eddy Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 (edited) How much mystique is built around Merckx accomplishments? The last few weeks have had a nubmber of people desribe Lance Armstrong as the greatest cyclist ever, so i thought to have a doping neutral thread on who you think is the greatest cyclist of all time. Let us assume for the argument that everybody doped and that the playing field was always level, even though we know it is not the case. I am happy to open the bidding with the Cannibal. Against LA's 7 TdeF and 1 world championship titles, Eddy Merckx's did a little bit more. He won each of cycling’s five monuments (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour of Lombardy) more than twice, for a record of nineteen victories in these races. Of those races, he won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege a record five times and the Milan-San Remo a record seven times. His record of 525 victories, including 445 as a professional, is untouchable. Between 1968 and 1974, he won a record eleven Grand Tours. He is the only rider to win all of the classifications (overall, mountains and points jerseys) in a single year at the Tour de France (1969). He also did it at the Giro d’Italia (1968). He won the Tour de France - Giro d'Italia double in 1970, 1972, and 1974. He won the Giro d'Italia - Vuelta a Espana double in 1973. He has 34 Tour de France stage wins (the record) including six stages in 1969 and 1972, and eight stages in 1970 and 1974. In 1974, he won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Championship Road Race to achieve the “Triple Crown” in cycling. I am happy to be convinced otherwise, but on the face of it, 11 grand tour wins against 7 already blows away the competition and the rest is just icing. Edited October 21, 2012 by eddy
HappyMartin Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Can we exclude dopers please? Going to be a very short list. At this point I'm tempted to throw my own hat in the ring. I'm pretty sure I've never doped. Well that could be stretching the truth a bit but at what I took kept me pretty much stuck to the couch Bonus 1
gummibear Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Can we exclude dopers please? OP will have to delete the thread thenEddy Merckx was caught doping in 1969 at Giro
ccc2 Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 no doubt about it, Eddie Merckx. then Bernard Hinault, bronze to Miguel Indurain. Lucky Luke. 1
Mackie Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Nicolas Vouilloz or John Tomac patches, LazyTrailRider, Google and 1 other 4
jimmy hardtail Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Steve Peat. World cup and world champ wins, 18 years racing at pro level and still as fast as ever! DR ◣◢, the nerd, patches and 1 other 4
EZRider Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Contador has won 7 grand tours, counting the two taken for doping. A long way from The Cannibal but he has four or five years left.Right now Merckx takes it easily.
eddy Posted October 21, 2012 Author Posted October 21, 2012 Can we exclude dopers please? Let us assume for the argument that everybody doped and that the playing field was always level, even though we know it is not the case. I specifically did not want his to degenerate into a doping thread, hence my request. OP will have to delete the thread then I am happy to delete it.
Jaco-fiets Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Merckx is probably the most "complete" cyclist of all times. Armstrong comes in a close 2nd but i think he is the most tactical cyclist of all time. Hinault and Indurain follows them in any order
Mackie Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 Steve Peat. World cup and world champ wins, 18 years racing at pro level and still as fast as ever!Minnaar is a more decorated D'hiller than Peat, check the records...
jcza Posted October 21, 2012 Posted October 21, 2012 MerckxAnquetilHinaultIndurainContador (work in progress)Armstrong
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