Rider of the Year: Nominations, Please!
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2009 1:36 PM EDT
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PrintWe will take nominations all week for your Rider of the Year. Then next Monday we will post a poll and make our decision. This one needs little explanation: nominate the rider who you think had the "best season." Obviously the leading candidates will be guys who scored big points -- cycling does tend to emphasize winning -- but I invite you to be subjective in your nominations. There is more to life than points, and this is a chance to explain why you think a certain rider did the most for racing in 2009, whether he won a lot or not. And even among the winners, not all victories are alike. If you're picking less obvious guys, take a few minutes to really make the case and see if you can sway the voters next week.
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Cadel (why not?)
He battled all year. Insulted endlessly for never attacking. and when he attacked he got insulted for being stupid. His Team management slagged him in the press. Throughout he stayed classy and worked hard.
7th in Romandie
2nd in Dauphiné
Team issues in the Tour
Podium in Vuelta
And a very memorable World Championship win
And a post script — despite rarely ever receiving team help — he gave Gilbert great support at Lombardia.
Moo
+2
Not cause he’s the best but because of how he did it
by thebongolian on Oct 19, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Not just Lombardia
He also helped Gilbert at the Coppa Sabatini if I recall correctly?
And managed to reduce the ugliness of the world champion white shorts with some tasteful black added to the design.
With his spell in the lead during the Vuelta became the first Aussie to wear all three Grand Tour leaders jerseys. (and probably not too many non-aussies have done that either).
Contador won the big one, but he’s had big years before. Menchov won the Giro but did bugger all the rest of the year. And if PdC votes Valverde as rider of the year I’ll eat my dog.
Cuddles has had a breakthrough year, a big achievement with the WC, consistent riding (and almost got the Vuelta but for some bad luck), has been a great team-mate, and stayed classy in the face of the kind of ‘friends’ at lotto who make enemies unnecessary.
And he seems to have won over some of the PdC commenters (at least partially).
Cuddles for Rider of the Year!
by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 20, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Brad McGee has worn all the leaders' jerseys (2003 TdF, 2004 Giro, 2005 Vuelta)
I am delighted with Evans’ recent redemption, for I think it’s nothing less than that, but I think whether he’s the rider of the year must depend on the criteria you use.
If the question is, ‘Who is the year’s best rider?’, then I think he must fall short, probably to Cavendish, whose MSR win seals it. If your criteria extend to other, more sentimental considerations, then Evans has a stronger case.
disagree
he failed a lot in Tour, at least he should fnished at top5!
Is like Menchov,he won the Giro, big achievement. but in the Tour he disappear.
by semprenaroda on Oct 20, 2009 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions
The Tour is not the only race of the year.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
is not the Tour
is classifying a “rider of the year”, when his main objective should be one of the most important points! … i think.
And a guy who failed fully his main objective souldn’t be rewarded with “rider of the year”.
Comparing Evan with Valverde for exemple, at least the spanish achieved something he pursued for years.
by semprenaroda on Oct 20, 2009 6:44 AM EDT up reply actions
At any cost ...
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
All due respect Ted, you don't have to.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
agree with semprenaroda here
Much as I was thrilled with Cadel’s Worlds win & much as I’ve enjoyed his attacking (yes!) spirit at various points this year (not to mention his unselfish support of Gilbert at the end of it) & cursed his various bits of bad luck, that Tour failure is a great, gaping hole in his season, given what would’ve been his aims at the start of it . I think for rider of the year you have to look for someone whose performance has either been consistently in line with expectations, or exceeded them. So you’re probably looking at people like Contador, Gilbert, Cancellara, Cav & yes, Valverde (much as I might wish otherwise myself). & then possibly people HH, EBH who have really emerged this year.
I haven't voted yet, but I will now
It was always going to be Cancellara for me ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
i'm not so sure,
personally i like to see that when someone fails in one place they manage to respond in another. You make a good argument but i like perseverence in the face of adversity. (maybe you could say he lacked this during the tour) But the fact that he bounced back after such an awful year, and then was a great teammate after having terrible team support all year, i think it adds to his resume for my personal taste.
no I respect that hugely
& Cadel’s Worlds win is probably my favourite win of the year. I just don’t think that makes him rider of the year as a whole.
that's reasonable
i guess i’m leaning toward bah cav! myself. Although i’d like to check out that gilbert link someone put up if i can find it.
I wonder if there should be two categories...
Rider of the Year for people like Cavendish, Cancellara, Gilbert, Contador—great accomplishments this year, but have shown in the past that they’ve got it (Gilbert maybe less than the others, but since he won P-T last year, 2009 wasn’t really his breakout year)
Breakthrough Rider of the Year: for me, between GHH and EBH.
Couldn't agree more
And would like to see another category too – best Domestique Performance of the year. So many great pieces of riding by the workhorses of the peloton and nowhere to nominate them.
best Domestique Performance
Agree.
As an aside, mentioned this before but:
I was riding with a French friend in the summer who asked my why I always used the term “domestique” - I just assumed it was used by the French re: cycling. Apparently not.
Moo
Contador was the strongest domestique.
Just ask Lance. :-D
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
will nominates his belgian!
This word domestique was discussed before. Some people had noted the french didn’t use it – they say equipiér (teammate). I happened to be reading a little history of the tdf at the time and came across a passage that mentioned the first usage of the word in cycling by LesGrange back in the early days. A rider had fallen out of contention and actually was offering and selling his services to other riders to pull them up hills in pyrenees. Lesgranges found out about it and was furious and said the guy was behaving as a domestique! This was back before teams and teamwork.
Out of interest
Is there any more scuttlebutt as to what the “team issues” were? Contador had team issues in spades and still rode at the front…
This isnt a pop at Cuddles – just want to see what was so significant that he was reduced to grupetto?
Cavendish
26 wins in 2009 including Milano Sanremo, 4 Giro stage wins, and 6 Tour stage wins. Love him or hate him, the dude dominates every sprint like nobody I have ever seen.
over the line
dammit Jimbo, Im just typing that. That’s 38 seconds of my life I’ll never get back
We may bah! at the fact that he and hismerry men take some of the suspense out of sprints but truly no one has been as dominating in his field as the manxman.
I'd just add
that unlike some dominant sprinters in the Tour over the years….. Cavendish didn’t just go home when the mountains arrived. He finished the Tour.
Moo
because he wanted to win the Green Jersey
Which he didn’t.
But was otherwise pretty bloody impressive.
by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 20, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions
On that note
I’d like to give an honourable mention to Thor Hushovd, for being a contender throughout the spring (winning the the Omloop het whatever and podiuming in M-S and P-R) and winning the Green Jersey with that astonishing mountain breakaway on stage 17.
Mark
That white suit is hideous.
Stuff Rider of the Year, give him ‘The Cobra’ memorial trophy for Crimes Against Fashion.
by LurkerMcLurkerson on Oct 20, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Gets my vote by a mile
In the words of Pippo
“Over 50m he has frightening acceleration, like no one else in the peloton. Now, physhologically, I think he destroys the other sprinters. I’ve spoken to a few of them and they’re dead when they see him. And for a 23 year old to put that fear into people is mightly impressive” (Procycling May 09).
I think this year we may have seen him at his best, due to the incredible team around him, and it has been a delight to watch.
think I agree
Nice comment from Pippo there, especially since I didn’t think they were meant to get on too well. He nearly lost it for me with the reaction to getting relegated at the Tour but as ever with Cav it was heat of the moment stuff & the race to the line at Ventoux was a really nice touch. He’s just been incredibly consistent all season, partly that’s the team but largely it’s him & for me, anyway, there’s huge pleasure in seeing someone do something so incredibly well as he does.
He’s also developed hugely as a rider this year: it’s actually quite shocking thinking back to MSR that people were even doubting whether or not he’d get over the hills. One of my favourite memories of the season is the RAI commentators prematurely announcing that they couldn’t see him on the climbs, only to discover that he was there after all. It was pretty late on in the race when the camera started been permanently trained on his back…
yep, Cavendish
Gilbert’s my favourite, and I’d like to vote for him…but what Cavendish did this year was ridiculous. Hell he might be my pick even without the monument. With it, it’s not even close.
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on Oct 20, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
He won a spring [semi] classic, bagged his first GT stage in the Giro (along with 3 other podium finishes), and won a pair of stage races to boot. Oh, and somewhere along the way he turned 22.
It’s going to be a hard vote, though…
Andy Schleck and Phil-Gil
Both were consistently good and markedly improved over the year.
Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.
Heinrich Haussler because Philippe has already been nominated.........
Ohh and add Jens!, because after coming back from that crash, thats impressive….
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
Like no one thought of this guy yet, I'm sure.
Does anyone in the pro peloton drop your jaw like Fabian Cancellara? Enough said.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
This kills me but I'd say Cav
Fabian a close second, Evans 3rd.
Fabian would win going away if the northern classics worked out for him. The day he wins Flanders (when not if), will be one incredible ride.
by Peter Fontecchio on Oct 19, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions
I hate saying a sprinter should win rider of the year, but well, Cav deserves it
followed by EBH, Gilbert, GHH, Cance, and Bert in no particular order.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
+1 for Cavendish
His dominance in the tour was unrivaled. Also, has any other sprinter won a stage in every stage race they entered in a single year? It was his goal this year and I’m pretty sure he accomplished it. MSR is the icing on the cake. Last year he made big waves but this year I think is the true beginning of his reign as the king of sprints.
He was probably still eating the HUGE Gruyere
that he won at Romandie for winning the 2008 Prologue
Moo
...by some measly margin over Benna...bah!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Put me down for Cav.
I can’t sprint worth a damn, I have to take a flyer out of a two-man break to get a win, so he makes me envious like nobody’s business.
No horn, watch for finger.
Not saying I would actually vote for him...
But Valverde should be on the ballot at least. His record for the year is very similar to Contador’s, with the difference, of course, that the Vuelta is not the Tour. It’s also significant that he showed growth as a rider by doing something he hadn’t done before. (And, as far as anyone can prove, he didn’t dope this year.)
Wimps, both of you! Go Vino
Show people that second chances can make a difference ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Frinkster!
You’ve been quiet lately. Good to see you!
And yeah, I’m glad too… he has launched himself back into the job with enthusiasm, and he has held his head high despite the ‘welcome’ from the ‘haters’. (I called it ‘dignity’, Seahorse called it ‘fuck you’ – I suspect that it is actually both). There’s more to come, from our man – that much is clear ;-)
I think it's both...coupled with (two) brass balls
and of course the hide of a rhinoceros :) Did you see Perezbike said that the best moment was Frinking’s ‘In the Land of the Anselsachian…’? I promise no money changed hands.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I think if Chris makes the Annual with Sui Juris
you can expect to be in print ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Busy entertaining children..
And yeah, he’s doing a wonderfull; job. I’m very curious to see what he has in store for us next season ..
Lombarida confirmed it, so I have to admit it.
I still kinda love Vino. I can’t help it., he’s just so entertaining. Always giving it a go, and going hard. Seahorse is right about the brass balls.
My feelings exactly ;)
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Anti-BAH CAV
I really have to go for Mark on this one.
He really produced the goods when it matters. And he has taken a massive step up with MSR.
Way to go CAV
Hushovd
Green in Tour, first real classic seasons with a 2nd in PR and won some semi-classic. Huge season for him.
If it's about
Being the best: Contador. Didn’t race much, but when he did, was in a class of his own. I think it’s not just about the Tour though.
Being the strongest: Cancellara.
Being the fastest: Cav. Gilbert up there too.
Being the most consistent (in terms of racing the whole season): Probably Cadel. Strong in the spring and in the Dauphine – just the tour let him down. Bounced back for Vuelta, Worlds, and post worlds. A long season. Andy up there too, but stopped during the Vuelta. Valverde should be there, but I just don’t trust him.
Being an idiot: Di Luca. Rebellin.
Being under-rated: Haussler. Greipel. You guys saved my VDS season!
cavendish
he might not have grown much as a person, but he sure grew as a rider
"well...you live in england so: you love the rain. loves the queen. hates cycling. based on mr bean had a tremendous amount of humour. all ride in a mini cooper. all getting drunk before the age of 12. getting drunk at least 3 times a day."- frinking, 7/9/09
Top 11 most improved riders
from 2008 to 2009, taken from the top 100 ranked riders in 2009 not returning from suspension or retirement.
Source http://www.cqranking.com/men/asp/gen/cqRankingRider.asp?year=2009
Rank09 Rank08 Improv Rider Team Date of birth CQ 66 1104 1038 LADAGNOUS Matthieu FDJ 12-12-84 624 43 866 823 WIGGINS Bradley GRM 28-04-80 782 84 703 619 EL FARES Julien COF 01-06-85 529 89 480 391 CARRARA Matteo VAC 25-03-79 514 93 478 385 HENDERSON Gregory THR 10-09-76 504 83 436 353 GOSS Matthew SAX 05-11-86 537 95 419 324 MOERENHOUT Koos RAB 05-11-73 498 68 386 318 VAN HUMMEL Kenny SKS 30-09-82 609 90 404 314 HAMMOND Roger CTT 30-01-74 511 79 382 303 TAARAMÄE Rein COF 24-04-87 548 50 319 269 HOOGERLAND Johnny VAC 13-05-83 708
Where did Ladagnous score all those points
I reckoned at the start of the year that he would be one of the best scoring omissions from VDS, and to prove that all my VDS predictions are crap he score a whole 10 points.
Points can be decieving
He was out for most of the season last year, this year he scored by winning Amissa Bongo and placing in smaller french races. I had to look it up.
Hmmm
Looks like FdJ have won the Amissa Bongo ever since it started up. Does anyone else go there.
I still think it sounds like a tropical juice drink
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Great list...
For emerging rider I have to go van Hummel!! I think he would have more wins if he had not gotten hurt…plus…they really don’t have a suitable leadout train at Skil!!!
Between van Hummel and Hoogerland the Netherlands got a lot of good cycling press this summer!!
"If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out. And it wouldn't be the monkey."
"I don't really trust a sane person."
"I never met a man I didn't want to fight." The one and only Lyle Alzado
Most disappointing nation: Italy
- Only one GT podium place (Pellizotti Giro 2.)
- Zero Monument wins
- Di Luca, Rebellin
cazador
matador
ganador:
CONTADOR
If you can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and at the end of it, win the Tour, that’s worth a lot more than points.
+1
The mental stress he had to deal with when LA announced his comeback and the shenanigans during the Tour/year, Bert is the winner for sure.
Agree with Cav and Tony
and think GHH deserves consideration. Even though he didn’t do much late, he was the biggest story of the spring. Gilbert had one of the best Autumns in memory as well.
"go to work, send your kids to schoo,l follow fashion, act normal, walk on the pavements, watch T.V., save for your old age, obey the law; Repeat after me: I am free"
Haussler
might be my pick if he had actually won something major in the spring, the tour stage was my fav. stage of the tour but in the end, winning matters and 2nd in san-remo plus 2nd in flanders still isn’t as good as winning either of them.
On the other hand...how did Cav do in de Ronde? Devolder in MSR?
Oh, wait—they didn’t race them. And neither was top 10 in Roubaix as well. For consistency in this year’s classics, Haussler may have been 2nd to Boonen, but it was still a hell of a record. Throw in the Tour stage and I think he’s a contender.
This is a pretty fine vintage
I’ve only begun to think about this, but right at this moment there are a selection of riders who have claims to be the very best that their discipline has ever produced – we should marvel at what we see… And they are all (pretty) young and going to continue improving
Cav – rapidly heading towards being one of the best sprinters ever, with or without his team. Another couple of seasons like this and it aint even close. A combination of teamwork, smarts and pure speed (in reverse order of importance). We bah his train, but MSR was train free, disorganised, and terrifyingly quick.
Spartacus – has there been a better time-trialler? Boardman was quicker but less versatile. Anyone else?
Contador. The guy is, what, 26 or so, has won every GT he has taken seriously (and one he hasnt) for the past 3 years, and no-one looks close to him. He is young enough and good enough to take a run at LA’s 7, plus he is a more serious player in other races.
Honestly, these guys are all all-time greats. And cycling at the same time. We are lucky to watch.
Cancellara
wins my domestique award for his multiple attempted set-ups for the Schleckettes during the tour.
But I think Gilbert had the true break-out year . . .
and Contador . . . well . . . Contador faced down Armstrong and beat him at his own game.
Too bad we don't have "source of best moments" as a category
as well as a single best moment. Cancellara is such splendid entertainment value, between that TTT, the fabu-lous descent, the worlds TT…
Cav was regularly thrilling too, but it’s all over in seconds, except if there’s polemica and replays.
Cancellara's performance as a super domestique
and his individual performances is why I think he is easily the best rider of the year. Cav had his nose in the win for far less than 10k all year, there wasn’t another train that could compete with Columbia.
Cyclovia: Bogota www.streetfilms.org/archives/ciclovia/
It will be interesting if they will be able to replicate the same results with all of the horses that are leaving...
Might be interesting
by Vlaanderen90 on Oct 21, 2009 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Domestiques...
A selection -
Renshaw – not a true domestique, but a guy who sacrifices everything for the man in his draft
Schmyzd – pounding away for Basso et al in two different GTs, and yet knowing they didnt have the gas to seal the deal
Tony – as above
Vansummeren
neatly avoiding the Flecha/Hoste crash at Roubaix. Stopping to wait for \o/ —and still ending up 5 seconds from the podium. May he thrive at Garmin.
Speaking of memorable moments and Schmzyd
When he puked at top of Ventoux …. just as VV gifted him the stage
Moo
He puked?! Sheesh!
Even I didn’t puke ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Ha! I did have to ride with a friend who was about 10 times as fast as me!
I also sat down on the road and downed a gel about 2km from the top ;-)
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Aren't those things designed
to be slurped down on the move. If you are going to sit down then why not have a baguette with a bit of fromage and jambon.
I think it is too soon to ask this question.
Recent events hold too much sway on opinion; I would wait until December for these best assessments to lower the current event bias—unless this is being doen to avoid the Curacao Dolphins being named riders of the year. Also, are these nominations limited to just the male riders?
Anyway, I nominate, in alphabetical order: Kristin Armstrong; Fabian Cancellara; Noemi Cantele; Edvald Boasson Hagen; Philippe Jillbear, er, Gilbert; Ina-Yoko Teutenberg; Kenny Van Hummel; and Bradley Wiggins.
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
I knowledge the results driven comments and everything
but I still vote for Cadel. I like perseverance, heart, maybe that is why (I am voting for him)
Your bike doesn't want to crash so relax and let it roll!!!
Johnny Hoogerland
He made a very surprising appearance on the world podium. And was visible during the whole season.
De FIETS en anders NIETS
He would be perfect for an 'emerging riders' category I think
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
What about Most Overrated/Biggest Disappointment?
"As you can imagine, there are better places to have your birthday party than in some village called Mushny Mush Mishme." --The Wisdom of Jens
Stuart O'Grady
Cost six points for VDS and earned exactly zero VDS points, making him the worst value. Gert Steegmans is in the donut club as well, along with Bauke Mollema, Cyril Dessel, David Lopez Garcia, Vlad Gusev, and a whole lot of others.
Oh, I'd blanked Steegmans from my mind. I had him too, along with Mollema and Anton...bah!
Thankfully Contador, Gilbert and Haussler saved my bacon!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Oh, and Intxausti.
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Mollema had some decent breakaway action
He was only a 4-pointer (instead of 2 or 1) because of advance PR, not because his team role included the likelihood of placing. It’s just not really in the job description.
But then he got sick, which wasn't his fault of course....unfortunate!
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
Bennati
for over-rated.
Disappointment is harder, although I suppose I was MOST disappointed by Brew-strong’s performance in the tour.
after some thought
I’d have to add as disappointing racers:
1. Nuck Nuyens. It was his chance to go big. Oops.
2. (Even here, he’s 2nd place): \o/
3. Juan Tony Flecha: He’s the Spanish George Hincapie.
Gerdemann.
Broke his leg and sat out half the season last year, and still pulled down more than four times the number of points he did this year.
Leenoos it is.
What the?! Perhaps he really should take up the Wagner tuba….
"If I were World Road Race Champion, I would wear black shorts. That probably has more to do with me being on the wiser side of 30 and understanding better that the decisions I make now never really go away. White shorts would not be something I'd be proud of...." - David Millar, in Rouleur.
I was on a Nuyens high
I knew it was going to be a big season for him, I could smell it, sense it, I could feel it in my bones.
Well, next season maybe?
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