The greatest cyclist ever - let us hear your views.

[Cav']

Who is the best cyclist of the last 50 years not who has the best palmares.

 

The blasts from the past

JAJA (Jalabert)

Merckx

Ullrich

Virenque

Indurian

 

Today-

Contador - Currently the best cyclist in the world no doubt

Cavendish - In two years he will have the most stage victories (more than EM)

Boonen - Tomeke IS king of the classics

Spartacus - Just due to his built in v8

Voight - He has the a never say die attitude and a super domestique

[Agteros]

Some really funny comments here: http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2009/12/guest-post-who-is-greatest-cyclist-of.html

 

Long list, interesting graphs etc here: http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/ (Combined oveall rider rankings)

[Cav']

Some really funny comments here: http://www.cyclingin...cyclist-of.html

 

Long list, interesting graphs etc here: http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/ (Combined oveall rider rankings)

Cool links

[GoLefty!!]

Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor

[ThaStig]

I knew Cadel was en ex XC champ, never realised The Chicken Rassmuesan(spelling?) was too.

He really lets the MTBers down 'cos he couldnt handle his bike for ****. the chicken that is.

Edited October 21, 2012 by ThaStig

[LeTurbo]

I'm also right behind Merckx. Considering he did all that with steel bikes, probably 5 speed, downtube shifters. I think I'm also correct in saying the stages were somewhat longer than today's?

[SwissVan]

IMHO its a waste of time looking at the past great pro's for a variety of reasons...

 

This guy however deserves a mention:

69 year old Ruedi Zweifel

 

Lets see Merx et al... do this when they reach 69 yrs of age

 

http://www.zug4you.c...9a143a870965918

Edited October 21, 2012 by SwissVan

[Brian Fantana]

Brian Lopes

[LeTurbo]

IMHO its a waste of time looking at the past great pro's for a variety of reasons...

 

This guy however deserves a mention:

69 year old Ruedi Zweifel

 

Lets see Merx et al... do this when they reach 69 yrs of age

 

http://www.zug4you.c...9a143a870965918

 

That's scary! Amazing. Don't let FRAIL see it though. Here's another guy I respect - even if he rides that little faster than I do:

 

French cyclist Robert Marchand has ridden 100 kilometres in four hours 17 minutes and 27 seconds.

 

Doesn't sound fast? Consider this: Marchand is 100 years old.

 

Setting off on his Trek racing bike around noon at a track in Lyon, Marchand covered the distance at an average pace of 23.3 km/h — not far off the 24.251 km/h pace he kept up to set the world hour record for his age group in Switzerland last February.

 

No prior record for a centenarian riding 100 km exists, but cycling's international governing body will recognize Marchand's feat, French cycling federation head David Lappartient said.

 

The president of Marchand's cycling club says he's an inspiration.

 

"He's an example for humanity, he gives people hope," said Gerard Mistler.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2012 by LeTurbo

[jannosmit]

Thomas Frischnecht

Christoph Sauser

José Hermida

 

In my MTB world

[RacerX]

Me - given my lack of genetic ability, own business, family, bouts of laziness etc. it's a miracle my results are as good as they are!

[Witkop]

Me - given my lack of genetic ability, own business, family, bouts of laziness etc. it's a miracle my results are as good as they are!

 

a miracle that there are any results at all........

[DR ◣◢]

Shaun Palmer

 

Short lived but kicked major ass not only in DH but also in various other extreme sports

 

Lopes, Peat, Minnaar, Gracia, Tomac, the list goes on.

 

Also worth mentioning Hans Rey. The man revolutionized trials riding.

Edited October 21, 2012 by S.I.R Maxxis

[Neilas]

Can we exclude dopers please?

[Neilas]

If you want to exclude dopers you can exclude every Pro Tour team rider basicly.... Its the game. Do some research on it. Also read tyler hamilton's new book. It is a eye opener for some people. But still love cycling.

[RockCoach]

 

Nicolas Vouilloz

 

I hear the nomination for Nic especially as I really love DH... Looking at the numbers you would think he was so much better than the rest. I think at one stage he won 6 in a row. The truth is that he was the first DHer to really take the sport seriously while most of them saw it as a massive party. Back then guys didn't take the fitness seriously either and they all had little"rests" on the way down. Kudos to him for making the guys work harder and make it a more professional sport but I would rate Peat and Greg above him. Probably Lopes too.

 

But if we are looking at all cycling then I have to agree with the OP - it has to be The Cannibal.