Election '08: Measure 2) Best Single Act

by Chris... on Oct 27, 2008 4:13 PM EDT in News Comment 22 comments

Onto our second category: What was the best single accomplishment in 2008 by a rider in any one day's race?

This is somewhat confined, ruling out things like stage race overall wins. Then again, it's not restricted to winners; amazing efforts count too. Since it was added after the other two categories, it didn't receive as many nominations, but this will do. One key difference: this is what performance you consider the greatest, not your own most memorable day. Question 3 is the latter, a more subjective, fannish impression than this one.

Poll

What was the best single accomplishment in 2008 by a rider in any one day's race?

Fabian Cancellara's downhill Olympic attack

49 votes

Fabian Cancellara's Milano-Sanremo coup

62 votes

Alessandro Ballan's surprise World Championship

16 votes

Carlos Sastre's Alpe d'Huez attack

52 votes

Stijn Devolder's Tour of Flanders attack

44 votes

Scheldeprijs: Cav Robs Boonen

7 votes

E3 Prijs: Arvesen escapes

0 votes

Worlds: Amber Neben's win

4 votes

Juan Flecha steals Elk-Man's flag

8 votes

Olympics: Sanchez scores Gold

12 votes

Giro Stage 19: LPR's three-man escape

10 votes

Tour stage 15: Gerrans wins

9 votes

Tour de Suisse Stage 7: Julich blocks for Cancellara

2 votes

Le Tour stage 18: injured Cunego finishes

10 votes

Svein Tuft's Worlds TT medal, after flatting

41 votes

Other

12 votes

338 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 22 comments |

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Comments

I like this list, however

Sastre’s attack was completely expected. Especially since the Schlecks were hanging out in the lead group. Good, but not great.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Oct 27, 2008 5:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The attack was good, not great. Wasn't talking about the list.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on Oct 27, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the attacking is great because

was something that Ssastre chasing him for eight years.

by semprenaroda on Oct 28, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it was pretty momentous for that reason.

All or nothing to win a race you’ve been trying to win for so long, on the last climb, an iconic climb, and probably the last realistic chance in your career. It was a classic moment, an occasion, if not technically the very greatest attack of the year.

by Albertina on Oct 28, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i notice my english now!!!

ups…tks for the development.

by semprenaroda on Oct 28, 2008 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeh

It didn’t get my vote, although in his defense winning when everyone knows what you’re about to do is no small feat.

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 27, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

true dat..

tough to be marked and still pull one out of your – - -

(hat you dirty minded folks…)

by Fred Marx on Oct 27, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Devolder's Flanders win

was the most impressive performance in my books. Probably the strongest showing from anyone this year. It was just amazing how he was able to keep getting into the leader groups. Then the final attack with 25k’s out, right after his group was caught again was amazing! It’s even more impressive because he wasn’t even the number one favorite on his own team.

by Phil H. on Oct 27, 2008 6:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait, wasn't he his own team?

by ZoeRochelle on Oct 27, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

pretty much

and that’s why it was so damn impressive LOL

by Phil H. on Oct 27, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 but I voted for it as "best day."

by JFS_PGH on Oct 28, 2008 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

me too

by ZoeRochelle on Oct 28, 2008 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weren't there 'questions' raised

of how he magically increased his lead whenever the TV cameras cut away to the chasers. Suspicions that the various official bikes were giving him a helpful draft when everyone else was looking the other way.

by Monty. on Oct 27, 2008 7:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah a little

but he still had to be incredibly strong to get away from the favorites so often. Plus with a Spaniard and a Dutchmen chasing what do you expect the Belgian camera men to do, just a little home field advantage

by Phil H. on Oct 27, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

meh

does anyone think it made all the difference?

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 27, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope, and he got my vote!

If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?

by CannonDowell on Oct 27, 2008 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted "other"

for Jens! & Fabian on Stage 10 of the TdF (Hautacam)

by NE Observer on Oct 27, 2008 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn I just voted before I saw the Flecha option!

Can I vote twice?

by plinytheelder on Oct 27, 2008 7:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

"If writing too much about the Classics is wrong, I don't want to be right."

by Chris... on Oct 27, 2008 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

this was my second choice :)

by nickel17 on Oct 27, 2008 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go back and watch Milan-Sanremo.

While what Devolder, or Sastre, or Contador did were all impressive, they were all within the expectations of their abilities and the accepted tactics of the race of that day.
In contrast, what Cancellara did at MSR was to win in a way that goes to his strengths in a manner that basically stunned everyone.
The last rider to win MSR in a decisive fashion such as this was Bettini back in ’03
Go back and watch is again, it was amazing.

by Ryan_Liles on Oct 28, 2008 3:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For me on this one, Fabian's Olympic RR

performance screamed at me. I’d expect him on the podium for the TT but to see him TT his way to finish the RR and in such a thrilling way, that was awesome. And then to see him wiped completely out right after, he put everything on the road for that. Not expected and done with complete dedication to get it done. Props.

"The most wasted day is that in which we have not laughed."

by nikki on Oct 28, 2008 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs