contador could be the greatest of all time

[FabulousCandelabra]

can't we have an exciting GT for once? tired of ******s like alberto making GT's overall outcomes so boring.

 

[ultimobici]

Contador, and for that matter any rider after 1988/89, cannot be considered in the same terms as riders from before. They can never break into the "Greatest Ever" club unless the way the sport is played reverts to the way it was prior to the World Cup.

The reason is simple, specialisation. All of the established greats, Merckx, Coppi, Anquetil, Hinault, Kelly, De Vlaeminck etc rode not only a longer, but a more varied race program. They have victories on many different terrains, against excellent opposition. Even Merckx had to fight for his wins, albeit he was somewhat better equipped!

Since the World Cup was inaugurated by Hein Verbruggen in 89 riders have been encouraged to focus their seasons on their strengths. The idea of riding to win a race because it was a worthy win was skewed by a points system that artificially elevated some races over others or up to the level of better races.

Globalisation is another related factor that affects this as new races are given inflated prominence to encourage participation. The restructuring of the calendar to accommodate these new races means that the Giro/Tour duels of the past have almost died out completely. When was the last time the favourites for the Tour met in the Giro? !994?

So, unless the season, and the way riders approach it, changes massively, there is no rider in a position to join Eddy, Fausto, Bernard & Friends, ever.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Contador might be the best cyclist ever. Or it might be Merckx or Coppi - who knows?

But Contador will never be the greatest cyclist ever.