you suggest the answer to everything.

I said Pozzato.

Sitting on wheels for legitimate tactical reasons/when you can't do any more is cycling. Not contributing when you can/should or cutting off your nose to spite your face...that's a wheelsucker/leech. I would only attach the term wheelsucker to those capable of more.

 

[boomcie]

While studying the subject in a Buddhist library, I found this picture. Seems I'm not the only one having difficulties to answer this exact question.

 

[Bala Verde]

While studying the subject in a Buddhist library, I found this picture. Seems I'm not the only one having difficulties to answer this exact question.

Cadel is on their tail and supports their passionate dedication to answering that very question.

 

[boomcie]

Cadel is on their tail and supports their passionate dedication to answering that very question.

Ha!
____________

 

[Angliru]

How could evans have more votes than wiggins or devolder? Mega WTF?!

Any rider that one of his domestiques discloses that Evans let him know before each mountain stage whose (which opponent's) wheel he would be following and during the course of a particular stage directed same domestique to drag him to that wheel, likely attaching himself there for the duration of that stage with the same process being repeated for the duration of the Tour with likely only the recipient of his wheelsucking changing deserves a spot in the Wheelsuckers Hall of Fame. (Thank you Mario Aerts for this wonderful, enlightening trip into the head of Cadel!)

 

[Angliru]

But still you call Devolder a wheelsucker

Cuddles is cuter and an Aussie.

 

[Angliru]

Hushovd seems a bit harsh, IMO.

The last couple of Tours, he's gone up the road on his own to get points. (In the mountains, no less.)

Given he's nominally a sprinter, I'd say that's pretty attacking. (Even if he does sit up after the intermediate sprints.)

More attacking than Cav, Petacchi, Farrar - definitely.

I know that people will point to Roubaix, but that was teamwork, surely?

From the options in the poll, I'd probably go for Wiggins... defend, defend, defend, time trial, defend...

Steve

This sounds like Leipheimer's career MO.

 

[Angliru]

"Who is the most wheelsucker in the peloton??"

I keep trying to find a hidden meaning behind this question because it's formulated so meticulously. It confuses me so much that I'm starting to think the poster is a total genius.

Every time I read the question I feel like I'm one step closer to finding out the true meaning of life, only to discover I'm never going to find out. It is agonizing.

The following diagram is a compilation of the work I have done trying to solve this mystery.

Trust me, it will make sense if you study it long enough.

Boomcie you need your own late night talk show. You crack me up !

 

[Polish]

Why is Wiggins on this list?

He is not strong enough to do any serious wheelsucking lol.

 

[UpTheRoad]

Any rider that one of his domestiques discloses that Evans let him know before each mountain stage whose (which opponent's) wheel he would be following and during the course of a particular stage directed same domestique to drag him to that wheel, likely attaching himself there for the duration of that stage with the same process being repeated for the duration of the Tour with likely only the recipient of his wheelsucking changing deserves a spot in the Wheelsuckers Hall of Fame. (Thank you Mario Aerts for this wonderful, enlightening trip into the head of Cadel!)

That's awesome. Do you have a citation/link for this? When did it happen?

That would likely be the prime attraction at the entrance to the Wheelsucker's Hall of Shame. I'd buy a ticket just to see that snippet.

 

[joe1265]

wheelsucking is a tactic. Leipheimer won, didn't he. Cunego shouldn't have let him go for those 9 secs.