Best climbers in history?

[Angliru]

Guess you have a problem with your TV.
Virenque was not a good TTrialist, in general, although, on a few occasions...
He wasn't outstanding on single climbs, but - whatever the means he used - he was there with the best on stages with multiple climbs.

If you look at the best times up AdH (ignoring 2004 TT), only 6 racers have done better : Pantani by 1:30 ; Ullrich by 0:40 ; Armstrong by 15s ; Indurain and Zulle by 10s and Riis by 5s.

Nahh, my TV's fine. As I stated earlier, it's my selective amnesia.

 

[ferryman]

+1.

There are different aspects as to how the best climber can be chosen out there.

Variables can be:

- EPO, blood transfusions. Take the drugs EPO away from Pantani, Armstrong and Virenque and see what you get.
- Body recuperation within the race. That's why you have better climb performers in short races with less cumulative mountains than in the Tour. For the Tour the recuperation ia always paramount. And some skinny climbers have problems with that (Herrera, Millar). During the EPO era you can fix that problem and that's why you get a Rassmussen potentially winning a Tour.
- Body build.

And yes, I never understood how the bigger body build Bernard defeated the skinny Herrera in that Ventoux stage. I though there was some false flat at the beginning where Bernard took advantage of it.

Excellent point about the skinny climbers. Millar was never more then a one GT guy a year at best yet he was thrown in at the deep end before he could speak for himself.

 

[jordan5000]

Before I comment any further I'd like to thank everybody who has has commented so far for helping make this a legitimate thread where legends of the sport can be discussed. My deepest thanks to all of you

 

[Maxiton]

En nu komt de zon, de zon komt op
En ik rij er recht op af
Asfalt voor mij alleen
De koning te rijk
Alles van mij waar ik kijk
Met dat gevoel dat zich niet laat verdrijven
Ik had eigenlijk langer willen blijven

http://youtu.be/Z6CDa-z1MUY

Well that was after he came back and was, presumably, cleaner, in 96 and 97 when he was going for GC he was with the best on the last climb.

So it seems everyone has forgotten Simoni, the self-declared best climber in the world. Not sure about that, and he never did anything in the TDF, but man that guy was tough...I don't think a single article on CN didn't refer to him as the "tough man from Trentin"...Other than the cocaine candies his aunt brought back from Peru (?) I think he has a clean slate too.

LOL.

Before I comment any further I'd like to thank everybody who has has commented so far for helping make this a legitimate thread where legends of the sport can be discussed. My deepest thanks to all of you

Chapeau!

 

[jordan5000]

http://youtu.be/Z6CDa-z1MUY



LOL.



Chapeau!

I know a chapeau is a hat, do you mean to say "hat's off!" or something?

 

[sultanofhyd]

I know a chapeau is a hat, do you mean to say "hat's off!" or something?

It is a common phrase in cycling used to praise someone whenever he/she does well. I don't know the exact translation however.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

http://youtu.be/Z6CDa-z1MUY

Oh, I know it's a Tom Waits song originally. You'd be hard-pushed to find a bigger Tom Waits fan on these boards than me. I skipped my graduation to go see him.

 

[El Pistolero]

It is a common phrase in cycling used to praise someone whenever he/she does well. I don't know the exact translation however.

It's a common phrase in French. Not just cycling.

Chapeau ==> Hats off

Chapeau is the French word for hat. But it still is used to say "hats off".

 

[Escarabajo]

Three "pure" climbers at work. Millar, Herrera, Delgado.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04yQ2QaR8r4

Too bad they did not show when Herrrera got to the finish hardly breathing heavily.

 

[42x16ss]

Delgado is another rider who hasn't seen much love in this thread. Some of his rides in the '89 TdF to regain lost time on Fignon and Lemond were pretty special.

 

[La Pandera]

Delgado is another rider who hasn't seen much love in this thread. Some of his rides in the '89 TdF to regain lost time on Fignon and Lemond were pretty special.

I was just going to mention Delgado. I think he may hold some type of record for the most top 10 finishes in a grand tour. He was a pretty consistent climber and combatant in the mountains. Plus during his career I always rooted for him over everyone else, even over Fignon.

 

[AngusW]

I was just going to mention Delgado. I think he may hold some type of record for the most top 10 finishes in a grand tour. He was a pretty consistent climber and combatant in the mountains. Plus during his career I always rooted for him over everyone else, even over Fignon.

Close. Gino Bartali has 17 top 10 finishes in GTs - Delgado has 16. Carlos Sastre, 15. Merckx 14.

 

[gregrowlerson]

Close. Gino Bartali has 17 top 10 finishes in GTs - Delgado has 16. Carlos Sastre, 15. Merckx 14.

Interesting statistics. Sastre was very consistent hey? Chapeau to him

 

[greenedge]

What about Cav who did not get dropped on the fearsome hills today???

 

[jordan5000]

Close. Gino Bartali has 17 top 10 finishes in GTs - Delgado has 16. Carlos Sastre, 15. Merckx 14.

Damn! That's impressive, a bit surprised to see Sastre up there too.

 

[jordan5000]

What about Cav who did not get dropped on the fearsome hills today???

He got dropped on almost every other mountain/hill that he climbed so he drops out of the competition

 

[AngusW]

Damn! That's impressive, a bit surprised to see Sastre up there too.

If that surprises you, you may not have been aware that for the last 10 years, Sastre has completed at least two GTs per year and for two of those years he completed all 3 GTs.

For more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Sastre

On Sastre's retirement:

http://www.flandriacafe.com/2011/09/respecting-carlos.html

 

[Matthijs]

Gilberto Simoni, the first one to win on the most horrible mountains in recent cycling: Monte Zoncolan and Angliru.

 

[Bike Boy]

The last couple of years Armstrong has been quite annoying. It's been hard not to hate on him, but unlike so many others I don't want to spent my time regreting being a fan, and it's hard not to think back on that day. It's just one of those moments that defines cycling history.

I voted for Bahamontes. we can't know who's the better climber, Coppi is also one I considered.

to put AC but not LA on that list is ridicolous:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oiuwRejx0g

 

[miguelvazpinto]

Joaquim Agostinho - not the best but one of the best.

 

[TRDean]

Surprised that only one person mentioned Luis Herrera.

One of the few riders to win the king of the mountains jersey in ALL THREE grand tours, five king of the mountains in total, and the first south american to win a grand tour as well as winning two dauphines, and four Tour of Colombias.

The first climber I really rememer watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dtpQSPDfzU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j60Qm-lJDo

I also fail to see how Armstrong could ever be included in a true climbers. In a group with true climbers he would get dropped quicker than a sack of spuds.

This^^ Best climber I ever saw!!

 

[the asian]

I can comment only on the Guys I've seen climbing.
1. Pantani. 2. Contador

 

[CobbleStoner]

Federico Bahamontes, no doubt
my favorite climbers are Robert Millar, Andy Hampston, Joop Zoetemelk, and I have had the pleasure/honour of riding some climbs with (being dropped by) 2 of them

 

[OlavEH]

Pantani is definitely the best climber in the last 20 yeard or so. Second I would actually rate Armstrong. Some of his performances around 2001/02 were outstanding and better than Contador's best performances in the recent years.

 

[Escarabajo]

Pantani is definitely the best climber in the last 20 yeard or so. Second I would actually rate Armstrong. Some of his performances around 2001/02 were outstanding and better than Contador's best performances in the recent years.

I think that Riis in 1996 was more impressive than Armstrong in 2001. Don't you think?

Just look at the speed of Riis in Hautacam! It was amazing.