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Used to race bikes, was friends with a couple of guys that were in the TDF, worked at a pro bike shop in college, so my credentials are pretty solid in the bike world. More than likely I will not watch any of the Tour, might check online 2-3 times over the next month just to see what is going on and that is it. The TDF is just not interesting anymore.
If they let the riders race without helmets and took away their radios so that they could not be told what to do by their coaches I might watch again. But I doubt we will ever go back to pre-90's style of racing again. It was much more fun to watch guys like Fignon, LeMond, Roche, Sean Kelly than it is to watch the current crop of 120 lb horse jockeys duke it out.
The doping scandals did not turn me off, they've been doping in the tour since it began 100 years ago. If you ever thought they raced clean in European pro cycling, I've got a bridge to sell you.
What do you have against helmets? With all the wrecks those guys have, they should wear them at all times.
What do you have against helmets? With all the wrecks those guys have, they should wear them at all times.
It was much easier to see who was racing before they covered their heads with helmets and big sunglasses. Guess I'm old school. These guys are professionals, they should choose whether or not to wear a helmet.
I know all about the wrecks, one of my friends told me that on average he got into at least one wreck a day the years he did the TDF. Trying to go from a 4 lane highway onto a 6 foot wide rural road that's barely paved is enough to wipe out 30-40 guys in one fell swoop.
It was much easier to see who was racing before they covered their heads with helmets and big sunglasses. Guess I'm old school. These guys are professionals, they should choose whether or not to wear a helmet.
I know all about the wrecks, one of my friends told me that on average he got into at least one wreck a day the years he did the TDF. Trying to go from a 4 lane highway onto a 6 foot wide rural road that's barely paved is enough to wipe out 30-40 guys in one fell swoop.
I'm ok with mandated helmets. It's a small price to pay for keeping your brain where it belongs. I think the commentators do a decent job of identifying the riders. Plus the numbers are pretty obvious, so you just have to keep track. Cant fault them for wearing sunglasses either. There's not much room for error on those hairy turns they descend at 60 mph, and the glare from the sun could be deadly at those speeds.
One just wonders how the legacy of Greg LeMond would compare if not for his hunting accident.
He could have won in 1985 but held back to help Hinault, won in 86 and I think could have won in 87 and 88. Think LeMond could have easily won 5 tours.
One just wonders how the legacy of Greg LeMond would compare if not for his hunting accident.
His recovery from that hunting accident to race in the next years tour was one of the greatest comebacks in sports. I don't remember if he won that year but Sports Illustrated did an amazing story on his recovery that remains one of the best sports stories I've ever read. LeMond is the greatest American cyclist ever, he did it clean.
He could have won in 1985 but held back to help Hinault, won in 86 and I think could have won in 87 and 88. Think LeMond could have easily won 5 tours.
Quote:
Originally Posted by odanny
His recovery from that hunting accident to race in the next years tour was one of the greatest comebacks in sports. I don't remember if he won that year but Sports Illustrated did an amazing story on his recovery that remains one of the best sports stories I've ever read. LeMond is the greatest American cyclist ever, he did it clean.
I believe LeMond was clearly stronger than Hinault in '85 and would've won on his own merits, had he not held back. But even that is a testament to the man's character. He won in '86, then again in '89 and '90. So I give him 6. He's probably the most naturally gifted cyclist in the modern era, and I've never heard a hint of credible evidence that he doped. It's always "Everyone knows they all cheat, ergo LeMond did too."
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