Rider of the year
As a new feature, you (my dear followers) get the opportunity of chosing the rider of the year. I'll give you the 8 nominated riders, just simply name your preffered rider. Voting ends April 11ty, 18.00 CET (so 48 hours from now).
Nominated riders (in alphabetical order)
Igor Antón
Basque / Spanish Igor Antón won his first GT this year, the Giro d'Italia, after a heroic battle with Andy Schleck. He maintained a high level all year, putting him in 3rd in the WT and CQ-rankings.
Results:
- Winning 3 stages and the GC of the Giro d'Italia.
- 2nd place in the GC of the Vuelta a Espana (and 1 stage win), and in the GC of the Volta a Catalunya.
- 3rd place in the GC of the Pais Vasco (and 2 stage wins) and in the GC of the Tour of Beijing (and 1 stage win)
Tom Boonen
Tom Boonen was the king of the cobbled season, but missed the wins in both De Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix. Still, he's without a contract for 2013!
Results:
- Winning in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Dwars door Vlaanderen and E3-Prijs.
- 2nd place in Paris - Roubaix.
- 3rd place in Gent-Wevelgem and Vattenfall Cyclassics.
- 5th place in Milano - San Remo and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Fabian Cancellara
The 31-year-old Swiss timetrial and cobbles-specialist was consistingly strong all year. He managed to win his 3rd Paris-Roubaix, the definite highlight of his season.
Results:
- Winning a stage and the GC in the Tour Down Under, Paris - Roubaix, Vattenfall Cyclassics and 2 stages in the Tour de Suisse.
- 3rd places in Gent - Wevelgem and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Tyler Farrar
Tyler Farrar wasn't the sprinter who won the most sprints, but for sure the sprinter with the most important wins.
Results:
He won 2 stages in the Tirreno - Adriatico, 2 stages in the Tour de Suisse, 1 stage in the Eneco Tour, 1 stage in the Tour de Pologne. The most important results were for sure 5 stage wins in the Tour de France and the green jersey
Philippe Gilbert
Philippe Gilbert is the best hilly rider in the world, and he really showed that this season with the Ardennes-triple and Il Lombardia. He even realized his dream in winning the World Championships at Sicily.
Results:
- Wins in Paris - Nice (3 stages and the GC), Amstel Gold Race, Fleche Wallone, Liege - Bastogne - Liege, stage in La Vuelta, World Championship RR, gc in Tour of Beijing and Il Lombardia.
- 2nd places in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Milano - San Remo and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Matthew Goss
Australian sprinter Matthew Goss was dominant in the first month of the season, where he totally dominated the sprints. He took 14 wins this year, more than any other sprinter.
Results:
- Wins in Tour of Qatar (4 stages and GC), and 2 stages in Giro d'Italia.
Vincenzo Nibali
Sicilian-born Vincenzo Nibali became the successor of Marco Pantani as the Tour de France-winner out of Italy. He dominated the months June and July and took the win in the most important stage race of the world.
Results:
- Wins in Tour de Suisse (4 stages and GC) and the Tour de France (1 stage and GC).
- 3rd place in Tour de Romandie.
- 4t place in Giro d'Italia, including 2 stage wins.
Andy Schleck
After missing the win in the Giro (after an heroic battle with Antón at the slopes of the Stelvio), he finally won his first GT in september, after dominating in the Vuelta a Espana.
Results:
- Wins in Tour de Pologne (including 3 stages), and the Vuelta a Espana (including 3 stages).
- 2nd place in the Giro d'Italia (including 3 stage wins) and Tour of Beijing.
- 4th place in Il Lombardia.
