The Riders We Love (and Hate!)

[Twenty26Six]

Marco Pantani (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx5Zer4XJkg)
"Il Pirata"
http://www.hebig.org/blogs/archives/main/pantani_2.jpg

Because of his slight build and unique ability, Pantani was virtually unmatchable in the high mountains of the Alps and Pyrénées and won two stages, establishing the record time for the climb of Alpe d'Huez...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Pantani

[cleansheetbsc]

Go Luxumborg!

[aveslacker]

As much as he was a doper and druggie, I greatly admire Pantani for his commitment and panache.

I've always admired the climbers, probably due to my own passion for rock/mountain climbing. So anybody who can climb well is ok with me.

Also, I'm not afraid to admit that I am a big Lance Armstrong fan. I've also recently developed a mancrush on Christian Vandevelde and George Hincapie.

BTW, I read somewhere that Lance is competing in the Giro. Can anyone confirm?

[Twenty26Six]

If you want to do a little something on Armstrong or Hincapie, go ahead.

[soccernutter]

Hincapie is a favorite.

http://le-grimpeur.net/blog/wp-images/hincapie2.jpg

Becoming one of the country's best cyclists didn't happen overnight. George had an outstanding career as a junior before taking it to the pros domestically and abroad. As a junior, George won 16 medals, 10 junior national titles and two world medals. He was a member of the 1989 U.S. Junior National Team and two-time winner of the Mary Cappy Award, given annually to the outstanding cyclist at U.S. Junior Nationals (1990-91).

...

He is also the only American to win the Ghent-Wevelgem and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne classics. An eleven-time Tour de France veteran, George Hincapie is the only teammate to have played a pivotal role in all seven Lance Armstrong victories. Lance and George are the only riders in the history of the sport to win the Tour de France seven times! He’s also the only rider to ever be on a Tour winning team for eight seasons in a row. As one of the most experienced and talented riders on his team, George will play a key role in helping his promising young teammates achieve their potential this season.

I really dislike

http://www.eitb24.com/archivos/imagenes/eitb24/deportes/2007/06/13/Miguel-Indurain-1993-2007061311510606hg2.jpg

Probably for the same reason that so many dislike Lance. But what a machine he was...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Indurain

[Twenty26Six]

http://www.eitb24.com/archivos/imagenes/eitb24/deportes/2007/06/13/Miguel-Indurain-1993-2007061311510606hg2.jpg

Probably for the same reason that so many dislike Lance. But what a machine he was...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Indurain

Oh. My. God.
Physical Advantages

At the top of his career, Miguel Indurain had a physique that was not only superior when compared to average people, but also when compared to his fellow athletes. His blood circulation had the ability to circulate 7 litres of oxygen around his body per minute,[2] compared to the average amount of 3-4 litres of an ordinary person and the 5-6 litres of his fellow riders. Also, Indurain's lung capacity was 8 litres, compared to an average of 6 litres. In addition, Indurain's resting pulse was as low as 28 BPM, compared to a normal human's 60-80 bpm , which meant his heart would be less strained in the tough mountain stages

[Dead Fingers]

Mario Cippolini

Not sure whether to smack the guy or be in awe of those finishes.

[Moishe]

Favorite: Sean Kelly

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephenmcginty/Kelly.jpg

http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/rider_bio.asp?rider_id=49

Once referred to as "the new cannibal" for his voracious appetite for victory as well as having been compared to the great Eddie Merckx. Kelly raced from the beginning of the racing calendar to the very end with the sole intention of winning everything in his path. Sadly the only victories that eluded him during his career were the Tour De France and the Giro Italia. His dedication to cycling year around garnered him the title "A man for all seasons" which was also the name of a book about the man.

In a side note, back in the mid 90's I was putting together a team to participate in a 24 hour mountain bike event at Tyler State Park and the only way my friend Sean would participate is if I rode the Tour of the Roses with him. Not being much of a roadie at the time I reluctantly agreed. Due to posturing Sean and I ended up in a smaller group that had Kelly (whom I was clueless about then). Kelly was cutting up with everyone and keeping the group loose as a goose and had Sean not told later in the day who's wheel we were sucking I'd have had no idea how close I was to greatness. Sean Kelly even pulled off to the side of the road to help someone change out a flat; something no local alpha would've ever done. Pure class and a funny funny man.

[aveslacker]

Oh. My. God.

I read somewhere that Indurain's VO2 max is the highest ever recorded.

[Twenty26Six]

I read somewhere that Indurain's VO2 max is the highest ever recorded.

On his wiki, it had him second to Armstrong - I think. Obviously, that can't be fully trusted.

[aveslacker]

On his wiki, it had him second to Armstrong - I think. Obviously, that can't be fully trusted.
Interesting. I thought I read somewhere that LeMond was higher than Armstrong but lower than Indurain.

Well, they're all higher than mine. :cool:

[Twenty26Six]

Interesting. I thought I read somewhere that LeMond was higher than Armstrong but lower than Indurain.

Well, they're all higher than mine. :cool:

Er, wait. It was LeMond who was higher than Indurain. Armstrong was 3rd. ...according to the wiki.

[Indurain's] VO2 max was 88 ml/kg/min; in comparison, Lance Armstrong's was 82 ml/kg/min and Greg LeMond's was 92.5 ml/kg/min.

[aveslacker]

Forgot to talk about this guy:

http://www.milansanremo.co.uk/fignondl.jpg

When I was a kid I used to read Miroir du Cyclisme alot and he was on the cover all the time. He seemed to be so cool in contrast to Hinault. While I was happy that LeMond was able to beat him in the Tour in 89, I always felt a little bad for Fignon, losing it by so little.

[el-capitano]

Phil Anderson

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races06/zurich06/preview-anderson.jpg

The first non-European to wear the yellow jersey of the Tour de France and a proud Aussie, as well as the inspiration for the flock of current Aussies riding pro in Europe. ;)

[el-capitano]

And out of the current brigade.......

Cadel Evans

Stuart O'Grady

Robbie McEwen

Brad McGee

Baden Cooke

Simon Gerrans

Michael Rogers

[Moishe]

Francesco Moser (Ita / Road Classics Specialist)

http://home.nordnet.fr/~jvallaeys/images/PALMAR9.jpg

Born on June 19, 1951, Francesco Moser was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970’s till the mid-1980’s. He won one Grand Tour title, one World Championship Road Race title, and six victories in cycling’s five monuments, including three consecutive victories in the Paris-Roubaix Classic.

Moser began his professional career in 1973. He had an almost effortless pedal stroke that provided great power. Moser was an intimidating figure on the bicycle, but due to his powerful build, Moser wasn’t a gifted climber

http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/rider_bio.asp?rider_id=18

[Dead Fingers]

Edvald Boasson Hagen. This is going to be Team Columbia's biggest loss for 2010. I love this guy.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/imageBank/b/Boasson%20Hagen%20wins%20Ghent-Wevelgem.jpg

[cjump]

Interesting. I thought I read somewhere that LeMond was higher than Armstrong but lower than Indurain.

Well, they're all higher than mine. :cool:

I can't remember if it was VO2 or LTP but christian vandevelde performed higher than lance while they were together at USPS. the team told lance he had the best results so it wouldn't mess with his ego.

[aveslacker]

I can't remember if it was VO2 or LTP but christian vandevelde performed higher than lance while they were together at USPS. the team told lance he had the best results so it wouldn't mess with his ego.

I remember reading that. I wonder if Chris would have won more races if had more of a chip on his shoulder.

[Kobranzilla]

No Love for Andy? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Hampsten)

http://www.greatnamesincycling.com/images/graham_watson_photo1.jpg

not my favorite rider, but always respected him as a contemporary of Lemond, Fignon etc...

Andy Hampsten caught the public eye in 1985, when he won stage 20 of the Giro d'Italia. The following year, he was signed by Bernard Hinault's La Vie Claire team. In his first full season as a pro, 1986, he won the Tour de Suisse and helped his compatriot and team leader Greg LeMond to victory in the Tour de France. He also finished the Tour de France fourth overall and claimed the white jersey of best young rider.

In 1987, Hampsten repeated his victory in the Tour de Suisse, this time for the 7-Eleven Cycling Team. His greatest moment came in the 1988 Giro d'Italia, on a short stage over the Gavia Pass. Attacking on the climb, Hampsten overcame a blizzard to take the leader's jersey - although he finished second on the stage to Dutchman Erik Breukink. His subsequent overall victory in the 1988 Giro was the first (and to date, only) by a non-European.

Hampsten's final highlight came in the 1992 Tour de France when he dropped his breakaway companions to win the stage to Alpe d'Huez. He again finished the race fourth, having lost his third place to Gianni Bugno in the final time trial.

He used to live in Grand Forks, North Dakota and the 40-mile bikeway system there has been dedicated as the "Andy Hampsten Bikeway System."[1] Hampsten now lives in Tuscany and Boulder, Colorado. Andy Hampsten also owns and operates a bicycle store in Seattle Washington called Hampsten Cycles.