Greatest cyclist of all time?

[Ruby United]

Although Merckx is the No 1, the OP missed Alfredo Binda. He was superior to Gimondi, Bartali.

Both Bartali and Gimondi were better than Binda. Binda won Giro and World Champs numerous times (and MSR, Lombardia) admittedly VERY
impressive, but not as good as Bartali (2 time tour, 3 time Giro 3 Lombardia and 4 time MSR winner etc) and Gimondi
1 Tour de France (1965)
3 x Giro d'Italia (1967, 1969, 1976)
1 Vuelta a España (1968)
1 UCI World Championshipss (1973)
1 Milan – San Remo (1974)
1 Paris–Roubaix (1966)
2 x Giro di Lombardia (1966, 1973)
2 x Paris–Brussels (1966, 1976) etc.

No freaking way in hell.

Agreed.

 

[Froome19]

fdffgfgfgf

 

[icefire]

This man belongs to a list of best train passengers

 

[Ruby United]

This man belongs to a list of best train passengers

Ha Ha! LOL!!!!

 

[number0]

the greatest all of time i is too difficut..
i says...first age: Binda
medium age:Coppi
Last age: Merckx

 

[Ruby United]

the greatest all of time i is too difficut..
i says...first age: Binda
medium age:Coppi
Last age: Merckx

I would swap Binda for Bartali

(If you count him first age and not medium)

 

[spalco]

the greatest all of time i is too difficut..
i says...first age: Binda
medium age:Coppi
Last age: Merckx

If Merckx is "last age" there should at least a fourth category too, I mean he retired 35 years ago. A lot has happened since.

 

[Coolair2970]

just imagine the impact of a cyclist winning all the jerseys in the tour.......

pointless poll.................nowt to discuss

Mark L

That is impressive to win all the jerseys in the Tour de France, but the rules were different back when Merckx was riding. There was around 8 guys that was allowed to win in the GTs.

Even if the helpers the best legs of the century the wasn't allowed to win. Thats why Merckx have so many victories. He only had to beat those 7 or 8 guys.

There was a stage in the tour I think it was in 71 when danish rider Mogens Frey was in a breakaway and could win the stage. His captain Augostinho join him and told him to back off.

No way said Mogens and rode the sprint only to have Augostinho hold on to his handlebars so he lost the sprint. Luckily enough Augostinho was declassed on the stage and Mogens Frey won.

Final result a stagevictory and a broke carrier. He was back in Denmark a year or 2 later. He broke the rules and became persona non grata

 

[Coolair2970]

How can you vote for Hippolyte Aucouturier over Merckx and Hinault etc?

Possibly the best pre war cyclist, but ever?

What war are we talking. The Napoleon wars

 

[happytramp]

No. I think you're underrating TDF, and overrating these week long races. All kinds of riders have won them. I'm not saying Kelly is one of them.
One more thing, Kelly's on the list, but Roche isn't... C'mon.

You're either joking (in which case well done)

or (and this is more likely) you haven't the slightest clue about the world/culture of cycling. You may in time but right now you're very far off

or (3rd option) you are Lance Armstrong

 

[number0]

at the Binda's time, the travel was more difficult.so ha didn't win a tour for this reason.
my opinion.Binda may be was stronger than Merckx and Coppi.
at once giro d'italia paid him for non partecipare in the race.becouse he would certainly won.

 

[The Hitch]

I dont think there is much of a discussion about 2nd either (Badger by far) but in the previous round of these discussions, I set up a poll for it.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=11664

 

[Tonton]

Eddy!!!

Merckx, no question. Hinault a distant second. I like the talks about Bartali: he won the TdF in '38 and '48. Had WW2 not occured, he could have set some monster records. But it belongs to the 'what ifs' category. In the real world, it's Merckx all the way.

 

[icefire]

What war are we talking. The Napoleon wars

He was one of the first cyclists to ride a train and I don't think there were trains in France during the Napoleon wars, so it should be the Franco-Prussian war.

 

[rghysens]

... I like the talks about Bartali: he won the TdF in '38 and '48. Had WW2 not occured, he could have set some monster records. ...

The same applies for Fausto Coppi, who was a prisoner of war for some years.

 

[melkemugg]

How can you vote for Hippolyte Aucouturier over Merckx and Hinault etc?

Possibly the best pre war cyclist, but ever?

Old school or no school

 

[Merckx index]

If women are considered for this list, Jeannie Longo has to be on it. She only began doping in 2006, ever the contrarian, when everyone else had stopped.

Also, if "greatest" is interpreted as "most influential", I'd have to vote for Pat McQuaid or Thom Weisel. They both won some races, and have had far more influence on the direction the sport has taken than Merckx and those other pretenders.

A little bit like those polls that conclude Arnold Palmer was the greatest golfer. Palmer got everyone in America interested in golf. McQuaid got everyone in Europe disinterested in cycling.

 

[Captain Sensible]

What no Wiggins in the list




I find it hard to pick one from Merckx and Hinault.

 

[Samson777]

Would probably be unfair, but in som way I would like to see Ocana in the poll. Since most people agree that the Canibal is the greates, Ocana could perhaps make the list, just for the way he fighted him.

Armstrong is of course missing.

 

[Ruby United]

Armstrong is of course missing.

I can't include Armstrong: He is a chief example, much more so than Indurain or others who have doped, of what cycling isn't, and shouldn't be. When I talk to people who are novices about cycling they always say 'what about the Armstrong fella?' That is all they know about cycling. Armstrong cheated!

 

[Ruby United]

If Merckx is "last age" there should at least a fourth category too, I mean he retired 35 years ago. A lot has happened since.

4th Age: Indurain?

 

[Ruby United]

I dont think there is much of a discussion about 2nd either (Badger by far) but in the previous round of these discussions, I set up a poll for it.

http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showthread.php?t=11664

I voted for Hinault too on your thread.

It is interesting to see that on that thread Coppi is quite far behind Hinault but is ahead in this thread. (Though he only has six voters, or something)

 

[Samson777]

I can't include Armstrong: He is a chief example, much more so than Indurain or others who have doped, of what cycling isn't, and shouldn't be. When I talk to people who are novices about cycling they always say 'what about the Armstrong fella?' That is all they know about cycling. Armstrong cheated!

I can understand your frustration. That sucks.

I am not writing this because I wanna argue that Armstrong Is a lovely guy. Everybody knows he did a lot of bad, but still he won the Tour 7 times... No matter how big a scumbag he is/was, that still means he have to be on the list..

 

[happytramp]

Agree on Binda. Should certainly be on the list. His performance at the 1927 Giro is comparable to Eddy's 69 Tour. Winning 12 of the 15 stages.

 

[Afrank]

I can't include Armstrong: He is a chief example, much more so than Indurain or others who have doped, of what cycling isn't, and shouldn't be. When I talk to people who are novices about cycling they always say 'what about the Armstrong fella?' That is all they know about cycling. Armstrong cheated!

Thought like others Armstrong should be on this list too at first. But you make a very good point. Cycling is much more than Armstrong. People need to realize that, and people should not associate the sport of cycling or all cyclists with Armstrong. Agree, he shouldn't be on the list.