Worst seasons one can think of

[BR2]

End of season, a special time for rating and rankings...

Inspired by three of my absolute favourites having absolutely terrible seasons this year, I am opening this thread about the worst seasons riders ever had. No elimination game, but we can talk about our "winners" here. No riders who died or landed in a coma/ had to end their career, please. Just your "average terrible season". Who do you remember?

 

[King Boonen]

Yeah, last place finish in the AL East and no extensions for Devers and Bogaerts. Really frustrating.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I'm not sure I get this thread, but Eamon Franck had a pretty bad 2022.

22 race days in total, 13 DNF, 1 DNS, 1 OTL, 1 DSQ, and in the races he actually managed to finish, he never finished better than 62.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

Yeah, last place finish in the AL East and no extensions for Devers and Bogaerts. Really frustrating.

The team has the talent to be better, hopefully 2023 can be successful.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Juan José Cobo, 2010

 

[Peyroteo94]

Alberto Contador ending his season early in 2004 after his terrible crash.
This thread is a little bit stupid. Someone who died on the road, had a terrible season.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Alberto Contador ending his season early in 2004 after his terrible crash.
This thread is a little bit stupid. Someone who died on the road, had a terrible season.

Oh, if we don't count deaths or terrible crashes, I will count 2013 Contador or 2000 Pantani

 

[Ricco']

Kittel 2015, from 4 stage wins at the Tour de France, to barely being able to crack top-10s in minor stage races or even finish races.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

Lance had a pretty bad 2012. Losing 7 Tours takes some beating.

 

[King Boonen]

The team has the talent to be better, hopefully 2023 can be successful.

Incredibly frustrating season, and it felt like the last off-season was never finished (JBJ was surely never meant to be a starter) which was the main problem, along with some horrible injury luck.

 

[RedheadDane]

So, I'm guessing this is basically about "Meh..." seasons.
The problem with those is, that those are the kinds of season people don't really remember.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Hard question, often it comes down to injuries and other factors.
I almost wanted to say nearly all the former Gewiss-Ballan guys in 1997, but that belongs in a different subforum.
Maybe Wiggins in 2010, after his surprising Tour result one year earlier?

 

[Mayomaniac]

Kittel 2015, from 4 stage wins at the Tour de France, to barely being able to crack top-10s in minor stage races or even finish races.

That's a good call.

 

[Red Rick]

Egan Bernal, 2022

 

[laarsland]

Tom Dumoulin, 2022

 

[Ricco']

Tom Dumoulin, 2022

This one is bad but not at all surprising given the career trajectory so far.

2019 is worse imo, coming from a back to back GT podium, WCh medal and 4th place, to DNF due to injury in the first big goal of the season and never return until the end of the year.

 

[Netserk]

Kittel 2015, from 4 stage wins at the Tour de France, to barely being able to crack top-10s in minor stage races or even finish races.

Boonen 2013.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Boonen 2013.

Did you forget his massive win in Tour de Wallonie that year?

 

[del1962]

Normally for poor seasons there is a reason

MOSCON 2022 After performing well in PR 2021
SCHLECK 2012 (Yes he had a bad crash but did nothing pre crash) or SCHLECK 2013 or 2014 Though this was after his crash.
CAV 2019 or 2020?
Can we say Betancur 2014 After March?

 

[SHAD0W93]

CAV 2019 or 2020?

2017-2020 was all bad.

 

[Kaptain Kool]

Monosodium glutamate gets my vote. It's not good for you at all yet people insist on still using it. Kind of like Moscon but more widespread.

 

[Unchained]

Monosodium glutamate gets my vote. It's not good for you at all yet people insist on still using it. Kind of like Moscon but more widespread.

It's the taste man!! The taste!!

 

[Izzyeviel]

Froome 2022
Froome 2021
Froome 2020

 

[Sciatic]

Winter 2020-21: the first dark winter of the pandemic, starting to wonder if it would ever end, and trying to take care of my elderly mother 3,000 miles away.

 

[BR2]

I'm not sure I get this thread, but Eamon Franck had a pretty bad 2022.

22 race days in total, 13 DNF, 1 DNS, 1 OTL, 1 DSQ, and in the races he actually managed to finish, he never finished better than 62.

I indeed actually meant it like that.