Best Climber (1990's)

[Altitude]

I think this pretty much covers the cream of the climbing crop throughout the 90's.


If you select other please say who

 

[jsem94]

Pantani 98

 

[The Hitch]

"Leonardo Piepoli"




You are joking right???

 

[Altitude]

"Leonardo Piepoli"




You are joking right???

Hehe, I see you enjoy criticizing everyone's polls. Piepoli is one of the best pure climbers I can think of-- you obviously don't agree?

 

[Mich78BEL]

Pantani off course

 

[nvpacchi]

Pantani seems the obvious choice, but I'll choose Jimenez to be different.

 

[Arnout]

Hehe, I see you enjoy criticizing everyone's polls. Piepoli is one of the best pure climbers I can think of-- you obviously don't agree?

Not in the 90's. He won his first GT stage in the '00s. In fact, he was top notch for the first time in the Giro together with Simoni at Saunier Duval.

You're forgetting Indurain by the way.

 

[loydfloyd32]

Piepoli didn't really peak until mid 00?

 

[The Hitch]

Hehe, I see you enjoy criticizing everyone's polls. Piepoli is one of the best pure climbers I can think of-- you obviously don't agree?

Im not the only one. I wasnt the only one who complained Samu and Menchov werent on the 1st climbers list, far from the only one to be perplexed upon seeing LLS being one of 3 on the best Spanish climbers list, and as others have said, Piepoli didnt do too much in the 90's.

 

[Altitude]

Im not the only one. I wasnt the only one who complained Samu and Menchov werent on the 1st climbers list, far from the only one to be perplexed upon seeing LLS being one of 3 on the best Spanish climbers list, and as others have said, Piepoli didnt do too much in the 90's.

Sanchez and Menchov were debatable (only have 10 spots-- Gesink over both of them is not so absurd). I didn't do the Spanish climbers poll (that one really is ridiculous). Piepoli was a strong climber in the late 90's.

 

[hrotha]

Pantani, obviously. But only in 1998-1999. Before that, he was the best climber all things considered, but not by much.

 

[Christian]

Ugh this is a tough one! I say Virenque and Pantani were the best and I like both a lot but Virenque a little better so I voted for him

 

[jens_attacks]

pantani,virenque,escartin,chiappucci and el chava were all great.still i think pantani was the best.but i will vote for escartin because he got 0 votes.

 

[ferryman]

'Other' and Big Mig for me if you look at the results that include serious climbing, even though obviously not the best climber. Just my interpretation of the poll

 

[Anonymous]

I didnt even have to look at the voting to know who would be miles in front.
Trouble is, on this one, it is always going to be driven by emotion, and never subjective.

pantani for me as well.

 

[Moondance]

Pantani and Jimenez are very close in my book, although Pantani edges it. Perhaps because I can't shake the feeling that Jimenez was doped up to the eyeballs during all those incredible mountain raids he pulled off in the Vuelta (how else do you explain a 32 year old in prime physical condition dying of a heart attack)... Although the same could be alleged over Pantani too I guess.

Actually, everyone in the 90s was probably doped up. Pantani still takes it for me.

 

[hrotha]

Pantani and Jimenez are very close in my book, although Pantani edges it. Perhaps because I can't shake the feeling that Jimenez was doped up to the eyeballs during all those incredible mountain raids he pulled off in the Vuelta (how else do you explain a 32 year old in prime physical condition dying of a heart attack)... Although the same could be alleged over Pantani too I guess.

Actually, everyone in the 90s was probably doped up. Pantani still takes it for me.

Jiménez didn't just dope like everyone else. Like some other riders, he fell into heavy recreational drug use, which definitely contributed to his demise. I doubt he doped more spectacularly than the average top rider, I'd say Banesto were pretty careful about that.

 

[Bike Boy]

Me and my brother used to fight about who's the best, Virenque or Pantani. Virenque was my hero, but today I realise that Pantani was the better climber, so of course he deserves my vote.

 

[Moondance]

Jiménez didn't just dope like everyone else. Like some other riders, he fell into heavy recreational drug use, which definitely contributed to his demise. I doubt he doped more spectacularly than the average top rider, I'd say Banesto were pretty careful about that.

Really? I didn't know about the recreational drugs. Not that i'd ever made serious efforts to find out. I was pretty young back then and only have vague memories of races from that time.

 

[For The World]

I voted for Pantani.

Although he wasn't a pure climber in any sense of the phrase, Christophe Moreau always seemed to be right at the front a lot of the time in mountain stages. He was also good in time trials (if i'm remembering correctly), so perhaps he just set his diesel engine to low gear and just powered up as he could.

Honourable mention though...

 

[For The World]

Me and my brother used to fight about who's the best, Virenque or Pantani. Virenque was my hero, but today I realise that Pantani was the better climber, so of course he deserves my vote.

I've always thought of Virenque as a show pony, and Pantani as a thoroughbred race horse. Bred specially for mountains.

 

[Bike Boy]

I voted for Pantani.

Although he wasn't a pure climber in any sense of the phrase, Christophe Moreau always seemed to be right at the front a lot of the time in mountain stages. He was also good in time trials (if i'm remembering correctly), so perhaps he just set his diesel engine to low gear and just powered up as he could.

He wasn't bad. If I remember correctly he took the prologue in 2001

 

[Bike Boy]

I've always thought of Virenque as a show pony, and Pantani as a thoroughbred race horse. Bred specially for mountains.

In comparison yes. however discrediting Virenque like that is not fair considering his achievements. But who am I to speak down to you? After all I'm the one who didn't appreciate Pantani back then (which I regret dearly today)

 

[kuat2770]

Pantani at his best was sublime, and no one could touch him. Jiminez was great but sporadic. Both are hugely missed.

 

[For The World]

In comparison yes. however discrediting Virenque like that is not fair considering his achievements. But who am I to speak down to you? After all I'm the one who didn't appreciate Pantani back then (which I regret dearly today)

I will agree that Virenque had some very good moments. I thought his ride to Courchevel was pretty good. I have a poster somewhere of him winning that stage. It was quite good to watch.