Simon Gerrans is fast becoming a contender for the title of Australia’s greatest ever road cyclist.
The boy from Mansfield who took up cycling at the urging of then neighbour Phil Anderson after being injured in a motorcycling accident may not be at the top of the tree yet, but he is not far from it.
To my mind only three other Aussies sit above him; Tour de France winner and world champion Cadel Evans, multiple Grand Tour stage winner Robbie McEwen and Anderson who, as well as being our first yellow jersey wearer, was a true pioneer of the modern day Aussie assault on professional road cycling.
Those three represent the best of the best, a triumvirate that are hailed as heroes, not just in Australia, but the world over.
Gerrans now sits only one rung behind them, having surpassed the achievements of Stuart O’Grady and Michael Rogers even before their careers were brought to grinding halts due to drug confessions and failed tests.
Of course others may challenge and eventually surpass Gerrans and the ‘Big Three’, with Sky’s Richie Porte already knocking on the door of greatness and up and comers such as Rohan Dennis and Caleb Ewan touted for future success, but for the time being Gerrans deserves his position near the top of the talent tree.
Even the most cursory of glances at Gerrans’ palmares tells the tale.
His big wins are just that – big! To use a Mark Cavendish-ism, there are no ‘sh*t small’ races here!
Stage wins in all three of the Grand Tours including three at the Tour de France (2 x individual, 1 x TTT) and victory at Milan-Sanremo head the list.
Add to it three Tours Down Under, two national road race championships, numerous top ten finishes in the spring classics including two podiums at Amstel Gold and a couple of days spent wearing yellow in France last July and you have a list of race wins and achievements that most pros can only dream of.
His performances are all the more remarkable when you consider the type of rider he is – a solid all rounder who at first glance appears to lack a killer punch. He can’t climb like Evans or sprint like McEwen or pump out a time trial like Luke Durbridge.
But he is smart and picks his moments perfectly.
His best chances come with a small group finish, whether from a breakaway or a whittled down peloton, and when he is in that situation the odds fall heavily in his favour. Just look at some of the riders he has beaten over the past couple of years.
Cadel Evans and Richie Porte at this year’s nationals. Peter Sagan in stage three of last year’s Tour de France. Fabian Cancellara and Vincenzo Nibali at Sanremo in 2012.
They are some of the biggest and most talented names in the sport who, on their own terms, would easily account for Gerrans under most circumstances.
But few have the finishing kick that Gerrans seems to be able to produce at the end of a long, gruelling day in the saddle, making him a formidable foe should he still be with the lead group at the finish.
Kapow!
But he is more than just an opportunist. He works hard and makes the most of the chances that come his way.
His preparation and professionalism allow him to adapt on the fly and strike when others are barely managing to hold on.
He is not a pure climber, yet he went head to head with Alejandro Valverde on the short but significant climbs of 2012’s Tour Down Under (Willunga Hill) and Paris-Nice (stage 3). He is not a sprinter and yet he has gone head to head with Peter Sagan and won (stage 3, 2013 Tour de France).
He is not renown against the clock, and yet he was a contributing member of Orica-GreenEDGE’s historic Tour de France team time trial victory last year.
Simon Gerrans is not a lot of things. He is however a very, very good rider and his achievements should not be undervalued.
Another victory in the northern spring, or another couple of Grand Tour stages are well within the grasp of the 33-year-old Gerrans.
Should that happen, Evans, McEwen and Anderson will need to think about making room for Gerrans on the top branch of the tree, as he will certainly be pushing for a place alongside them.
Marcus Halberstram
Guest
Additionally, Cadel has won some really impressive stages in the grand tours. One in the Giro a few years back through mud - that was impressive. Gerrans tour wins tend to be where the peloton has let him get away as he is not a threat. Still good wins, but he beats home other break away riders who are themselves not threats. I like Gerrans but unless he wins some big one day race's in the next few years and Cadel wins nothing - it isn't even close as to who has had the more successful career.
Sean Lee
Expert
Agree Tony, Cadel heads the pack and he is Australia's undisputed number one. I think though that Gerrans has now done enough to be considered one of the greats of Australian cycling and his name deserves to be considered when discussing the best cyclists that this country has produced. Enjoy the season mate, like you I can't wait for the European races.
Sean Lee
Expert
Didn't say that Rogers stole his titles Dirk, just reiterating what happened towards the end of last year. Rogers was a good time triallist, but not in the mode of Cancellara, Martin or Wiggins. Yes, he won those three titles (one retrospectively) and has performed consistently over the years when healthy, but his other wins haven't been at Grand Tour or major classics level. Off the top of my head I remember an early Tour Down Under win and victory at the Tour of California a couple of years back. My opinion is that he looked promising for a long time but just fell short of taking it to the next level. Health issues certainly played their part in that.
tony meadows
Guest
"It takes a fair bit to trump a Tour win and a rainbow" says Bobo and that really says it all ! However throw in a Flèche Wallone ,a Crit.Int'l.a Tour de Romandie and a Tirreno-Adriatico to ice the cake and from anywhere but Australia with all due respect to Gerrans he's not now and not likely to ever be in Cadel's class. Thanks Australia for getting us started but Europe kicks off this week end,cant wait.
Tom Dibble
Roar Rookie
I hadn't heard that Rogers failed a drug test. That's quite sad. He was impressive last year.
dirk westerduin
Guest
It's the other way around, sir. It's difficult to overhype 3 TT world titles. And this failed drug test is not saying that Roger stole these titles.
Sean Lee
Expert
Yes, I think that is right Marcus. But Gerrans is the rightful winner given the format of the race.
Marcus Halberstram
Guest
without the TDU time bonuses am I right in saying Cadel would have beat Gerrans? To me that is relevant as time bonuses are a load of rubbish.
Sharpy
Guest
Bill problem for Mick Rogers and his legacy is that the fears he was a tainted rider now appear more definite. Aussies condemned Needles Contador for tainted meat.... Means he can't be counted. Just like Lance who? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
Sounds like exactly the sort of match up that would see Mundine moving closer to his payday with Mayweather!
Sean Lee
Expert
Mundine v Mandela! What a match up!
Bones506
Roar Guru
Gerrans has won stages in all three Grand Tours, won Milan San Remo, worn the yellow jersey and 3 TDUs. Comparing him to Mick Rogers is like comparing Mundine to Mandela Nelson.
Sean Lee
Expert
Yep, Rogers has three world time trial championships. He is also sitting on the sidelines at the moment due to a failed drug test! With regards to Gerrans don't forget the five Grand Tour stages, Milan Sanremo and podiums at Amstel Gold. Bit hard to overhype those results!
Sean Lee
Expert
Ha ha Sam. No high speed falls recently thank you!
bill
Guest
Pretty sure Micky Rogers has a world champions jersey? lets not over hype a few Australian titles and tours down under.
Bones506
Roar Guru
I don't view him as better than Evans as Evans has the Rainbows and has won a TDF. Bit harder to compare Gerrans and Robbie as Robbie was a pure sprinter - andone of the greatest of all time. I would probably tip in favour of Robbie. As an all rounder Gerrans is right at the top of the tree. You would actually be surprised how good a longer climber he is - not at Nibali or Froome level but he flies up Baw Baw. To be a better climber he would have to cut more weight and that would cost him sprint power. Sagan is creeping through but doesn't have the wins (yet).
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
I wouldn't say he can make it over long climbs. He's very much a good all-rounder in classics and 1 week races that don't have the mountains. He's a talented rider but better than McEwen and Evans? I don't think so. McEwen, at his peak was the best in the world and Evans' consistency at Grand Tours is without equal by an Australian and indeed a large chunk of international cyclists.
Bobo
Guest
Gerrans is certainly in our top tier, but we won't be 'our best' without at least two other Monuments and the arc-en-ciel on his jersey. It takes a fair bit to trump a Tour win and the rainbow.
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
I think Gerrans is certainly up towards the top of the tree as you say, although it's difficult to go past Evans and his TdF, WC wins and McEwen with this three green jerseys. To be considered in the very top bracket would require a WC and/or another couple of Monuments in my opinion.
Al-Bo
Guest
The riders who appear to fall between two stools are generally the most interesting, if only because they thrive on balanced routes. If it's not an outright mountain stage or an outright sprint, Gerrans will be there or thereabouts. It's that balance of slow and fast twitch muscle fibres, I guess. I read that he says himself that the main difference between him and the likes of Quintana, Rodriguez and Froome is that he can climb with them for about 15 minutes, but can't maintain it for any longer than that.