Top 10 sprinters in the world right now..*2015 update*

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  • deejay
    deejay Posts: 3,138
    RichN95 wrote:
    ***** Kittel
    **** Cavendish
    *** Bouhanni, Greipel, Kristoff
    ** Demare, Sagan, Matthews, Degenkolb
    * Coquard, Viviani, Farrar
    That looks a fair assessment so 2015 will be interesting with so many.
    How ever Cavendish came into Road Racing and shook up the whole of the peloton in Sacramento.
    This year he put a lot of eggs into the "Tour" basket and then got injured, whoops.
    So he rides some 6 day races to "Hone" his performances and bike handling skills, in the hope of getting an edge that he had when he started Road Racing as a World Madison Champion.
    I shan't be missing any Flat Terrain Races next year when all that talent above (and their teams) will be on view.
    Organiser, National Championship 50 mile Time Trial 1972
  • thomthom
    thomthom Posts: 3,574
    ***** Kittel
    ****
    *** Bouhanni, Greipel, Kristoff, Cavendish
    ** Demare, Matthews, Degenkolb
    * Coquard, Viviani, Sagan
  • mulletmaster
    mulletmaster Posts: 502
    I agree with the above. Cab struggles to get past bouhanni and greipel with kittel being a class above the rest if he gets to the line.
  • mm1
    mm1 Posts: 1,063
    Sam Bennett going well in training, peak watts up and weight down according to Sticky Bottle. Big things next year?
  • tailwindhome
    tailwindhome Posts: 18,941
    mm1 wrote:
    Sam Bennett going well in training, peak watts up and weight down according to Sticky Bottle. Big things next year?

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  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I think Coquard is concentrating a lot on track this year.

    Also not sure about Matthews or Swift as top 10 sprinters, there are faster boys around for instance Nizzolo, Modolo, Mezgec, Danny van Poppel etc.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 8,744
    If I had to put money on which would get more Tour stages next year I'd take Cav over anyone but Kittel purely on what he's done previously. For that reason I think he has to be ranked above Greipel, Bouhanni et al. Fully fit Cav has consistently had the beating of Greipel throughout his career I don't see why that would change. Bouhanni more of an unknown as he is on an upward curve.
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  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I agree. I think Greipel is also behind Bouhanni, Kristoff and Demare too.
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    Tricky one this. It's not just a case of "who's the fastest" - it's also about who can finish it off. Greipel is a good example, incredibly fast when he is in full flight, definitely in the Kittel/Cavendish league, but he is consistently let down by his positioning and timing.

    It would be nice to see Cavendish mount a serious challenge to Kittel this year.
    Canyon Endurace CF 2014 | Canyon Ultimate CF 2010
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Too right, I paid just over 10% of my total budget in my Fantasy team for Cav for next year! Mind you still only half the price Kittel auctioned for, and less than Greipel, Bouhanni, Demare and Kristoff.
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    For me there's no point putting the likes of Degenkolb and Kristoff in with Kittel and Cav. I think you have pure sprinters and niche sprinters.

    Pure Sprinters (in rough order)
    Kittel
    Cavendish
    Greipel
    Bouhanni
    Nizzolo
    Viviani

    Niche Sprinters (no order)
    Degenkolb (Longer, lumpier days)
    Kristoff (Longer, lumpier days)
    Demare (Longer, lumpier days)
    Coquard (Hillier finishes)
    Matthews (Hillier finishes)

    By no means comprehensive. Maybe Bouhanni could find a niche in hillier finishes. I don't think he'll ever be more than a second rate pure sprinter.
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  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,157
    EKIMIKE wrote:
    Tricky one this. It's not just a case of "who's the fastest" - it's also about who can finish it off. Greipel is a good example, incredibly fast when he is in full flight, definitely in the Kittel/Cavendish league, but he is consistently let down by his positioning and timing.
    I gave some consideration to what teams they are on too. So I probably overrated Matthews due to him being guaranteed good support, included Viviani and Farrar who I think will benefit from team moves and excluded Mezgec who is only number three in his own team. (Nizzolo I just forgot)
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Interesting to see how OGE work with Ewan and Matthews. Maybe like Kittel and JD.

    I'm also going to stick my neck out and suggest DVP may make the breakthrough too this year.
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    No direct criticism/scrutiny meant. It's difficult to account for all the variables, especially year to year. For example I think someone like Kristoff could easily follow up a year of very respectable results with a year of near misses and top 5's.
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  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    ***** Kittel
    **** Cavendish, Bouhanni
    *** Greipel, Kristoff, Demare, Nizzolo, DvP, Degenkolb
    ** Modolo, Coquard, Ewan, Viviani, Mezgec, Van Asbroeck
    * Guardini, Coquard, Sagan, Swift, Matthews, Ferrari, Hofland, Stuyven, Ruffoni, Hutarovich
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    I reckon Ewan will need time to develop his strength and skills - perhaps a season or two. He looked a bit out of his depth against World Tour opposition this season.
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  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    You may be right about Ewan. I guess time will tell. Also interesting to see how Cort Neilsen fares, although not strictly a sprinter.

    I'm just not sure Sagan is any faster than those I've put in the one asterisk column, nor Gerrans or Kwia.
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,157
    Joelsim wrote:
    ***** Kittel
    **** Cavendish, Bouhanni
    *** Greipel, Kristoff, Demare, Nizzolo, DvP, Degenkolb
    ** Modolo, Coquard, Ewan, Viviani, Mezgec, Van Asbroeck
    * Guardini, Coquard, Sagan, Swift, Matthews, Ferrari, Hofland, Stuyven, Ruffoni, Hutarovich
    Personally I think Coquard is every bit as good as Coquard
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Ha ha. He should only be in 2 stars!
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    Joelsim wrote:
    I'm just not sure Sagan is any faster than those I've put in the one asterisk column, nor Gerrans or Kwia.

    Really? He's beaten some good opposition over the years, including Cav, Greipel and Goss (when he was on form). It's easy to over-rate or under-rate someone off the back of a good or bad season.

    Sagan's just had a stinker. Kristoff has had a good'un. Taking a view across several years, they're probably on a par with Sagan possibly edging it with volume and some good scalps.
    Canyon Endurace CF 2014 | Canyon Ultimate CF 2010
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    He just doesn't seem to have the pace, although he has the positioning generally.
  • EKIMIKE
    EKIMIKE Posts: 2,232
    Fair observation off the back of last season (but last season alone). Maybe he's losing some of his pace by trying to specialise in the classics? Much like Boonen did or like how Cancellara lost his TT prowess when he dedicated himself to the classics.
    Canyon Endurace CF 2014 | Canyon Ultimate CF 2010
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,712
    Young Bryan has done a bit better than a 1 * ranking for me.

    Luka Mezgec would be an addition to my list as well.
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  • The_Boy
    The_Boy Posts: 3,099
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Young Bryan has done a bit better than a 1 * ranking for me.

    He's shown he has the potential to move up, but I think 1* is fair. He's only young.
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  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    The_Boy wrote:
    jimmythecuckoo wrote:
    Young Bryan has done a bit better than a 1 * ranking for me.

    He's shown he has the potential to move up, but I think 1* is fair. He's only young.

    Obviously that's why I put him in the 1* and 2* rows. :shock:

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