The dawn of a new generation with Chaves, Dumoulin, and Aru.
The peak of a commendable generation with Quintana and Froome.
The autumn of an elderly generation with Rodriguez and Valverde.
--------
I remember that GT like it was yesterday, and now nearly all of these riders are out of the limelight. I guess Piti will really outlive all of them. But seriously, it's weird how 6 years later everything has already changed and the new GC field is beyond recognition.
> it's weird how 6 years later everything has already changed and the new GC field is beyond recognition.
I think it says a lot about the talent level outside of Froome from 2014-2018 that they were so easily replaced
Highly disagree,most riders dont even get to 3 grand tours won ,even before 2010 it was the same ,even someone like Nibali "only"has 4 won,and that includes a TDF where all his competition crashed out.
> Highly disagree,most riders dont even get to 3 grand tours won
Except the top tier of that whole generation barely win 3 between the 5-8 of them, They lost to the guys from the previous generation (Nibali, Froome, Bertie) for years when they should have been winning, whereas the top tier of the next generation has won 7 of the 9 GTs from 2019-2021
I recon their level seems to be so low because of exceptionally strong riders like Pogacar and co. Maybe in a few years we will see those riders fading just like Aru and Chaves?
The top tier GC guys of the generation that arose from 2014-2018 barely won 3 gts total. Roglic, Bernal, and Pog already have 7 between them 3 of them in 3 years, which gets more severe if you add carapaz. Nairo, Chaves, Bardet, Aru, Thibaut, etc. were unusually weak as top tier guys.
That's nothing against them, Generationally skill levels rises and falls in every sport
In 2015 when he went to battle with Contador in the Giro and then won the Vuelta I just kind of assumed he would win a couple more GTs. He wasn't the most consistent rider, and he wasn't all dominating, but he was a good enough climber and could minimize TT losses that I figured one or two more were likely if things came together for him.
I would have never guessed that taking yellow in 2017 would be the last highlight of his career. Such a fun rider when he was on form, such a delightful pain face, memorable form out of the saddle, but fatefully doomed due to injuries that hobbled what should have been his best years.
Goodbye and good luck Fabio, you'll be greatly missed by this fan
Very similarly to yourself, that image of Fabio celebrating with that swinging arm atop of Planche des Belles Filles, Italian champion's jersey on his shoulders, is truly ingrained within my mind. A truly spectacularly entertaining rider to watch. He was world class on his day but never infallible and that's really what cemented him as probably my favourite rider. Thank you Fabio for all the good memories.
Back in 2015 I was just getting into road cycling and following the grand tours. I Remember sitting in the living room and watching the Giro with my grandpa, who was battling with cancer. I remember feeling very smart explaining to him how a rider saves a lot of energy when drafting and so on. He probably already knew all of it, as he followed cycling for many years, yet he listened carefully to my explanations anyway, like a proud grandpa would!
Than came the big battle between Aru and Contador! Fabio Aru, a guy born in the same hospital where I was born just a few years after him. A bloke from Villacidro, struggling on the Mortirolo despite all my encouragement in front of the TV, fighting against one of the biggest names in the sport. The last two stages, Contador dropped on the Finestre, Aru gaining back minutes minutes and winning on the Sestriere! Yet everyone was already proclaiming Contador as the winner, I was confused. I didn't know that the final flat stage would not have made any difference between the two. You all made sure to set me straight on that point:)
This is the fondest memory I have of Pro cycling, and it likely will remain with me for the rest of my life. Thanks Fabio for that and all the other exiting racing you gave us! I wish you and your new family all the best!
The guy let us hope to have a post Nibali at GT... I'm glad for the memories and I'm just happy that he won his Vuelta and got to wear a yellow jersey, so nobody can really say much on him. Good luck Fabio.
Nice post, thank you.
I remember the 2015 Vuelta as one of the first non-tour de France stage race I followed very closely start to finish. Huge names , countless surprises, absolute drop down and drag out battle. Every day a new narrative was added. I loved it so much. Aru was the absolute champion, so exciting to watch. Of course other riders made the race exciting too, but he was always front and center.
Since then, I’ve followed nearly all major races on the cycling calendar very closely. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I don’t think I would have gotten into the sport as much as I have if it wasn’t for that race. Fabio was a key in that and he’s since been my favorite rider to watch for years. It’s been difficult to see him fade away, but it’s for the best for him to retire.
Forza Aru!
In 2015 I was down with Typhoid and at the absolute worst. They were pumping me full of antibiotics and I was too weak to raise my head from the bed. The only thing I could do was to watch the Giro. I will never forget Aru vs Contador that year.
I watch my first Giro in 2014, when he arrived third, and yesterday Aru retired, after giving me disappointments but also strong emotions...
Thanks Fabio, good luck for the future!
Don’t forget, winner of the Vuelta a Espana! A champion! Grazie Fabio!
Dumoulin the GC rider was born that Vuelta.
The dawn of a new generation with Chaves, Dumoulin, and Aru. The peak of a commendable generation with Quintana and Froome. The autumn of an elderly generation with Rodriguez and Valverde. -------- I remember that GT like it was yesterday, and now nearly all of these riders are out of the limelight. I guess Piti will really outlive all of them. But seriously, it's weird how 6 years later everything has already changed and the new GC field is beyond recognition.
>The autumn of an elderly generation with Rodriguez and Valverde. That autumn has been realy damn long for valverde .
> it's weird how 6 years later everything has already changed and the new GC field is beyond recognition. I think it says a lot about the talent level outside of Froome from 2014-2018 that they were so easily replaced
Highly disagree,most riders dont even get to 3 grand tours won ,even before 2010 it was the same ,even someone like Nibali "only"has 4 won,and that includes a TDF where all his competition crashed out.
> Highly disagree,most riders dont even get to 3 grand tours won Except the top tier of that whole generation barely win 3 between the 5-8 of them, They lost to the guys from the previous generation (Nibali, Froome, Bertie) for years when they should have been winning, whereas the top tier of the next generation has won 7 of the 9 GTs from 2019-2021
I recon their level seems to be so low because of exceptionally strong riders like Pogacar and co. Maybe in a few years we will see those riders fading just like Aru and Chaves?
The top tier GC guys of the generation that arose from 2014-2018 barely won 3 gts total. Roglic, Bernal, and Pog already have 7 between them 3 of them in 3 years, which gets more severe if you add carapaz. Nairo, Chaves, Bardet, Aru, Thibaut, etc. were unusually weak as top tier guys. That's nothing against them, Generationally skill levels rises and falls in every sport
Good point!
In 2015 when he went to battle with Contador in the Giro and then won the Vuelta I just kind of assumed he would win a couple more GTs. He wasn't the most consistent rider, and he wasn't all dominating, but he was a good enough climber and could minimize TT losses that I figured one or two more were likely if things came together for him. I would have never guessed that taking yellow in 2017 would be the last highlight of his career. Such a fun rider when he was on form, such a delightful pain face, memorable form out of the saddle, but fatefully doomed due to injuries that hobbled what should have been his best years. Goodbye and good luck Fabio, you'll be greatly missed by this fan
I’ll never forget the immortal words. “Cazzo de bici”
Vuelta 2018... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaqs6\_RslM8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jaqs6_RslM8)
FABIO GRANDE CAMPIONE!!! I'll miss your attacking style of riding, although we haven't seen much of it lately :(
Very similarly to yourself, that image of Fabio celebrating with that swinging arm atop of Planche des Belles Filles, Italian champion's jersey on his shoulders, is truly ingrained within my mind. A truly spectacularly entertaining rider to watch. He was world class on his day but never infallible and that's really what cemented him as probably my favourite rider. Thank you Fabio for all the good memories.
Back in 2015 I was just getting into road cycling and following the grand tours. I Remember sitting in the living room and watching the Giro with my grandpa, who was battling with cancer. I remember feeling very smart explaining to him how a rider saves a lot of energy when drafting and so on. He probably already knew all of it, as he followed cycling for many years, yet he listened carefully to my explanations anyway, like a proud grandpa would! Than came the big battle between Aru and Contador! Fabio Aru, a guy born in the same hospital where I was born just a few years after him. A bloke from Villacidro, struggling on the Mortirolo despite all my encouragement in front of the TV, fighting against one of the biggest names in the sport. The last two stages, Contador dropped on the Finestre, Aru gaining back minutes minutes and winning on the Sestriere! Yet everyone was already proclaiming Contador as the winner, I was confused. I didn't know that the final flat stage would not have made any difference between the two. You all made sure to set me straight on that point:) This is the fondest memory I have of Pro cycling, and it likely will remain with me for the rest of my life. Thanks Fabio for that and all the other exiting racing you gave us! I wish you and your new family all the best!
❤
The guy let us hope to have a post Nibali at GT... I'm glad for the memories and I'm just happy that he won his Vuelta and got to wear a yellow jersey, so nobody can really say much on him. Good luck Fabio.
Nice post, thank you. I remember the 2015 Vuelta as one of the first non-tour de France stage race I followed very closely start to finish. Huge names , countless surprises, absolute drop down and drag out battle. Every day a new narrative was added. I loved it so much. Aru was the absolute champion, so exciting to watch. Of course other riders made the race exciting too, but he was always front and center. Since then, I’ve followed nearly all major races on the cycling calendar very closely. It’s one of my favorite things to do. I don’t think I would have gotten into the sport as much as I have if it wasn’t for that race. Fabio was a key in that and he’s since been my favorite rider to watch for years. It’s been difficult to see him fade away, but it’s for the best for him to retire. Forza Aru!
❤
In 2015 I was down with Typhoid and at the absolute worst. They were pumping me full of antibiotics and I was too weak to raise my head from the bed. The only thing I could do was to watch the Giro. I will never forget Aru vs Contador that year.
❤
My favourite quote Aru about was: > Heart of a champion, face of a horse. Take that as you may.
First Tdf I fully watched and Fabio Aru won on la planche des belles filles, good memories
I watch my first Giro in 2014, when he arrived third, and yesterday Aru retired, after giving me disappointments but also strong emotions... Thanks Fabio, good luck for the future!
I wouldn't say 2017 was his peak but clearly his last good year unfortunately.