Low body weight does not predict any kind of performance, including climbing. Watts per kilogram predict performance.
Despite the stories about Armstrong's obsession with eating, his Body Mass Index in Le Tour was much higher than the current crop of stars. According to statistics on Wikipedia, in 1999, he was 177cm and 74k for a BMI of 23.6. It is possible that higher/healthier body weight is a factor in both consistency and longevity. Here are some stats for reflection:
Who would you want to be as a young rider?
Indurain 188cm, 86k, 24.3 BMI
Mercxk 182, 74, 22.3
Armstrong 177, 74, 23.6 (clean or not, he won the races)
17 tour wins among them.
Contador 176, 62, 20.0
Vande Velde 180, 69, 21.3
Wiggins 190, 71, 19.7
Two of the fastest in the world:
Cancellara 186, 80, 23.1
Hoy 186, 92, 26.6
So, no, absolutely not, skeletally skinny does not equal success in cycling.
Despite the stories about Armstrong's obsession with eating, his Body Mass Index in Le Tour was much higher than the current crop of stars. According to statistics on Wikipedia, in 1999, he was 177cm and 74k for a BMI of 23.6. It is possible that higher/healthier body weight is a factor in both consistency and longevity. Here are some stats for reflection:
Who would you want to be as a young rider?
Indurain 188cm, 86k, 24.3 BMI
Mercxk 182, 74, 22.3
Armstrong 177, 74, 23.6 (clean or not, he won the races)
17 tour wins among them.
Contador 176, 62, 20.0
Vande Velde 180, 69, 21.3
Wiggins 190, 71, 19.7
Two of the fastest in the world:
Cancellara 186, 80, 23.1
Hoy 186, 92, 26.6
So, no, absolutely not, skeletally skinny does not equal success in cycling.