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Panache in 2011

By Simon Mottram • 5th January 2012 06:52pm • Posted in Events

Last year I wrote an open letter to the sport of cycling, bemoaning the lack of panache in an increasingly professional, mechanised and clinical sport. It acted as a call to arms to see more character and swashbuckling spirit in the pro ranks.

"This is my call to all pro riders this season: Show some panache. Think for yourself. Assert your personality on a race, or a moment. Surprise us and give us something to cheer. Stand up for yourself and stand out from the crowd. Honour yourself and honour the sport. Ultimately, you'll gain more from chancing your arm than from grinding out yet another respectable result. And we will love you all the more for it."

I followed up with a progress report of exploits that had impressed me in the first half of the season. Now that 2011 is over, I have revisited the list and would now like to present my Panache of 2011 shortlist:

1. Thomas Voeckler | Paris - Nice, final stage

We have become used to Voeckler's attacking style of racing. But his audacious attack on the final descent of Paris Nice (to win his second stage of the race) showed supreme confidence and spirit. He has done the tricolour national jersey proud.

2. Fabian Cancellara | E3 Prijs

Panache and total domination tend not to go hand in hand. But Cancellara's repeated attacks and lone 18km ride to the finish were so impressive that they gave this performance beauty and character to go with the superhuman power.

3. Johan Van Summeren | Paris-Roubaix

This was a notable exception when I published my first list of exploits last July. Many of you commented that Van Summeren should be included. It's not uncommon for a solo break to win the Hell of the North but the fact that Van Summeren rode the last few kilometres with a flat tyre and then proposed to his girlfriend from the velodrome added a strong element of panache to his performance.

4. Philippe Gilbert | Liege-Bastogne-Liege

Gilbert nailed his colours to the mast in January. He wanted to win in Liege as the course of 'La Doyenne' passes through his home town. Some said such a long, hilly classic was beyond him. But on the day Gilbert was supreme monitoring all the moves before destroying the Schleck brothers on the climb of Saint Nicholas to complete the Fleche/Amstel/Liege treble. Panache personified.

5. Vincenzo Nibali | Giro d'Italia, Stage 15

Stage 15 of the Giro had it all. The greatest day of stage racing this year for my money. You could make a good case for Garzelli getting the prize for panache. His long, lone break was inspiring. But Vincenzo Nibali showed all the character and risk-taking you could want. Dropped on the monstrous Fedaia/Marmolada climb, he threw himself down the other side and made up over three minutes on the descent to catch the group of favourites. Nibali even had the temerity to attack the group as soon as he caught them, before being blown away again on the final climb. Breathtaking.

6. Alex Dowsett | Smithfield Nocturne, London

Dowsett set central London alight at the Nocturne last year, riding away on the first loop and lapping almost the entire field to win. It was exciting, audacious and very impressive. Unfortunately it meant that our team has still not won the event that Rapha Condor created back in 2007.

7. Damiano Cunego | Tour de Suisse, Stage 3

I've always had a soft spot for the little prince, but he has disappointed for years. On the stage to Grindlewald this year he fired out of the peloton half way up the final climb, caught and dropped the breakaway group before the summit, then shot down an incredibly technical and dangerous descent to take the race lead at the finish. Cunego stamped his personality onto the race in a way that is all too rare.

8. Edvald Boasson Hagen | Tour de France, Stage 17

Having been outsprinted by the world champ into Gap, Fast Eddie attacked on the final climb and showed amazing bike handling when descending into Pinerolo. That man can go very fast and in great style too.

9. Alberto Contador | Tour de France, Stage 19

Perhaps a more obvious choice would have been Andy Schleck's solo odyssey on Stage 18 to the Galibier, but to my mind that only just made up for the lack of effective attacking riding from the brothers in the Pyrenees. Those of us who had ridden the Etape du tour over the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez the week before were astonished to see Contador attack after only 15km of the stage. It was crazy, desperate, but also dramatic and hugely impressive. A champion who wouldn't give in. The noise from the crowds around the Mobile Cycle Club as he rode past us at turn 6 were resounding cheers of support and affection.

10. Team GB | World Champ Road Race

A rare example of an entire team showing panache. Everyone knew the Team GB game plan and this was a harder race to control than Zolder in 2002. But no team could stop GB riding on the front for all 200-plus kilometres before delivering Cavendish to the final kilometre. I'm not especially patriotic but this was stunning: brave, selfless riding and devastating power.

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Clearly, this is a personal list and I have no doubt that some people's favourites are missing. There are moments of panache that simply aren’t documented for most to witness. I’d invite you to comment on my choices and suggest others that may be worthy of another shortlist.

Perhaps, if the pros find themselves re-reading this list, it will inspire the most talented riders the world over to make 2012 a vintage year for panache in our beloved sport. Roll on the start of the season in Adelaide.

Comments

joel dow

5th January 2012 07:48pm

I would agree, and insert Johnny Hoogerland and his crazy TdF

joel dow

5th January 2012 07:49pm

I would agree, and insert Johnny Hoogerland and his crazy TdF

John Wedlake

5th January 2012 08:58pm

what about Chris Froome on stage 17 at Vuelta, amazing endto a great stage, Cobo thought he had him beaten and he went up the inside, what an audacious move!

Mark Pinsent

5th January 2012 09:54pm

I reckon Thor Hushovd's descent from the Col d'Aubisque into Lourdes for the TdF stage win would be right up there for me - a stunning ride, made all the more impressive by Sean Kelly's assertion that he'd never catch the leader!

Simon Mottram

5th January 2012 10:05pm

Hi Mark
I agree, Thor's descent and chase was very impressive, and in the world champ's jersey too. it would be great to see something similar from Mark Cavendish this year!
Simon

James Kilpatrick

6th January 2012 02:29pm

Missed your letter but agree with the sentiment to showcase panache / personality in sport. Steve Redgrave recently bemoaned BBC SPOTY for being too celebrity orientated and not performance related. On the one hand he is right that celebrity does not equal personality, but equally performance does not equal personality [he should know on both counts :-)].
With Mark Cavendish winning it shows the goal posts are beginning to move (a cyclist in a non Olympic year, come on?). But how wonderful would it be come December 2012 if whoever holds the SPOTY award did it because their panache and personality had won over the voting public!

Simon Mills

6th January 2012 02:40pm

come on..you all know it just HAS to be this guy….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn0FF1KwL4I

Mark Rushton

6th January 2012 02:46pm

A.Schleks attack on the Galibier showed spirit (finally) and the way Evans rode the whole TdF. He never dropped below 4th and when he had to attack he did so calmly. Mark Cavendish for not only getting the Green jersey but nailing the final stage in Paris (again) and of course Hushovd for his attack into Lourdes for a glorious solo win over the equally stylish Jeremy Roy

Liam Rooney

6th January 2012 03:13pm

". But no team could stop GB riding on the front for all 200-plus kilometres before delivering Cavendish to the final kilometre."

Isn't riding on the front and delivering the leader to victory at the very end what US Postal used to do and for which were accused of for lacking panache? A wonderful acheivement by the GB Team certainly, one of grit and self sacrifice, but hardly panache.

Mike Pearson

6th January 2012 03:15pm

A late entry for me has to be Jens Voigt and his story of giving away one of his bottles to a young kid on Alpe D'Huez.

The kid gets shoved aside by a souvenir-hunter, Jens turns around and goes back down the mountain, confronts the guy and makes him hand it over.

For me, that shows really panache. We all know how hard Jens is, but that's the sort of attitude that shows you've have character far in excess of the average sportsperson.

If you don't know the details, the story is here:

http://bicycling.com/blogs/hardlyserious/2011/12/28/a-gift-from-jens/

Ian Walton

6th January 2012 03:20pm

Team GB, sure, but they got swamped by the Aussies in the last km then the panache of the missile to take a barrier line and go early. Guts, panache….balls as big his trophy cabinet. Good lad Cav.

Nick Hussey

6th January 2012 04:45pm

A great list Simon. I would have swapped out Team GB, not because it wasn't a devastatingly brilliant performance, but simply because it was a display of perfect, robotic, crushing order-following, almost the opposite of panache.
For that I'd swap in Chavanel in Flanders, whom i thought outshone Canc, just.

Perhaps unreasonably I'd get rid of Cunego because I think he's a twit (!) and put in Thor's TDF performance.

Honourable mentions to Cav for taking an uphill sprint under enormous pressure; Evans for riding, at last, with maturity and balls; Pooley for a great podium on a flat TT Worlds course, Hoogerland, for you know what (and attacking all season), Stannard for killing it in atrocious weather, as always and Froome for being a loyal domestique until the end of the Vuelta and still coming second, despite fighting all the way.

martin callomon

6th January 2012 05:00pm

all very well, but what about ME? I rode my 1886 50" Penny Farthing up quite the steepest hill some 45k north of Paris en-route for London, the rain it poured, the thunder it cracked, the legs they turned…. just and the crowd? They stayed away that day. All hail!- it surely did.

martin callomon

6th January 2012 05:01pm

all very well, but what about ME? I rode my 1886 50" Penny Farthing up quite the steepest hill some 45k north of Paris en-route for London, the rain it poured, the thunder it cracked, the legs they turned…. just and the crowd? They stayed away that day. All hail!- it surely did.

andrew thomas

6th January 2012 05:16pm

A great list but what about Chris Froome at the Vuelta? He rode with real swashbuckling style and his Stage 17 win over Cobo showed real spirit.

andrew thomas

6th January 2012 05:26pm

A great list but what about Chris Froome at the Vuelta? He rode with real swashbuckling style and his Stage 17 win over Cobo showed real spirit.

Charles Pearch

6th January 2012 06:15pm

"Sport of Cycling" I know Simon you are referring to the road, but if its truly the sport in the wider sense could I humbly add the name of Danny Hart. Very nice blog is this. Chapeau.

Todd Royal

6th January 2012 06:21pm

Hoogerland untangling from the barbed wire and finishing the stage to collect the KOM jersey is an image of panache I suspect I will carry in my mind for a long time.

Matt Cartwright

6th January 2012 06:43pm

Can i put a vote in for Pierre Roland of Europacar, his win - after his work for Voeckler - on the always famous Alpe D'Huez climb this year was the 'up in your seat' best moment for me and exemplified the word Panache. Loved Millar and Wiggins in the Worlds, but for me, Pierre won it as he showed in a moment two of the charachteristics i love to see most in bike racing, sacrifice and sheer force of will to win.

Gianpaolo Fusari

7th January 2012 10:16am

Vincenzo Nibali's attack on the Ghisallo on this years Lombardia is the stuff heroics are made of. The fact that he drained himself till the last drop of energy to be caught with a few kms to go and finish 40th only accentuates the drama. Panache personified.

Tommy Voeckler's yellow jersey defence at the TdF is a close second.

Gianpaolo Fusari

7th January 2012 10:22am

Vincenzo Nibali's attack on the Ghisallo on this years Lombardia is the stuff heroics are made of. The fact that he drained himself till the last drop of energy to be caught with a few kms to go and finish 40th only accentuates the drama. Panache personified.

Tommy Voeckler's yellow jersey defence at the TdF is a close second.

Arco Visser

7th January 2012 10:55am

I think also Johnny Hoogerland should be added to this list who attacked al season and survived the most bizar incident of 2011. Chris Froome should be added for his outstanding performance in the Vuelta. Unbelievable what a performance this man showed. Last but not least Thors Hushovd by winning the 16. etappe of the Tour the France in a most impressive way. He said it the days before and he did it. I cannot believe why these riders are on the list of 2011.

David Bowie

7th January 2012 11:52am

Glad to see Il Piccolo Principe get a mention. That stage is in my 2011 top ten for sure. Another personal favourite is G's epic performance on Stage 12 at the Tour.

Angelo Giangregorio

7th January 2012 06:28pm

What Gianpaolo Fusari said

Rhys Howells

8th January 2012 04:50pm

"There are moments of panache that simply aren’t documented for most to witness." True that. It's the moments we miss on the cameras that oft become the stuff of legend - however this year has been exceptionally generous in catching some epic efforts.

I was there to see Alex do his thing at Smithfield and was awed at his tenacity. Bring on 2012.

Nick Hussey

10th January 2012 06:04pm

Pierre Rolland is a great shout. Annoyed I missed him out! Another domestique grabbing the limelight despite his leader, as per Froome.

Jeffrey Herrick

11th January 2012 11:00pm

For me, seeing it live in the states I would add Stage 17 from the Vuelta:
Froome (who was that?) attacked from a group of six favourites with 1.2 kms from the finish on the short but steep climb of Pena Cabarga. Panache has punch, and Cobo was quoted that he felt he lost the Vuelta on that stage.

Alex Rose-Innes

12th January 2012 01:17am

" It acted as a call to arms to see more character and swashbuckling spirit in the pro ranks." Simon I think it is rather immodest of you to take credit for individual performances thy would've occurred anyway. Jesus, wasn't Panache a cheap 80s dioderant for Essex girls?

Simon Mottram

12th January 2012 06:45am

Ha ha Alex!
Yes or, alternatively, the French for 'shandy'…

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