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cycling: The big season review: The disappointments of cycling in 2017

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Cycling disappointments Sanchez

Cycling: The year 2017 did not have many surprises and disappointments in cycling. Those who have been fit throughout the season have mostly been able to tap into their potential. However, we came up with three drivers from whom we had hoped for a little more: two of them disappointed us in terms of sport, one in human terms.

Bryan Coquard: No tour, not a good year

There is certainly no shortage of good sprinters in France. With Arnaud Demare and Nacer Bouhanni, two Frenchmen are among the strongest sprinters in the world. Bryan Coquard from Team Direct Energie should also be mentioned. However, the 25-year-old is not having a good season in his legs. On the contrary: With only five wins in less important races, he is undoubtedly one of the disappointing drivers of the year. He was successful at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, the Vuelta a Andalucia, the Circuit de la Sarthe and the Belgium Tour. The competition was certainly not strong there. Coquard rarely started at important WorldTour races - and when he did, he had no chance against the elite of sprinters. That's another reason why team boss Jean-Rene Bernaudeau gave him an ultimatum. The Coquard, who is willing to change, should win a stage at the Criterium du Dauphine in order to even be nominated for the Tour de France. Coquard finished fifth at best and missed the Grande Boucle. A year to forget for the talented, small and agile sprinter. So that this doesn't happen again, he has now signed with another team. Bryan Coquard will drive for Vital Concept from 2018 – and he will probably go hunting for stages in the Tour de France thanks to a wildcard from his team.

Gianluca Brambilla: Only helper services

Last year, Gianluca Brambilla delivered his best season to date. It's no wonder that expectations of him have also increased for 2017. However, he could not fulfill this. The Italian couldn't be happy about a top 5 placement. Of course, this is unacceptable for a team that is used to success like Quick Step-Floors. Of course, it should be borne in mind that the 29-year-old was mainly assigned as a helper. But strictly speaking, he usually started his career as a helper in a season. Nevertheless, he drove wins or at least numerous results in the top ten. In that year, however, he merely performed the services of a water-bearer. At the Tour de France, for example, he was there for Daniel Martin in the mountains. But he couldn't convince as a noble helper either. The result is a team change, because Brambilla hopes for more freedom and thus significantly better results. In 2018 he will start for Trek-Segafredo. A place became vacant there after Alberto Contador retired.

Samuel Sanchez: Destroyed the golden monument at the age of 39

Without a doubt, Samuel Sanchez can be described as an old hand. The Spaniard began his long career in 2000. To classify: At that time Stefano Garzelli won the Giro d'Italia, Roberto Heras the Vuelta a Espana, Johan Museeuw Paris-Roubaix and Erik Zabel Milan-San Remo. Times were different. It is all the more disappointing that Samy caused a hefty negative headline shortly before the end of his career. Shortly before the start of the Vuelta a Espana he was forced to end his long career. After a fall in the Tour of the Basque Country, he initially had to pause injured. He toyed with the idea of ​​ending his career. But he decided to drive the Vuelta again and then decide whether he would like to be active as a professional for another year. The decision was made for him because Sanchez tested positive before the start of the Tour of Spain. The B sample was also positive. The 2008 Olympic champion could not have chosen a more unfortunate end to his career.

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More than Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.