best rider of the year?

petecossins

We've almost reached the end of 2007 road season and Procycling magazine want your nominations for the best rider of the year. Details of the poll can be found on the Procycling blog at http://www.bikeradar.com/blogs/article/procyclings-end-of-season-awards-win-a-ridley-noah-frame-12676

All those who do vote will be in with a chance of winning Ridley's top-of-the-range Noah frameset as used by Cadel Evans and Robbie McEwen and worth £2400. Get your vote in and the Noah could be yours.

Peter Cossins
Editor
Procycling[/url]

girofan

How about Frankie A. he's secured a bike testing gig even though he admits to drugs!
That takes the buscuit. :roll: :roll:

fixiebob

How about Evan Oliphant he was first britain in the tour of britain and the cycling press have hardley given him a mention.

robbarker

Well Cav has come on leaps and bounds, but for my money Cadel Evans has had an amazing season, given the convevtional wisdom that he's clean.

OffTheBackAdam

Bettini all the way.

nick hanson

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

Bettini all the way.

Nah,one big win doesn't make the seasons best cyclist in my eyes.
Would have to go with Cadel Evans.Been there on & off,most of the season,Podium on TDF,just missed it in Vuelta.Winner of the Protour.Yes it sure looks convincing for Cadel Evans

andyp

I'd agree with you on Bettini Nick, but what did Evans actually win? Nothing. He was always the bridesmaid and never the bride. That isn't convincing in my book.

OffTheBackAdam

Bettini's had more than the one big win.
Let's look at his palmares for 2007.
4th in L-B-L just 6" adrift, 7th in the Amstel Gold & Vatenfall Classic, Stage wins at Tour of California & Vuelta.
How hard did he try to get stages at the Giro? (How many 2nd & 3rd places?) All the way from stage 2 (2nd) to stage 21 (3rd)
Same with the Vuelta. He was attacking all the way to the line in the Milan Sanremo.
If he's in a race, he's there to race!

nick hanson

It is rather difficult naming someone who won throughout the year.Contador won the Paris Nice early on then the TDF(or was gifted it after the chicken was thrown off :roll: ).As I said earlier,Evans has been very close all tear,but to recommend someone who stands out,unfortunately no one really stands out.Now,if it had been the 80's,you'd have been looking at the stature of a rider such as Sean Kelly...there WAS a season long campaigner of the highest level.

ms_tree

I'm not one to think Brits are best because we're Brits but I've voted for Geraint Thomas. He really impressed me during the Tour by finishing without all that fanfair about winning a stage - just got stuck in and doing his job. Otherwise it would probably be Ballan or Benatti.

cswebbo

World - Cadel Evans
UK - Has to be Cavendish.

dave_1

world- Cadel Evans for being by far the best all round cyclist of the year and having no suspect looking peaks of form that seem to be the hallmark of doping. Pettachi, Bettini, Boonen are close on 2nd place....Bettini gets it but the other 2 were good at times this season

Fat Head

honourable mention to cancellara....his stage 3 win in the TDF has to be one of the most impressive pieces of riding this year

Brian B

Procycling voted by public - Cadel Evans
Cycling Weekly voted by public - Mark Cavendish(landslide victory & Evans a poor 2nd)

I thought most people would read both mags and the results would be the same. I am not a Cav hater(far from it) but cycling weekly mention him in every mag and have even went so far as to say that he is better than Robbie McEwan(more pro wins in his first year). Let them say that when he has won umpteen major tour stages and the odd green jersey or 2.

More often than not most pro riders unfortunately do have a consistent form over the years and a lot of riders who show promise when young cannot replicate the same form year in/year out.