Indurain Comments regarding Contador

[No_Balls]

Oh yeah Indurain was a real wheel sucker and scared of Pantani, did you watch his performance at La Plagne in 1995 when he attcked everyone and left Pantani gasping? I hate all this crap about Indurain only winning in the time trials, when he wanted to he could destroy anyone in the mountains too. Indurain just wasen't greedy for wins though, he did what he needed to do and let the others have their glory.

I think the shock came in the Giro 1994 when he finished one spot after Pantani but then again he was after overall winner Berzin and even lost some time trials there (Follonica and Passo del Bocco) so it wasnt ideal prep for Mig. Still he did some fine racing and bridged the Pirate at Mortirolo (dropping Berzin while sitting in the saddle during the whole climb, what an amazing power) during the stage to Aprica.

He didnt really attack on La Plagne as he was limiting his losses to Zülle. Travel back to Sestrieres in 1992 an he did the same thing with The devil Chiappucci. But it was painfully obvious how little the so called "funny riders" had to give once the brute from Navarra dediced to stamp his authority. And, come to think of it, if he had done that more often the haters, led by the french, would have complained about him being too dominant so it would still come out as hate.

 

[RedFury]

Say what you will about Indurain's opinion -- I myself, seem to be able to understand both him and those of you that disagree; as in, you know, difference of opinion with no factual right or wrong -- but please, please, lay off the man as a cyclist. Miguel pretty much rode with one purpose in mind: to win. And to do so, he could do anything he chose to, be it in the mountains or ITTs. BUT what made him different than most superstars was the fact that he wasn't ambitious beyond winning; meaning he didn't need to prove to himself or anyone else that he was the best. He simply was & because of the way he went about his dominance not only was it accepted as fact, but he was, in his time, the most respected man in The Peloton.

No showing off needed, unless the win called for it and it was seldom needed at his peak, he was so dominant he made it look easy. Miguel Indurain. Still, the one and only Extraterrestrial Cycling Machine.

 

[Pantani_lives]

Yes, Miguelón certainly wasn't a wheelsucker. He turned every MTF into a mountain time trial. Sometimes one or two riders could follow and they beat him in the sprint. And then his time trials...

He's right in his observation that Contador has already done a lot of attacking without much result. That may change when the longer mountains come in the Asturias and the Bola dM.

 

[RedFury]

No complaints about Indurain as far as I'm concerned. In retrospect, the more I see Wiggins, the more I can see in him a lesser Induráin replica, who's come out of the blue and has become a Tour winner all of a sudden after drastically reducing his weight. There weren't swimming coaches before, though.

And Induráin's supremacy was a bit boring to say the least. I just love Alberto's attacking spirit. The guy just can't hold himself back !! Pure class.

Wiggins vs Indurain? Please tell me you having a go at a bad joke. The only thing they have in common is that one of them rode a bike and the other tried -- or tries still. Indurain would beat Wiggins like a red-headed step child. Could try dying his hair black...

Miguel Indurain Palmarès

I think the shock came in the Giro 1994 when he finished one spot after Pantani but then again he was after overall winner Berzin and even lost some time trials there (Follonica and Passo del Bocco) so it wasnt ideal prep for Mig. Still he did some fine racing and bridged the Pirate at Mortirolo (dropping Berzin while sitting in the saddle during the whole climb, what an amazing power) during the stage to Aprica.

He didnt really attack on La Plagne as he was limiting his losses to Zülle. Travel back to Sestrieres in 1992 an he did the same thing with The devil Chiappucci. But it was painfully obvious how little the so called "funny riders" had to give once the brute from Navarra dediced to stamp his authority. And, come to think of it, if he had done that more often the haters, led by the french, would have complained about him being too dominant so it would still come out as hate.

Excellent reader's digest account. BigMig is likely the most powerful (multi-winner) GT rider ever. Been following cycling for 40+ years and never saw any other rider drop so many a climbing specialist as Miguel did -- while never leaving his saddle or so much as gasping for breath. Just sit and crank the huge gears....till the day he broke & quit.

Yes, Miguelón certainly wasn't a wheelsucker. He turned every MTF into a mountain time trial. Sometimes one or two riders could follow and they beat him in the sprint. And then his time trials...

Very well put. Exactly how it was -- if at anything, Indurain could be had at a sprint. Yet I think only he knows how many he truly lost in mountain stages. I think he honestly enjoyed watching others win...as long as it didn't affect his own overall chance. There, he was ruthless

He's right in his observation that Contador has already done a lot of attacking without much result. That may change when the longer mountains come in the Asturias and the Bola dM.

Exactly. And there you've presented both POVs without any controversy. Now try doing so as Miguelón.

 

[hrotha]

Indurain was actually pretty fast when he could be bothered.

 

[Cookster15]

Indurain was a legend and thanks to icefire and Youtube's evidence obviously no wheel sucker. I first started watching the Tour in 93 and was rooting for Rominger. When Indurain won that year then went on to make it 5 in a row you just had to admire the guys sheer power - unbelievable as the Youtube video shows. He did a similar number in 94 on the Hautacam, effectively ending Rominger's chances .... rode the peloton off his wheels then in good grace allowed Luc Leblanc to take the win. He was as strong a climber as anyone then but due to his incredible TT he just kept the climbers in check. It was a bit sad to see him implode in 96. You can't compare to today for obvious reasons but I still to this day have great respect for Big Mig. So when he makes a comment I take note and respect what he has to say.

 

[Alpehue]

Indurain wasent as slow in a sprint as some people make him out to be. I think he just realised, much like Condator, what a win means to other rides, and how important it can be having friends in the peleton outside your own team.