Who will win the Vélo d'Or

[Froome19]

Because prior to Eneco, he hasn't done a single pedal revolution in anger all year.

And... so

 

[The Hitch]

It will be Wiggins.

Contador wont feature. He has won it twice already and is likely to win it again some day, they wont give it to him for a Vuelta.

 

[SafeBet]

It will be Wiggins.

Contador wont feature. He has won it twice already and is likely to win it again some day, they wont give it to him for a Vuelta.

Three times if I'm not mistaken.

 

[LaFlorecita]

You can say that about any rider, why specifically Contador?

Because Alberto at least has a chance to win all.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Three times if I'm not mistaken.

Yes and that's it. He won't win it again because such prizes are never given to dirty cheaters. What does it matter anyway, three is a nice amount.

 

[SafeBet]

Seriously though, he's never won a monument in his career.
Suggesting he could win both the Worlds and the Lombardia in one month, after coming back from months without racing just doesn't make sense.

 

[Froome19]

Seriously though, he's never won a monument in his career.
Suggesting he could win both the Worlds and the Lombardia in one month, after coming back from months without racing just doesn't make sense.

Exactly, the hype about Contador is understandable and to an extent realistic as he is the greatest rider of the generation but it needs to be kept in check, because to attribute him with expectations and possibilites that he has never convincingly shown he can achieve is a bit OTT

 

[LaFlorecita]

No one is saying he will, people are saying he could.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Seriously though, he's never won a monument in his career.
Suggesting he could win both the Worlds and the Lombardia in one month, after coming back from months without racing just doesn't make sense.

It's not like he's ever tried.

 

[Froome19]

No one is saying he will, people are saying he could.

Exactly there is a possibility but it is near to as remote as the possibility any other rider will achieve such a feat.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Exactly there is a possibility but it is near to as remote as the possibility any other rider will achieve such a feat.

I disagree. There are very few riders that could achieve it.

 

[Froome19]

I disagree. There are very few riders that could achieve it.

Indeed but the possibility of him doing it is very close to all riders who have a chance to do it, whether they could achieve it or not.

 

[SetonHallPirate]

BTW, Worlds and Lombardia are a week apart this year, not a month. That's not exactly a very long peak...

 

[the asian]

It will be most probably Wiggins. I'd like to see Boonen winning it, and if he wins Olympic Gold he will well and truly deserve it.

 

[Devilen]

i'm not putting money on Boonen ... he's one of the older riders and have the last few years been less and less in the right spot at the right time, tailing after Cav and lately Sagan ...

leaning towards Wiggins although i'm not sure i argee that he deserves it (sky as a team is looking to be the winner of the tour, wiggins only just happen to be their top man, could just as well be froome)

 

[will10]

i'm not putting money on Boonen ... he's one of the older riders and have the last few years been less and less in the right spot at the right time, tailing after Cav and lately Sagan ...

leaning towards Wiggins although i'm not sure i argee that he deserves it (sky as a team is looking to be the winner of the tour, wiggins only just happen to be their top man, could just as well be froome)

Wow, you really do just watch cycling in July.

 

[dlwssonic]

I really hate to say it, but I can't see wiggins not winning it.

 

[Peccio89]

Boonen because he won Paris-Roubaix in style, while Wiggo never attacked in the Tour

 

[Finn84]

Boonen because he won Paris-Roubaix in style, while Wiggo never attacked in the Tour

Also to consider that Boonen could have likely won even if that group had arrived together in velodrome.

That day I had chance to see only last 40 km or so...decisive attack had already happened.

 

[greenedge]

Good thread. I think at the moment they all have a chance. Sagan and Wiggins have great chances for success at the Olympics whilst Boonen will target the Olympics ( if ok ) and the WC. JROD if he racks up more end of season wins/ goes well at the Vuelta could also get it.

All in all i think it might have to be taken into consideration after the Olympics/ Vuelta.

Is there a prize for most combatiff over the whole year? Because if so i would say Voeckler ( great ride at the TDF ), De Gendt ( astonishing ride to burst through at the Giro ) and quite a few others, who are also worthy.

 

[El Pistolero]

Also to consider that Boonen could have likely won even if that group had arrived together in velodrome.

That day I had chance to see only last 40 km or so...decisive attack had already happened.

Yes, I hope they take that into account. Boonen won because he was by far the strongest. He didn't need the help of his team-mates, he left a strong Nikki Terpstra for dead on the pavé. Not even 4 cyclists of the ridiculously strong Sky team could get him back.

Wiggins on the other hand was clearly weaker than Froome.

 

[Panda Claws]

Wiggins on the other hand was clearly weaker than Froome.

Yeah, but you have to keep in mind that Froome lost 2 minutes on a flat stage and his ITT was worse. I'm not sure he could have put 2 minutes into Wiggins in the mountains.

 

[Panda Claws]

i'm not putting money on Boonen ... he's one of the older riders and have the last few years been less and less in the right spot at the right time, tailing after Cav and lately Sagan ...

leaning towards Wiggins although i'm not sure i argee that he deserves it (sky as a team is looking to be the winner of the tour, wiggins only just happen to be their top man, could just as well be froome)

Did you even watch the April classics?

 

[Caruut]

i'm not putting money on Boonen ... he's one of the older riders and have the last few years been less and less in the right spot at the right time, tailing after Cav and lately Sagan ...

leaning towards Wiggins although i'm not sure i argee that he deserves it (sky as a team is looking to be the winner of the tour, wiggins only just happen to be their top man, could just as well be froome)

Thanks for the laugh.

If he's always in the wrong place at the wrong time, where exactly was the right place to be at these times?

Not to mention G-W and E3, which are both bigger than any wins Cav or Sagan have had this season.

 

[gthx_gthx_]

For now I don't see anyone else than Boonen getting it.

That is if the people responsible for choosing the winner don't have a short-term memory.