Your favourite riders!

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

Contador is the current one that has made me cover many kms by car just to se him pass a few seconds. Never spoken to him in person, although family members that live near him have had the oppotunity to do so and we have some very cool personally dedicated posters of his Astaná GT wins in our local bar.

I would love to go to this bar one day! What city is this bar in?

 

[gregrowlerson]

Re:

So much love for Valverde.

I just don't understand this forum anymore

 

[gregrowlerson]

Contador


Kreuziger
Porte
T Martin
Landa
Fugalsang
Zubeldia
Dumoulin
Kwiatkowski
Chaves

I am probably forgetting some riders.

 

[wouterkaas]

Re: Re:

Chris Froome
Luke Rowe
Wout Poels
Richie Porte
Jarlinson Pantano
Steven Kruijswijk
Stephen Cummings

In the past years I would've put Peter Sagan in the list, but he has been prone to becoming a caricature of himself....

Do you like Simon Clarke or Sebastian Reichenbach?

Both are nice and good cyclists and I find especially Reichenbach a sympathetic rider who definitely has more potential.

 

[RedheadDane]

Re:

But sure, there are some guys who I find myself pulling for race after race. I can tally up Uran, Sagan, Gaviria, Kwiato, Gallopin, Betancur, Pinot, Dombrowski, Tony Martin and Gesink among them. Had no particular reason for most of them, and that added up to ten serendipitously. Attacking flair and a certain joie de vivre both on and off the bike, maybe? Or a general sense that no one on that list has wholly made good on their talents, yet they keep at it with unwavering passion?

Sagan hasn't wholly made good on his talents?
Have we been watching the same races these last few years?

You are talking about Peter, right?

Also, Kwiato hasn't made good on his talents? Tony Martin hasn't made good on his talents? Gaviria hasn't mad good on his talents? Gaviria is 22, bit early to say he hasn't made good on his talents.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

So much love for Valverde.

I just don't understand this forum anymore

He's probably the most talented rider of the past 20 years imo, why is it weird people love him? He can climb, he can TT decently, he can sprint, excellent in one day races as well as short stage races and GTs. His versatility is just ridiculous!

To answer the topic: my favorite (active) riders are Boonen, Sagan and Van Avermaet. Boonen will probably always be my favorite because I started watching cycling at the same time he started his professional career. Watching him become WC while winning the Ronde, Paris-Roubaix and stages in the Tour... It was too good to be true! I also like the fact that he has always stayed himself and never turned into an arrogant diva.

I have to say I'm getting a bit tired of Sagan's persona, feels a bit forced to me these days (like when he came to the Flemish studio after the Omloop). Still love watching him dominate races though obviously.

 

[Jolene]

Landa
Valverde
Samu
Brambilla
Chaves
Tosh Van der Sande
Gaveria
Cav

 

[carton]

Re: Re:

But sure, there are some guys who I find myself pulling for race after race. I can tally up Uran, Sagan, Gaviria, Kwiato, Gallopin, Betancur, Pinot, Dombrowski, Tony Martin and Gesink among them. Had no particular reason for most of them, and that added up to ten serendipitously. Attacking flair and a certain joie de vivre both on and off the bike, maybe? Or a general sense that no one on that list has wholly made good on their talents, yet they keep at it with unwavering passion?

Sagan hasn't wholly made good on his talents?
Have we been watching the same races these last few years?

You are talking about Peter, right?

Also, Kwiato hasn't made good on his talents? Tony Martin hasn't made good on his talents? Gaviria hasn't mad good on his talents? Gaviria is 22, bit early to say he hasn't made good on his talents.

So, if it was unclear, that was a supposed to be a bit of ex-post rationalization, so I don't take it as the most airtight logic, or necessarily applicable across the whole of the list. But Sagan was for a moment there though of as a blunt instrument, the perennial also ran lacking the tactical nous to actually get the wins that really mattered. I think he in particular never wavered, never stopped smiling, never let the pressure get to him, just went out and put it all on the line and never stopped being Peter effing Sagan. California in 2015 was the (literal) apotheosis of that for me. Similarly, Kwiato was the GC star in the making who couldn't avoid that bad day in the mountains; as was Martin, who couldn't quite cut it when the gradient pitched up, and then couldn't quite make the transition to classicdom. Gaviria I've been following since the stagiare days, but I'd say his early (again, literal) stumbles have shown there's some resilience to him.

But again, this is just me trying to make some sense out of the names I jotted down out of recollection, and ultimately, out of instinct.

 

[RedheadDane]

No need to talk about was with any of those guys, their careers are still going strong.

Sagan is a double RR World Champion, he's won more races than I can count - including a Monument - and of course people started talking about it being "about time" he won a Monument before he'd even turned 25. And he's still only 27.

Kwiato became world champion at the age of 24 and, despite a few bad years, has done pretty well so far.

Tony Martin is a four-time TT world champion, and except for 2015 he's podiumed every year since 2009. Who cares if he'll never win a GT? That's not what his talents are.


So why even try to find a reason? Just... say that you like those guys without trying to explain why.

 

[carton]

Re:

So why even try to find a reason? Just... say that you like those guys without trying to explain why.

I was following the Pithy Bala's lead. And it just seemed more fun for me than just throwing out the names. Besides, "know thyself" has been a major maxim of mankind for millennia.

P.S. You're really saying you don't find yourself pulling for birdsong or the joker more often than not?

 

[RedheadDane]

Sure, if a Danish rider looks to be about to win, I'll be cheering like crazy. Mostly because the wins are few and far between. But it's not the end of the world when it doesn't happen.
Though those two probably aren't the most likely candidates...

 

[Pantani_lives]

Unfortunately one of my big favorites has just retired: Cancellara. The following ten have my support for the coming year.

1. Quintana: I hope he will win the Tour at least once in his career. On his best days he reminds me of the great climbers of the past.
2. Emma Johansson: It's World's Women's Day, so I include her. I'm so tired of seeing her finish second, so I put her second to break the curse.
3. Vanmarcke: I'll be cheering for him in the cobbled classics. He just has to win Flanders and Roubaix at least once.
4. Contador: He remains a superb rider, I hope he has one more great win ahead of him.
5. Sagan: Colourful personality, very complete rider who can win most of the classics and a pile of green jerseys.
6. Aru: Italy's big hope. His Tour was a bit disappointing, but he seems destined to win the Giro.
7. Gesink: One step below the truly great, but I always liked him and it was great to see him come back the past two years after all that bad luck. I would love to see him win a mountain stage in the Tour after a long solo.
8. Gilbert: In his best years he was brilliant in the hilly classics, he could force a decision with an individual action. I hope he can win one more.
9. Bardet: The most attractive French rider, not afraid to take initiative. I don't think he'll win the Tour, but at least he tries to make the race worth watching.
10. Esteban Chaves: He still has to prove that he can dominate a big race, but he's a joyful personality and a gifted climber.

 

[Pantani_lives]

This was more work than I thought, but I made an overview of the riders mentioned at least three times. So these are the most popular riders on this forum:

1. Sagan 26
2. Contador 25
3. Chaves 17
4. Valverde 15
5. Boonen 14
6. Wellens 13
7. Nibali 12
8. Alaphilippe 11
= Greipel
= Kwiatkowski
11. Dumoulin 10
= Gaviria
13. Martin, Tony 9
= Pinot
15. Bardet 8
= Quintana
= Vanmarcke
18. Cavendish 7
= Landa
= Sánchez, Samuel
21. Benoot 5
= Démare
= Froome
= Gilbert
= Porte
= Stuyven
27. Aru 4
= Boasson Hagen
= Degenkolb
= Izagirre
= Martin, Daniel
= Van Avermaet
= Voeckler
34. Felline 3
= Henao
= Urán
= Zubeldia

 

[carton]

Nice job! I feel a little more indie than I did all of five minutes ago.

 

[StryderHells]

Re: Re:

So much love for Valverde.

I just don't understand this forum anymore

Yeah I don't get the love for Valverde, same goes for Contador

 

[Echoes]

Re: Re:

He's probably the most talented rider of the past 20 years imo, why is it weird people love him?

It means that they don't care about ethics but I don't find it weird considering the posters who listed him. Rather logical.

I have to say I'm getting a bit tired of Sagan's persona, feels a bit forced to me these days (like when he came to the Flemish studio after the Omloop).

Then why didn't you understand I also am?

 

[Netserk]

Valverde more popular than Boonen?! People are ***.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

He's probably the most talented rider of the past 20 years imo, why is it weird people love him?

It means that they don't care about ethics but I don't find it weird considering the posters who listed him. Rather logical.

I have to say I'm getting a bit tired of Sagan's persona, feels a bit forced to me these days (like when he came to the Flemish studio after the Omloop).

Then why didn't you understand I also am?

I know about Valverde's history, I'm just not convinced that the rest of the riders are any better. I have no idea what you mean by your question though.

 

[Echoes]

Re: Re:

I know about Valverde's history, I'm just not convinced that the rest of the riders are any better. I have no idea what you mean by your question though.

First, there's a huge difference between established facts and mere feelings, sentiments. Second you cannot prove that there is not one single professional rider, if only one, who is doing his job honestly. Nobody can say that. It's too easy to clear your favourite riders that way.

It's about time the moderation tolerates doping talk on this section when there are established proofs concerning a rider because otherwise we are talking nonsense. I'd say the moderation team is currently apologetic of doping with that rule. I mean you say he's the most talented rider of his generation. How d'you know? Even more important who can tell how much hard work plays a part in his success? Nobody can tell! That man cannot be trusted. So his career is null and void, pure and simply. It's as though he had never turned pro. I'd say the same if there's proof about my favourite riders. Until then I grant them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Re: Re:

I know about Valverde's history, I'm just not convinced that the rest of the riders are any better. I have no idea what you mean by your question though.

First, there's a huge difference between established facts and mere feelings, sentiments. Second you cannot prove that there is not one single professional rider, if only one, who is doing his job honestly. Nobody can say that. It's too easy to clear your favourite riders that way.

I never said that I had proof, it's just my belief. Perhaps I am too cynical. The idea that guys like Froome or Quintana are better GT riders than Valverde yet I'm supposed to believe they are doing it honestly doesn't make sense to me. I hope I'm being vague enough here to not get my posts removed.

 

[RedheadDane]

You can like a rider without necessarily liking the person.
But anyway, isn't it possible that Valverde isn't so good - when it comes to GTs - as he used to be is because he's actually clean now? Also... he's kinda old.

 

[Netserk]

Re:

But anyway, isn't it possible that Valverde isn't so good - when it comes to GTs - as he used to be is because he's actually clean now?

:lol:

 

[RedheadDane]

Re: Re:

But anyway, isn't it possible that Valverde isn't so good - when it comes to GTs - as he used to be is because he's actually clean now?

:lol:

I know this is clinic stuff, but as far as I'm concerned a rider is innocent until proven guilty. And when he (or she) has had a ban he/she comes back with a clean slate, and is once again innocent until proven guilty.
As far as I know Valverde hasn't been proven to have cheated since he came back from his ban.

 

[frisenfruitig]

Seems pretty naive to me. Have you seen the races he has won after his suspension? It appears he never needed "medical assistance" in the first place!

 

[RedheadDane]

Okay, then I'm naive. I just always thought that the innocent until proven guilty rule also counted in matters of anti-doping.
Besides, I'm not saying that Valverde - probably - stopped doping because he honestly regretted it. Might simply have been a cynical matter of knowing that he couldn't afford to be caught again.

I quite like Valverde as a rider, coz he's got a great riding style.
I don't know what he's like as a person, coz I've never met him. And we wouldn't be able to actually have a conversation anyway.
I know Valverde made mistakes in his past, but I choose to believe he's not making those mistakes anymore.