Who is your Men's Rider of the Decade?

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Who is the Men's Rider of the Decade

  • Fabian Cancellara

    Votes: 2 1.4%
  • Mark Cavendish

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Alberto Contador

    Votes: 9 6.1%
  • Chris Froome

    Votes: 50 33.8%
  • Philippe Gilbert

    Votes: 8 5.4%
  • Marcel Kittel

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Vincenzo Nibali

    Votes: 16 10.8%
  • Peter Sagan

    Votes: 48 32.4%
  • Greg Van Avermaet

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Alejandro Valverde

    Votes: 12 8.1%

  • Total voters
    148
  • Poll closed .
I think comparing riders to what they could reasonably is a poor indicator. That's actually punishing riders for versatility. Valverde would have won everything he could reasonably win if only I didn't think he could win Il Lombardia, the Tour or the Giro.
 
I voted Sagan but my alt vote would be Froome. Froome was the dominant stage racer. The dominant figure in every GT, even those he lost, starting in 2012. No one comparably dominated another discipline. Still voted Sagan because he came close in dominance in a different, scrappier, more versatile way, and did so with more panache, charisma, and joy.
 
Also, it’s hard to pick someone who was almost never the favorite in a Monument/GT as the rider of the decade. Froome and Sagan inspired fear and dominated the peloton; who else did? I would have voted Contador for 2006-2015, by the way.
 
Also, it’s hard to pick someone who was almost never the favorite in a Monument/GT as the rider of the decade. Froome and Sagan inspired fear and dominated the peloton; who else did? I would have voted Contador for 2006-2015, by the way.

2006-2015... just for fun. Without much research.

I would have Valverde, Boonen, Cancellara, Evans, Gilbert, Nibali and Cavendish. In the poll with Contador.

I would also lean towards Contador though.
 
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No, the point stands. Consistency isn't everything. A bunch of runner up placings don't equal a win. In the end the race is about who crosses the line first.

I wonder what that list would look like if you only counted points for races the rider won.
The wins are pinnacles of the sport, obviously. But I don't think your point stands, placings are also important. I mean, Grand Tour podium certainly isn't worthless, or a World Championship medal... Look at Poulidor, he made a career of it. The way I see it, big Classic (Amstel, Fleche, GW...), or a big stage race (PN, Tirreno, Itzulia, Dauphine...), doesn't stand higher than a GT podium.
 
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Mar 23, 2019
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I voted Sagan. But I also highly rated Gilbert. For all his results in the big races. Since 2010. A World champs. 4 different monument wins and 3rd in Milano san remo. After getting on in age many people could off wrote him off. He won Flanders 2017 and Paris Roubaix 2019. Could he make another monument on March the 21st?
For me one day races are more exiting than tours. One day. One chance one winner.
i also think Sagan needs a Milano san remo win. Something I think will never happen for him but hope it does.
 
I think comparing riders to what they could reasonably is a poor indicator. That's actually punishing riders for versatility. Valverde would have won everything he could reasonably win if only I didn't think he could win Il Lombardia, the Tour or the Giro.


The only issue with believing Valverde can win the Giro is the problem that he's only raced it once and likely won't race it again. I'd add Amstel and Strade as two other races he has the skills to win, but hasn't won.
 
For those who thinks consistency doesn't matter, and for those who thinks that only biggest wins counts:
Can you name me one (yes, I mean only one) season in which Gilbert (whom I consider a brilliant rider, a legend) was a better rider then Valverde? Of course 2010 and 2011 not included...
 
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For those who thinks consistency doesn't matter, and for those who thinks that only biggest wins counts:
Can you name me one (yes, I mean only one) season in which Gilbert (whom I consider a brilliant rider, a legend) was a better rider then Valverde? Of course 2010 and 2011 not included...

ok, and who had a better 2019, Valverde or Bernal?
 
all this petty arguing when really the answer is Froome or Sagan....Fanboys ruining things
I see why you may disagree with the direction the discussion has been going, but really don't see how anything is being ruined. People have been making arguments for their points of view and supporting them with evidence of different types. Have not seen personal attacks on posters or riders, and this discussion has touched on a variety of topics that are of significant interest to people who follow the sport. In what way is anything being ruined?
 
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