Vote for the 2009 Rider of the Year!
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 27, 2009 4:31 PM EDT
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PrintAttached is a poll to determine the Podium Cafe 2009 Rider of the Year. Barring a catastrophic outcome, the poll results will determine the winner. Poll compiled based on your submissions. Vote ends Friday at noon Pacific.
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No Tom Danielson!?
"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
But Bubbleboy is more than Other; he is, uh, Bubbleboy!
"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
Yeah really close
for me between Bert and Cav.
You say potato and I say potato…
1 (tie) Bert and Cav
3. Gilbert
4. Menchov
5. Valverde
6. Andy Schleck
7. Evans
8. Cancellara
9. Hushovd
10, (tie) Haussler and Hagen and Farrar
The lure of the spaniards, you can't help yourself
You were so close to being right too, I cast my vote for Cav.
How did Gilbert ended up above Menchov and Valverde?
What do you fear most?
1. coup d’etat
2. putsch
But is
one Classic and 3(?) one day races + one GT stage enough to level:
2 GT stages wins, The Giro and the Tour de Murcia
What do you fear most?
1. coup d’etat
2. putsch
Which jersey would you pick up first?
the clean one or the dirty one?
by Davide Don of Rio on Oct 27, 2009 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions
To answer your first question:
And looking at their records closer (see below for a better summary than what you provide): Menchov definitely had the least impressive year of the three, mainly because he stopped getting results after the Giro. Gilbert and Valverde are both more accomplished this year.
Valverde vs Gilbert is debatable. Probably Valverde but… Valverde has the Grand Tour win. Gilbert has a Monument plus Paris-Tours. Valverde has two small stage race wins vs one for Gilbert. Gilbert has two small one day race wins vs one for Valverde. Valverde has a medium stage race win. Gilbert was a regular top five in the biggest one day races except for MSR. Valverde was not competitive outside of his wins and he had no stage wins in the Vuelta. Valverde only came across a finish line 4 times. Gilbert did it 6 times. Then there’s the doping cloud for the Green Bullet. I still give the nod to Phil-Gil because he was so damn hot at season’s end. Valverde 2nd, Menchov 3rd.
Gilbert:
1 Monument win-Lombardia
1 Big Class won-Paris-Tours
2 smaller one day race wins- Sabbatini + Piemonte
1 Grand Tour stage win- Stage 20 of the Giro
1 small stage race win- Ster Electrotoer, including a stage win
3rd at Flanders, 4th at Amstel, 4th at LBL.
Menchov:
1 Grand Tour win
2 Stages of a Grand Tour wins- Giro stages 5 & 16
1 small stage race win-Murcia
Valverde
1 Grand Tour win-Vuelta
1 Medium stage race win- Dauphine
2 small stage race wins-Burgos and Catalunya with a stage win at Catalunya (stage 3)
1 small one day race win: Klasika Primavera
2 stage wins at a small stage race: stages 3 & 5 at Castilla and Leon.
"Then there's the doping cloud"
I think that’s the main reason so far AV has no votes, people can’t vote for someone that probably should have been sitting on the couch and watching cycling on his TV during the races he won.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
absolutely
i feel a bit hypocritical when i bash valverde for doping connections, he definitely isn’t the only one, but there is something about him that makes it so easy
"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
Menchov
I’ll give him a pass, he turned himself inside out in the Giro, so it’s understandable if he was exhausted in the Tour, which didn’t help him do anything after.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 27, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
That's cool
I feel a bit bad with my post above as all three guys had a great season and shouldn’t be putting down any of them. Menchov’s Giro was a thing of physical, mental, and emotional beauty.
I, for one, welcome our new Norwegian overlord
Staring at the swim team gets you killed by a gang of dancing ninja men who know how to twirl.
Dificult choice.
I’d prefer some categories like:
Most matured – Cavendish.
Most improved – Gilbert.
Most potential – Andy Schleck.
Most aggressive, but without a team to support him – Evans.
OK, I tailor made those categories, especially the last one, for my picks.
Honestly, I think the rider that rode the best throughout the season was Cancellara, so he’s my overall pick. No way I pick the accountant (Contador) who rode well at the Tour, but when else??
Have you seen Gesink this season?
That was aggresive!
Or do you mean in strict definition. STAY OF MY DOG! ELSE I BEAT YOU
What do you fear most?
1. coup d’etat
2. putsch
Cancellara recovered extrememely well from a lousy spring
but I can’t fault that pick—he’s consistently amazing when he’s in form.
In the end I went with Cav. If we’re looking at the whole year, he had a long season (February 2-September 9; 84 races spread over 221 days) and bagged wins in every single month; 9 grand tour stages; plus his first monument—the one everyone said he would win eventually, just not this year.
He’s a phenomenon, and it was a phenomenal year.
Honorable mention to EBH and GHH, both breakout stars.
Cavendish = wheel sucker. Didn't ride 10k with his nose in the wind all year. ;-p
Formerly known in some circles as flying dog.
Bert actually raced well in every single stage race he did this year
he just hasn’t raced since the Tour.
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
Yes he did indeed.
Rather dominating, but I really can’t wait to see him drop bombshells at LBL. If only he’d start now that he’s the bees knees.
by Douglas Ansel on Oct 27, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Most improved – Gilbert.
for me was Hushovd, Boaason Hagen, Hausler…
about the post, one more time i decided not too sure, Cav…
by semprenaroda on Oct 27, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions
So many choices...
in the end I have to go with Thor. I loved that he was the only one to challenge Cav in the Tour for green, he figured out a way to win and he pulled it off. Ok, the relegation that I disagreed with helped. But still, I thought Thor had a memorable year.
No horn, watch for finger.
+1
though l voted Bert, l had a hard time deciding between Bert & Cav, but the fact that Cav had a team fully committed to help him made me tip to Bert.
My Pick:
Philippe….
"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
I picked Cav
I now feel weird and confused…..help me!
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
That's a very valid point
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
Cav here
Cycling is a bunch of silos, and nobody owned his silo like Cav. when pozzato says you are good to the point of demoralizing people…
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 27, 2009 9:10 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I'm surprised Gaspa isn't on there
Dammit Elk! I don't care if it's your mating season, you are disturbing my peaceful sleep! Just STFU!
Maybe
but people are being emotional here. If they’re emotional during the VDS selection process, well… they get what they deserve.
"Harder! Better! Faster! Stronger!" Philippe Gilbert
by Chris Fontecchio on Oct 27, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions
<case in point.
But that got me Cav, Bert and Gilbert. Gaspa was a head check and look what that got me.
"…I saw bloody Cavendish coming, really fast…"
HH
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