2011 Cyclist of the year

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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