Interesting Conversational Partners

[Pantani_lives]

Current cyclists:

• Puck Pieterse: For her humor and spontaneity.
• Remco Evenepoel: To give him tactical advice.
• Nairo Quintana: To give him a confidence boost.
• Lotte Kopecky: To do a duo benji jump.

Former cyclists:

• Eddy Planckaert: For his folkish wisdom.
• Fabian Cancellara: For his sharp analysis.
• Peter Winnen: For a poetic view on cycling.
• Bernard Hinault: For an introduction to farming.
• Luis Herrera: To discuss the roots of Colombian cycling.
• Philippa York: For a psychological discussion.
• Rik Van Looy: To congratulate him for turning ninety.

 

[Zoetemelk-fan]

I'll choose someone from the past in the pro peleton I haven't had a short chat with, solely because I totally missed a golden opportunity. As a 15yo teen in 1987 I was totally star struck and speechless because I under circumstances and coincidences, suddenly was confronted with this rider almost under four eyes. But couldn't come up with any words other than a polite 'yes' or something like that:

Laurent Fignon

He confronted me as if he wanted to say something more to me, talk to me.
But I shucked like an oyster. My great regret that haunts me.

From present time:

Tom Pidcock.

He strikes me as a type who can really open up the bag in a nice way, whatever it may contain.

 

[RedheadDane]

Laurent Fignon

Unfortunately, he doesn't fit within the critera:

but please stick to people who're alive.

Guess he files under "Riders you could've had a chance to speak with, but was too shy."

 

[Potomac]

I want to have a pint (or 7) with Robbie McEwan.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Could I revive Charly Gaul and ask him why he chose to live as a nomad in the Luxembourgish forests for a decade?

 

[RedheadDane]

Could I revive Charly Gaul and ask him why he chose to live as a nomad in the Luxembourgish forests for a decade?

If you  could, I would like an explanation.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

If you  could, I would like an explanation.

From him or from me?

 

[RedheadDane]

From him or from me?

From you... about how...

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

From you... about how...

As soon as I figure out immortality or how to bring back the death, you'll be the first Danish person to know.

 

[Extinction]

I'd actually like to have a conversation with Gino Bartali in Italian.

 

[Wyndbrook]

I know they do not meet the criteria, but Gaul, Bartoli and Fignon are all great suggestions.

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

"Hey Greg, what is it like, getting shot?"

 

[tobydawq]

I know they do not meet the criteria, but Gaul, Bartoli and Fignon are all great suggestions.

I don't think Bartoli is dead.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Hmm, I was referencing the previous posters where Extinction said Gino.
Although I could ask Michele to tell me all about his love for Bettini.

 

[EddyMazzoleni]

Bartali and Bartoli, they don't have the same surname

 

[Rechtschreibfehler]

Guillaume Martin

I have no Idea if Guillaume Martin speaks English or German, but given that his specialization as a philosopher seems to be Nietzsches philosophy, he might even be able to understand German, hell maybe even speak it. And it's his view of cycling and Nietzsche, cycling and philosophy in general and his apparently published views on the individual within the society of the peloton I'd like to talk to him about. And while we are at it of course some big metaphysical questions and what his stance on them is.

Other than this I think it's quite hard to get an idea of who is interesting to talk to. Mohoric seems thoughtful, and personally I'd love to have a chat with Tom Boonen, but just because I want to not because I claim he is one of the most interesting to talk to.

 

[CyclistAbi]

I would interview Maurice-François Garin and the questions i would ask are:

• What did chimney sweeping teach you about cycling.
• Will cheating always be a part of pro cycling.
• What are your views on spectators turning into a mob.
• Experiencing for the first time, are pneumatic tyres the future of pro cycling.
• How does it feel knowing you are the first Tour de France winner.
• Do you favour Tour de France win over the Paris–Roubaix one.
• Can it be considered a privilege to eat 19 litres of hot chocolate.
• Was it Belgian chocolate?

 

[RedheadDane]

I would interview Maurice-François Garin and the questions i would ask are:

Stop trying to revive dead people...

 

[rallybanana]

I would interview Maurice-François Garin and the questions i would ask are:

• What did chimney sweeping teach you about cycling.
• Will cheating always be a part of pro cycling.
• What are your views on spectators turning into a mob.
• Experiencing for the first time, are pneumatic tyres the future of pro cycling.
• How does it feel knowing you are the first Tour de France winner.
• Do you favour Tour de France win over the Paris–Roubaix one.
• Can it be considered a privilege to eat 19 litres of hot chocolate.
• Was it Belgian chocolate?

Can you ask him if he considers himself more French or Italian? Or 50/50?

 

[CyclistAbi]

Can you ask him if he considers himself more French or Italian? Or 50/50?

Will do. I might even add:

• What do chocolate, Roglič and Pogačar all have in common.

I likely know the answer to that one already. Who?

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

I would interview Maurice-François Garin and the questions i would ask are:

• What did chimney sweeping teach you about cycling.
• Will cheating always be a part of pro cycling.
• What are your views on spectators turning into a mob.
• Experiencing for the first time, are pneumatic tyres the future of pro cycling.
• How does it feel knowing you are the first Tour de France winner.
• Do you favour Tour de France win over the Paris–Roubaix one.
• Can it be considered a privilege to eat 19 litres of hot chocolate.
• Was it Belgian chocolate?

How does one eat hot chocolate?

 

[CyclistAbi]

How does one eat hot chocolate?

Will ask.

 

[Netserk]

How does one eat hot chocolate?

With chili.

 

[repre]

So, nobody wants to talk to Vingo?

 

[CyclistAbi]

The answer, without hesitation, you eat hot chocolate with a spoon.

This i guess haven't changed all that much. What likely changed is today riders don't carry a spoon any more, due to i guess marginal gains. Back then a bike could weight 16 kilos, so a spoon didn't made that much of a difference. On the other hand a fork is something still rather common in modern pro cycling.