Australian Cyclist Of The Year

November 4, 2009 · Comments

So the finalists have been announced for the People’s Choice Aussie Cyclist of the Year Award.  They are:

•    Brendan Bailey
•    Caroline Buchanan
•    Cadel Evans
•    Simon Gerrans
•    Jared Graves
•    Anna Meares
•    Mark Renshaw
•    Sam Willoughby

My vote is for none other than GERRO.   There’s no question in my mind.  Sure Anna Meares kicked my butt up Ricketts Point and that’s usually worthy of an automatic win for the award, however Gerro still gets my vote since he leaves cheeky comments here from time to time.

Gerro’s results for this year include:

•    10th World Road Championship
•    1st Vuelta a Espana – Stage 10
•    1st GP Ouest Plouay
•    1st Giro d’Italia – Stage 14
•    6th Liege-Bastogne-Liege
•    8th La Fleche Wallonne
•    7th Amstel Gold Race
•    2nd Tour of Denmark – Stage 1
•    3rd GP di Lugano
•    6th Volta ao Algarve - Stage 3
•    1st Jayco Bay Cycling Classic – Stage 1

I’m pretty sure he could even beat me up Ricketts point but he hasn’t yet so therefore he cannot claim it in his 2009 results.

Who do you think deserves to with the Australian Cyclist of the Year Award?

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  • Chris
    can someone tell me who Brendan is and how he fits the criteria:

    * Who has the best team spirit?
    * Who is the best role model?
    * Who has posted the most outstanding performances?
    * Who deserves this honour?
  • James
    I went for a ride with Brendan yesterday. I didn't see Cadel there fixing flats for people or pushing tired riders up hills. Brendan represents what cycling should be about, but what is often forgotten amongst the proverbial shitstorm when people argue over the pro's. Vote Brendan!
  • JC
    Get real CT. Gerro is good, but he couldn't beat you up Ricketts Point. Don't forget there was a 50km headwind the day you posted your time up Ricketts
  • Brendan Bailey is the reason I got into voting.
  • AMR
    Think about the rest of the team, Cervelo TestTeam that is, training together in Europe, fine tunning for the so called most important race on the calendar.

    - Donde esta Simon? Carlos asks.
    - Spending time with Lance! Heinrich replies.
    - Muy bueno!

    Something like that might help him loose a few points...
  • I agree with Darryl - add me to the vote tally ;-)

    * Who has the best team spirit? - CT
    * Who is the best role model? - CT
    * Who deserves this honour? - CT

    And you can add:
    * Who is the best Ambassador for Cycling? - Wade Wallace
  • Neil_Robinson
    Brendan for sure, the thought of him on stage at such an event makes me giggle like a school girl. In fact I've already voted for the lad. Hopefully this will prompt him to let me win a few races at DISC.
  • Yeh Gerro gets my vote! although Cadel winning the Worlds is going to play a big factor.
  • AMR
    After hearing Cadel's crap about his team in the last three or four years, he looses a few points in the Best Team Spirit. So does your mate, Simon, for going to the US to spend time with LA and LL before the Tour.
    I vote for Cadel. As mentioned before, he is the first Australian to wear the road WC jersey, that is HUGE. He is an odd bloke, but comes across as the one for Best Role Model as well!
  • I can understand why people think Gerro doesn't deserve the award, but I don't quite understand why going to the US and training with Lance/Levi would lose Gerro a few points.

    He went to Colorado the year before to prepare for the tour as well. It's no secret that LA was trying to get Gerro to go the Shack at that time either (which he obviously didn't take). I can't see what the controversy is about.
  • It has to be Cadel!! Surely winning the World Championships race the way he did has to be one of Australias greatest sporting achievements, not just in cycling but for all sports. The way that he fought back after a tough 3 months leading to the worlds also has to be admired. It will be great watching him for the next 12 months in the rainbow colours. I must admit it was tough choosing between Gerro and Cadel, but Cadel it had to be.
  • MLC
    Mark Renshaw for sure! How many stage wins did he secure for his team!!!
  • Cadel wears the jersey. Matter of fact he's probably wearing it most of time. Under his windcheater at breakfast. Under that dress shirt at dinner. Under the new Bmc kit.

    It has been a great year for Aussies but the jersey belongs to Cadel. I hope the clouds around him clear now. Go champ.
  • darryl
    * Who has the best team spirit? - CT
    * Who is the best role model? - CT
    * Who has posted the most outstanding performances? - Not CT
    * Who deserves this honour? - CT

    Does it say anywhere that he/she needs to be a pro cyclist? If not, CT would get my vote
  • Thanks Darryl, but I'm nowhere close to the caliber of the finalists in any regard!
  • Phil
    Ah, who is Brendan Bailey? A Google search found this:

    http://fixed.org.au/forums/index.php/topic,1011...
  • People, come on! Vote Brendan! Because i'm one of you. Because Simon Gerrans and Cadel Evans have already won enough awards. Because the cyclist of the year shouldn't be some pro who you never see battling into the wind on the way home from work. Because I'm an aging fixie punk with bad tattoos and questionable personal hygiene. Because I like going to fancy dinners. Because "People's Choice" should mean "One of the People". And if I'm nothing else, I'm definitely a person.

    Yes, that is the official spiel.
  • Jono_L
    I voted Brendon.

    I suggest all others do the same!
  • Mikie
    You've got my Vote! Yay for being a person.
  • I've seen Brendan burn up the boards (and skin) at DISC, ring-master events in the middle of Melbourne winter and shout encouraging abuse at fellow fixie crew when needed.

    VOTE for Brendan.
  • DJ
    Thanks Brendan. You've got my vote!
  • Gerro is a great bloke ... Cadel perhaps is not ... but World Champion! That's is an incredible achievement and stands well above Gerro in standings for Cyclist of the year.

    You have surprised and slightly disappionted me here Wade
  • Jon
    Haha loving that Brendan made it on that list! Can you send a steak through the mail?

    I dont know that Cadel could win on 'best team spirit'... but his gutsy world road champ win did salvage his otherwise fairly dismal year.

    I'd probably say that, in reality, this is a popularity contest...
  • Both Cadel and Gerro dont seem to have had a great year with either of their teams. I have to give Cadel credit for his team spirit though. I reckon he would need more patience than I did living with my ex when riding for Silence. Admirable to me.

    I think Cadel for Aussie Cyclist of the Year and Gerro for Peoples Choice, even just for his epic quad definition.
  • krashdavage
    A team leader should inspire his helpers and unite his team... Fail!
  • Brendan '07! (oh, NINE).
    Brendan Bailey - Hands down.
  • Abby
    Remember - this is the 'Peoples Choice' award - not Aussie Cyclist of the Year.....

    I reckon it has to be Mark Renshaw. Absolutely selfless and flawless in working for Cav all year as uber leadout man, when he was probably good enough to win a bunch of those on his own.....
  • krashdavage
    Agree. Every lead out for Cav was a "Best Performance" and oustanding team player
  • AJS
    Agreed. Mark Renshaw gets my vote for these reasons.
  • David
    It's not a popularity contest. Sure Gerro is the most popular here and you're trying to sway things his way, but he doesn't deserve it. The criteria is based on:

    * Who has the best team spirit?
    * Who is the best role model?
    * Who has posted the most outstanding performances?
    * Who deserves this honour?

    Cadel deserves this more than anyone. He may not be the most popular but he fulfills the criteria far better than anyone else listed there.
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