Who's the most aesthetically pleasing rider?

[The Hegelian]

i.e. fully united with machine, pedals with power and souplesse, perfect form, position, technique.

Who's your pick, past and present?

I'll go with:

Past - Hinault (looked so good churning out the power on a big gear).
Van Hooydonck (Youtube him at Flanders - long legs, flat back, on the hoods, pedaling beautifully)

Present - probably Nibali (looks great, long cranks or short...)

There's going to be Froome and Zakarin jokes, so I'll just mention them straight up....

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Castroviejo on a TT bike looks amazing. Contador dancing in the pedals as well.

 

[TommyGun]

Contador without any doubt, an absolute treat for the eyes whenever he starts dancing on those pedals!
I like Nibali as well, but it always seems like he has some sort of a beer gut when he pedals (I know it is not the case, it is just the way he breathes).

 

[el chava]

Past - Bugno, always calm and collected.

Present - Chavanel

 

[Billie]

Pippo Pozzato

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Pippo aswell.

 

[Jagartrott]

The late VDB.

 

[MatParker117]

Chris Froome

 

[BigMac]

Fabio Aru.

 

[FilipeFD]

Voeckler

 

[Valv.Piti]

Pierre-Pierre, Don Alejandro and Landa are also looking great

Edit: And Tommeke!

 

[Hugo Koblet]

A funnier topic might be "who's the least aesthetically pleasing rider?" (though I would be surprised if it hasn't already been done).

I think we have some good candidates here: Aru, Mollema, Chris Anker Sørensen, though for me Aru takes the prize.

 

[rick james]

Always thought Wiggins on a TT bike looked amazing

 

[King Boonen]

Francesco Moser.

 

[BalearicBeats]

Tom Boonen on the cobbles.

As far as always looking good on the bike goes, Nils Pollitt is one of the best I've ever seen.

 

[PremierAndrew]

Always thought Andy Schleck looked great on a bike

 

[HelloDolly]

Re:

Always thought Wiggins on a TT bike looked amazing

Yes ...amasing on a TT bike ...so fluid
Also CHAVA looks great on a TT bike

On the road Valvere & Purito always looked good to me...Landa looks good too and Boonen

Not good are Froome (posture terrible) , Contador (head and body slung to the side ..looks in pain) Aru , Vockleur , Dan Matin,

 

[classicomano]

Jelle Vanendert.

 

[hrotha]

Vandenbroucke.

 

[robin440]

Bernhard Kohl

 

[LaFlorecita]

Rolland, Fuglsang, Boonen, Contador, Dumoulin.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Julien Fouchard, a frenchman who rode a couple of years for the Cofidis squad. His style was so ... idk how to call it

 

[deneb]

past Bartoli
present Boonen

 

[GP Blanco]

Kiriyenka deserves to be mentioned as well.

 

[Gigs_98]

Re:

Rolland, Fuglsang, Boonen, Contador, Dumoulin.

I think Dumoulin looks kind of strange on a bike. His style doesn't look as if it would suit such a tall rider. One would expect that he uses an extremely high gear when he attacks but it's the opposite.

I love Landa's style and I think Valverde looks great too.