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Greatest rivalries!

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Belokki

Mar 11, 2009
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Opponents make a rider great, and the wars they fought gave us many unforgetable memories!

What were the greatest cycling rivalries that shaped cycling history and the tactics that riders use today?

The most recent and until now the last great rivalry was between Lance and Ullrich... we all remember the thrils

Andy Schleck vs Contador and Greipel vs Cavendish rivalry is shaping up, but that is the future, Im interested in the past!

What were the most memorable rivalries you can recal?
 
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slowoldman

Apr 10, 2009
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Bartali/Coppi. It literally divided a nation. It was said when they were riding you couldn't be a fan of both such was the intensity of the rivalry. Good thing we're 60 years removed. I like them both.....but Bartali, a little more...:p
 
erader

erader

Dec 29, 2009
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Belokki said:
Opponents make a rider great, and the wars they fought gave us many unforgetable memories!

What were the greatest cycling rivalries that shaped cycling history and the tactics that riders use today?

The most recent and until now the last great rivalry was between Lance and Ullrich... we all remember the thrils

Andy Schleck vs Contador and Greipel vs Cavendish rivalry is shaping up, but that is the future, Im interested in the past!

What were the most memorable rivalries you can recal?
Click to expand...

lemond/hinault ... ullrich/riis ... armstrong/contador

ed rader
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Belokki said:
Opponents make a rider great, and the wars they fought gave us many unforgetable memories!

What were the greatest cycling rivalries that shaped cycling history and the tactics that riders use today?

The most recent and until now the last great rivalry was between Lance and Ullrich... we all remember the thrils

Andy Schleck vs Contador and Greipel vs Cavendish rivalry is shaping up, but that is the future, Im interested in the past!

What were the most memorable rivalries you can recal?
Click to expand...

You versus intelligence.
 
Timmy-loves-Rabo

Timmy-loves-Rabo

Jun 22, 2009
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Belokki said:
Opponents make a rider great, and the wars they fought gave us many unforgetable memories!

What were the greatest cycling rivalries that shaped cycling history and the tactics that riders use today?

The most recent and until now the last great rivalry was between Lance and Ullrich... we all remember the thrils

Andy Schleck vs Contador and Greipel vs Cavendish rivalry is shaping up, but that is the future, Im interested in the past!

What were the most memorable rivalries you can recal?
Click to expand...

Meh. Not really.
Other then last tour, they haven't really been too competitive against each other. And AC smoked him anyway. LA vs AC has been more of a rivalry really, only because some old geezer can't accept his time has past.

Evans vs the world has been an amazing rivalry to witness also. :rolleyes:
 
Francois the Postman

Francois the Postman

Oct 29, 2009
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Anquetil v Poulidor
Bartali vs Coppi
Merckx vs Ocana (sporting as well, with Merckx showing post-racing grace too)
ear pieces vs nostalgia

LA vs AC has been more of a rivalry really, only because some old geezer can't accept his time has past.
Click to expand...

I can't think of a bigger non-rivalry than that. It takes two to tango. When one is "not bothad", nah.
 
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Echoes

Oct 8, 2009
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Rivalry between Merckx and Ocaña only lasted for 6 days. The rest is a beatdown (Merckx - Zoetemelk, that was an absolute beatdown).

How many times, by the way, was Bartali real close to challenging Coppi? I have the feeling that this one was really overrated, as well.


Merckx - van Looy is a kid against an oldie. There were no great duel between the two in their prime.
 
Michielveedeebee

Michielveedeebee

Feb 25, 2010
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Echoes said:
(sorry but that was my first reaction)



The best ever: Merckx - De Vlaeminck
Click to expand...

true :) Well some more Merckx :p
Merckx - Van Looy
Merckx - De Vlaeminck
Merckx - Everyone at the '69 Tour ==> He kicked *** big time :D
De Vlaeminck - Maertens
Leif Hoste + Hincapie vs Cobblestones :p
 
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Echoes

Oct 8, 2009
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Michielveedeebee said:
Leif Hoste + Hincapie vs Cobblestones :p
Click to expand...

And they always win. :cool::p


I would add Merckx - Verbeeck, as well. One of my faves.

- Belgian Champs in Soumagne, the best BK ever.
- Liège Bastogne Liège 1973 : Merckx won by 2cm > finish photo. Everyone thought Frans finally his first great.
- Tour of Flanders 1975 : The legendary RvV, Merckx attacked in the Kwaremont with 100km to go and no one thought he would go to finish, but Frans Verbeeck. "Ongelooflijk te rijden hoedat hij rijdt. Ik heb formidabel afgezien. Ik weet niet wat het is, hij rijdt 5 per uur te snel voor ons" :D (Unbelievable to ride the way he rides, I've wonderfully suffer. I don't know what it is, he rides 5km/h too fast for us)

And other duels in Ghent-Ghent, e.g.

And a one-day rivalry: Merckx - Pintens in Liège 1971. The day Merckx had cramps and Pintens came back from nowhere. Everyone thought he was the strongest but Eddy beat him in the sprint.
 
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Derrick

May 4, 2010
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Jan van Buggenhout versus Father van Landeghem. Without doubt one of the biggest rivalries in Belgian {especially Flandrian- see earlier thread} cycling with far reaching consequences. I wouldn't mind betting most have never heard of the two invovled in the feud.
 
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