Cyclingnews 2006 Reader Poll Results

Best photo

An amazing scene
Photo ©: Sirotti

A masterpiece isn't judged solely on composition. No, a masterpiece also needs to convey a moment, offer a sense of atmosphere and emotion. The ability to capture such an image is something the readers of Cyclingnews feel Fotoreporter Sirotti has in bucket loads. While he's never taken the title in consecutive years, the Italian photographer has claimed the title for the third year - with the first being CN's inaugural Reader Poll Awards in 2001 and the second in 2003.

Like his first title in 2001, Sirotti has again claimed the crown with an image from the Paris-Roubaix day race. The image, which depicts a four-deep crowed cheering on Fabian Cancellara to victory ahead of favourite Tom Boonen, is exceptionally well composed, particularly considering it was shot from the back of a motorbike.

The runner-up in this year's poll unquestionably captures a moment - a painful one at that. The image is one of a sequence snapped by Australian shooter Mark Gunter that depicts rider Kui Song falling under the wheel of the team's support car in China's Tour of Qinghai Lake.

Rounding out our top three is an image by Roberto Bettini from the 97th Milan - San Remo in Italy. The images shows the elation of victor Filippo Pozzato with Quick.Step teammate Tom Boonen joining in on celebrations in the background while an exhausted Alessandro Petacchi appearing to just be glad the race is over.

Just missing out on this year's top three was a photo similar to last year's winner, of Australia's Robbie McEwen in a bit of tour argy-bargy. Last year it was McEwen and fellow countryman Stuart O'Grady going head to head in a Bettini photo that took out the honours, this year Jonathan Devich's images of the Davitamon-Lotto rider going shoulder-to-shoulder with Rabobank's Oscar Freire just missed a podium position.

Results

                                                                              Votes      %ge
1 An amazing scene in the La Forêt d'Arenberg                                  2203     19.5
2 Being run over by a car - now that's gotta hurt!                             1475     13.0
3 Filippo Pozzato (Quick.Step) wins Milan-San Remo                             1374     12.1
4 Freire and McEwen come together just past the line in the Tour.              1170     10.3
5 It starts to rain in the men's Raleigh Criterium                             1065      9.4
6 Will a peloton fit through the Giro's Stage 19?                               908      8.0
7 Tom Boonen triumphs at home in Eneco Tour of Benelux                          628      5.5
8 Boonen in action at the Ronde van Vlaanderen                                  612      5.4
9 The rain is falling on George Hincapie                                        419      3.7
10 "Here mate, have a drink" - hot work at the TDU                              318      2.8
11 Landis on the way to his incredible Morzine win                              307      2.7
12 The lead group passing some of China's crops                                 196      1.7
13 A road train competes with riders at the Crocodile Trophy                    185      1.6
14 Possibly the ugliest fan at this year's Giro d'Italia                        146      1.3
15 Crocodile Trophy water crossing                                              130      1.1
16 This Giro stage in a word? Spectacular!                                      102      0.9
17 Anakie forests ravaged by fire in Geelong                                     48      0.4
18 Stefan Rucker going it alone in the Croc Trophy                               33      0.3

                                                                     Total:   11319