Ferdi Kübler trashes today's soft riders and routes.

[Bavarianrider]

Ferdi Kübler trashes today's soft riders and routes.

http://bazonline.ch/sport/Ferdy-Kuebler-Wir-waren-viel-haerter-und-robuster/story/22499111

I think Ferdi is spot on. Couldn't agree more with him.

When asked if he could keep up wit todays riders Ferdi answered: "Don't insult me we weres o much harder and tougher then today's riders"
He says that there are no tough stages and no challenges anymore.
He also trashes the riders for doping. He says that with todays easy routes it's unbelievable riders feel the need to dope. He says that doping is killing cycling and it makes him very sad.

 

[auscyclefan94]

So he thinks that "todays easy routes" make it unbelievable that riders feel the "need to dope"?

What a silly comment...

 

[Lanark]

So he thinks that "todays easy routes" make it unbelievable that riders feel the "need to dope"?

What a tool...

Wow, I don't agree with what Kübler says, but please don't call him a tool. He is one of the legends of the post-WW2 era, along with other heroes like Koblet, Coppi, Bartali, Bobet, and the oldest Tour-winner. Not everything he says is the holy gospel, but he isn't a tool.

 

[craig1985]

Everything was better in my day etc.

 

[Angliru]

If you compare the excessive distances for the stages, the sometimes 2 stages in one day, in addition to, if I recall correctly, some of the grand tours lasting 23-25 days, I think he has a point. Of course the riders were harder overall than today's. If any of us come from a working class background and look at our dad's and what they endured and are able to handle with little complaint, then they should be able to relate to his perspective. Times were much harder back in the day and thus the sport was much harder.

At the same time it's not too difficult to imagine that if he were brought up in modern times he would likely be much like the rider's of today that he criticizes.

 

[Grand Tourist]

They rode a 'full season' & did the post tour Criterium circuit. They had clunky bikes, less access to medical & nutritional advice etc. Kubler has a point.

 

[King Of The Wolds]

But today's lot train harder and for longer. And they ride faster, and so crash harder and more often. And are under far greater media scrutiny and pressure to succeed.

Sure, the guys of yesteryear were nails. But lets not make out today's generation are soft. They're some of the toughest men in any sport.

 

[theswordsman]

When he was a kid, he had to walk twelve miles to school and back, uphill both directions, and everything cost a nickel

 

[rhubroma]

The sport is hard today, but the bikes and roads are better, the stages are shorter and they sleep in 4 star hotels, whereas in kubler's day they slept in a hostel.

And there was no EPO to help with recovery.

 

[Chuffy]

Ferdi Kubler had gears on his bike. The riders before 1937 had to ride on fixed! Oh and is this the same Ferdi who blew up on the Ventoux, saying "Ferdi take too much dope, Ferdi kill himself" before falling in a ditch?

Standard old-timey revisionist cobblers, legend or not.

 

[hrotha]

Ferdi Kubler had gears on his bike. The riders before 1937 had to ride on fixed! Oh and is this the same Ferdi who blew up on the Ventoux, saying "Ferdi take too much dope, Ferdi kill himself" before falling in a ditch?

Standard old-timey revisionist cobblers, legend or not.

Exactly. Grampa stories.

 

[Mambo95]

Kubler didn't have to race against Americans, Australians, Brits, Russians, Kazakhs, Germans, Slovenians and Danes. He didn't even have to race against Spaniards (there were none in the 1950 Tour).

Back in his day, cycling was very much a local affair. There's a far bigger talent pool these days.

 

[Echoes]

Ferdi is in a perfectly legitimate position to trash about present-day dope ! It's even his duty as an all time great to do so !

So many all time greats have kept defending dopers so far. I prefer this kind of comments. It's not because races are hard, that you dope, sure. You can dope on 100m, sure. But it sure makes them unforgivable.


Since I "discovered" with a report on Arte TV, back in 2003, I've always been amazed at how this guy is still fit and healthy. He'll be 92 in July. Holy Moses !!

This man put the Ardennes Classics on the map. He put Ghent-Wevelgem on the map. No other World Champion have lived longer. May he never be compared with his fellow countrymen whose name had 4 letters in common with his. He was much more consistent.

And he raced at the time cycling was at the very peak of his popularity before the vespa appeared on the market. By then, no talent could go unnoticed. He, as a teen, was a mailman who had to climb a pass by bike with all his mail on his back.


Amazing champion. Rock on Ferdi, Rock on !