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2011 Cyclist of the year

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  • October 27, 2011 at 10:24 pm #14418
    Cooks

    Ned Boulting did a thing like this on Twiter recently. I might have missed something similar on here, but in case it hasn’t been done, let’s do it again…

    Who’s been your favourite cyclist in 2011? It doesn’t have to be the winningest, but who has stood out for you this year? There’s the obvious contenders, but then there’s also the not-so-obvious….

    My noms…
    Fabian. Didn’t really win anything, but his Paris Robaix was a joy to watch. And 3rd in the Worlds TT and fourth in the road race… pretty consistent.

    Hoogerland and Flecha

    and Thor…….. God how I love Thor….

    Anyone else got any opinions?

    EDIT: I did realise when typing this that Gilbert is obviously top dog this season. But I forgot to put that in the post, so it looks like I didn’t realise it. 🙂

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  • October 31, 2011 at 5:47 am #656743
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    KirinChris

    Has to be Gilbert.
    Yes he’s
    Has to be Gilbert.

    Yes he’s the favourite and obvious choice, and in many ways that’s fitting. He was the favourite and obvious choice for so many races and yet he still won them.

    Even the pros like Cavendish and Millar speak of him in awed tones. Millar I think said he told them what he was going to do and when he was going to do it, and still nobody could stop him.

    He doesn’t just win, he dominates and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. He’s just awesome. :X

    There are only three others one could debate about how close they were to Gilbert for the best of 2011. Evans, Cavendish and Tony Martin. As for the rest:

    Cancellara – tried hard and was always gracious but didn’t actually win, even in his main discipline.
    Voeckler – the guy has guts but he’s done this before and never seems able to build on it. One trick pony.
    Sagan – showed he could be the Gilbert-class with some fantastic wins but faded over the whole season.
    Hushovd – honoured the rainbow jersey with some great rides but hardly a dominant season, not by his standards.

    And there are a host of one-offs, with outstanding individual moments – Hoogerland, van Summeren, Vanendert, Taarimae, Kittel (Edit: and Froome, forgot about him) – but not enough to string together to claim to be the rider of the year.

    October 30, 2011 at 7:48 pm #656741
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    the_mikey

    Like him or not, I think
    Like him or not, I think it’s Phillipe Gilbert.

    October 29, 2011 at 8:43 pm #656739
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    monty dog

    Gilbert not the best this
    Gilbert not the best this year? What races have you been watching? Gilbert has panache – his ride at Amstel Gold was incredible and the way he lit-up the beginning of the Tour made it more enjoyable.

    October 29, 2011 at 6:36 pm #656737
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    PeteH

    just very keen
    just very keen

    October 29, 2011 at 1:09 pm #656735
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    Martin Thomas

    Tricky to vote for your rider
    Tricky to vote for your rider of 2012 just yet anyway, no?

    October 29, 2011 at 10:49 am #656733
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    Gkam84

    jimmythecuckoo wrote:Running
    [quote=jimmythecuckoo]Running a poll on here with a select shortlist… you can add a vote if you wish.

    http://freeteams.net/yaxleycycling/form.html?form=2275%5B/quote%5D

    Voted Tommy V, just wondered who made that up, putting GT in ahead of Froome??

    October 29, 2011 at 10:34 am #656731
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    James Warrener

    Running a poll on here with a
    Running a poll on here with a select shortlist… you can add a vote if you wish.

    http://freeteams.net/yaxleycycling/form.html?form=2275

    October 29, 2011 at 9:41 am #656729
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    WolfieSmith

    For me it should be Vincent
    For me it should be Vincent Jerome. Who? Well he was my most consistant domestique in Fantasy Cycling this year – picked entirely on cost I might add and what value! Chapeau Vinnie and see you next season!

    October 29, 2011 at 9:04 am #656727
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    Martin Thomas

    Tommy V for me as well – so
    Tommy V for me as well – so gutsy and inspirational in the Tour. It would be odd not to mention Cav too though wouldn’t it? Obvious or not, he’s had a helluva year. He’s been quite entertaining on Twitter too.

    October 28, 2011 at 8:18 pm #656725
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    PeteH

    Yeah, Tommy V would be my
    Yeah, Tommy V would be my choice. Its probably very one-dimensional to pick someone for their TdF exploits when there are obviously so many other events in the calendar, but he just seems like an all-round top bloke and certainly made this year’s tour interesting.

    October 28, 2011 at 4:16 am #656723
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    Gkam84

    Just one to add to those
    Just one to add to those above who i think should top the list

    Thomas Voeckler – Just for his TdF ride, amazing

    But as we all know, Gilbert will be the person most people would vote for, yes he’s done well this year, but i don’t think he’s been the best of 2011

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