50. Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension Data)
2019 wasn’t the year of Dimension Data. (Again.) But they still collected 7 victories. 3 of them did Giacomo Nizzolo. (Another 3 has Edvald Boasson Hagen and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier managed to win another one.)
49. Oliver Naesen (AG2R)
The Belgian spring classics specialist is still waiting for his first big victory. His best placement during the spring months was a 2nd place at Milano-Sanremo. Most likely at the race, where he has at least one memorable moment.
48. Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo-Visma)
He took part just some stage races this season, his greatest success was undoubtedly his 3rd place at the Tour de France. Nevertheless, there is a small weird feeling about it was rather the success of his team’s work, than his personal efforts.
47. Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates)
One of the youngest sprinters of the elite peloton, and has teammates like Alexander Kristoff and Fernando Gaviria. Philippsen still managed to have a debut at the Tour de France (his best result was a 5th place on stage 7), unfortunately, he had to give up on the 12th stage. He had several 2nd-5th places and a victory (Tour Down Under Stage 5) in 2019.
46. Geraint Thomas (Sky/Ineos)
Similar to Kruisjwijk, Geraint Thomas managed to earn a second place at the Tour de France, meanwhile, his season was anything but spectacular.
45. Michael Matthews (Team Sunweb)
Like in the case of Nizzolo, Matthews is the rider, who was almost only the one delivered success for his team. He didn’t start the spring classic season well, but he was getting better and better at its second half. His most important vitory of the year definitelly the one at the GP Québec
44. Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida)
At the beginning of the season, I mentioned him often in my “5 riders to watch” posts. I think he was one of the riders worth to watch the entire season – if you’re focusing on the performance of riders of the future. His biggest success was the stage win on the top of the La PLanche des Belles Filles at the Tour de France (Stage 6). I quess, he will have a much better place in my top50 riders list next year.
43. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Sky/Ineos)
Member of the news generation in Team Ineos, mostly in the position of a domestique, but also had the opportunity to race for himself for several occasions. His most memorable race of the year was the Tour of Alps, where, in the position of a helper of Pavel Sivakov, he was one of the protagonists.
42. Greg van Averamet (CCC)
One of the most active, most aggressively riding cyclists during the spring classic season, but without success again. He had a much better form at the end of the season, he has won the GP Montreal and therefore he was one of the pre-race favourite of the World Championship in Harrogate (finished 8th).
41 Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
Not a rider, who used to be at the end of a best-of list. He still earned an 8th place at the Tour de France and a 4th one at Vuelta a Espana, but considering, that the general disappointment with his performance reached this year a new high, all a have to say is, that this wasn’t the year of Nairo Quintana at all.
See riders placed 40-31 (soon)>>>
I’m curious who was YOUR choice for the best riders of the season, there is a big poll on my Instagram channel, see more infos below:
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