Favorite Pro Rider?

[James]

Just a thread out of curiosity, what's everyone's favorite pro rider? I don't want to get into the doper/non-doper/etc debate, just who you like and why.
Personally, I'm a big fan of Chris Horner. He just always seems like a guy who's there to get his job done, and have fun doing it. Always has that little half-smile on his face, like no matter how he's suffering, he's still enjoying it.
I have some people I "have" to like because of sponsorship stuff, but even though Horner's not riding any of "my" stuff anymore, I really like him. Bummed I won't see him in the Tour.
http://www.cyclingfans.com/chris_horner_paris_nice_2006.jpg

And my favorite:
http://images.velonews.com/images/int/9798.14522.t.jpg

[sanjuro]

I know this is ancient history, but I really like Sean Kelly. He was the greatest all-around rider, winning major tours and the big classics.

I still like running my cables outside the bar tape because of Kelly although I won't use toe clips and cleats anymore!

[Heidi]

Just a thread out of curiosity, what's everyone's favorite pro rider? I don't want to get into the doper/non-doper/etc debate, just who you like and why.
Personally, I'm a big fan of Chris Horner. He just always seems like a guy who's there to get his job done, and have fun doing it. Always has that little half-smile on his face, like no matter how he's suffering, he's still enjoying it.
I have some people I "have" to like because of sponsorship stuff, but even though Horner's not riding any of "my" stuff anymore, I really like him. Bummed I won't see him in the Tour.
http://www.cyclingfans.com/chris_horner_paris_nice_2006.jpg

And my favorite:
http://images.velonews.com/images/int/9798.14522.t.jpg

Get your butt up here to Bend THe second week of July and you can probably watch him in the Cascade Cycling Classic. He is considered a hometown boy here and you won't be alone rooting for him.

[ire]

Horner looks really happy in that second pic :) I like Jens Voigt, although my favorite rider to watch was Chipo.....he was always over the top and he won a lot of races

[James]

Get your butt up here to Bend THe second week of July and you can probably watch him in the Cascade Cycling Classic. He is considered a hometown boy here and you won't be alone rooting for him.

God, I wish. That's like a week before our sales meeting an PR launch, so I'll be lucky if I'm getting 4 hours of sleep a night at that point...

[DRB]

I don't like whiny bitch ricco.

Beyond that I don't really have a rooting interest.

[ire]

I don't like whiny bitch ricco.

Beyond that I don't really have a rooting interest.

So….who ever Ricco is going up against is your favorite rider by default?

[OGRipper]

I don't really have a favorite but Horner is a good call, he's always entertaining to watch and he manages to keep himself pretty humble despite riding near the highest levels of the sport. I like Maggie Backstedt too, and pulling for Hincapie in the spring seems to be a requirement for any American cycling fan.

[ire]

...and pulling for Hincapie in the spring seems to be a disappointment for any American cycling fan.

fixed

[DRB]

So….who ever Ricco is going up against is your favorite rider by default?

True... but if I rider wanted me to be his super fan, he could simply punch ricco in the face.

[maddog17]

I know this is ancient history, but I really like Sean Kelly. He was the greatest all-around rider, winning major tours and the big classics.

I still like running my cables outside the bar tape because of Kelly although I won't use toe clips and cleats anymore!


+1!!!

hell of a racer, i always liked Eric Breukink (spelling) too. Moreno Argentin comes to mind too.

as for todays riders... hmmmm i'd have to go with Jens Voigt

[sanjuro]

BTW, I am glad I didn't write Tom Boonen.

[James]

I'd almost completely forgotten about him, but a year ago I would have said Vino...

Anybody seen this yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H93SW31hBsg

Pretty clever I think, speaking to a lot of us out there...

[OGRipper]

fixed

I hear ya - but he got a win today at the Dauphine!

[ire]

I hear ya - but he got a win today at the Dauphine!

I saw that, good for him! I always root for him, but end up disappointed a lot

[robdamanii]

I've always been a fan of Zabriski and McEwan. Both just plain odd people.

[SuspectDevice]

All the locals, of course. Especially the ones that race mountainbikes for Spooky!

[Heidi]

I see nobody picked McEwen...that guys seems like a gem:

From cyclingnews:
Robbie McEwen is not making many friends in Switzerland. According to the Swiss newspaper Blick, the Tour de Suisse stage three winner's ceremony had to wait for him on Monday. Immediately after the stage, the Silence-Lotto rider started giving interviews on his mobile phone. Former rider Kurt Betschart, who manages the ceremony, waited a while, but finally, he said, "I challenged him to get a move on."

The Australian sprinter then called Betschart a "f**king idiot" and called the race a "f**king organisation," Blick reported. It added that last year, after his Tour de Suisse stage five win in Giubiasco, McEwen also applied that same title to the country, calling it "f**king Switzerland."

The race organisers at first wanted to exclude McEwen from the race for his remarks, but gave him another chance. Race spokesman Kurt Henauer confirmed McEwen's comments, telling Cyclingnews that the organisers "would not impose sanctions – provisionally – because a fine of 200 Franc is a joke..."

Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara of Team CSC told Blick that "McEwen is a very unpopular rider. I can't understand why the Tour de Suisse organisers didn't take any action." Expanding his comments, Cancellara told Cyclingnews, "It's all a question of respect for the race, for his colleagues, his sponsors and the organisation. If people don't know how to behave themselves, they're better off being sent home."

Team Silence-Lotto did not respond to Cyclingnews' request for a comment on the situation.

[ire]

Sounds like McEwen doesn't care for the Swiss :) I always like watching him race. One of my favorite racers, before he retired, was Laurent Jalabert. He runs and does triatholons now

[Heidi]

For the record, I really liked Switzerland...the people, the food, the riding, the scenery...Shame on Robbie.

[robdamanii]

For the record, I really liked Switzerland...the people, the food, the riding, the scenery...Shame on Robbie.

Damnit, I picked McEwan. Everyone has an off day and mouths off on occasion.

Figures, the guy I like is an asshat.

[Heidi]

UHG - since nobody brought this up yet...did you see that Horner had to drop out of hte Dauphine with lower back problems? They aren't sure when he's going to return to racing. SUCKS. I was looking forward to watching him here in July.