Most impressive rides of all time?

[contador977]

Pantani - Oropa 99. U know the story here, chain issues, loses 30-45 seconds and goes ballistic on the chase as his rivals go full gas to take advantage of him. 15 years later, Ill admit Ive watch the finale 4-5 times in the last month.

Armstrong- Hautacam 2000- Attacks far out, drops all his rivals, bridges to different chase groups, drops them all , goes after Ochoa, incredible ride.

Contador- Verbier- With Armstrong in full bully mode, trying to intimidate Contador into working for him, taking shots at Contador for in-experience losing time in the cross winds, Contador stands up to Armstrong and shows him who is boss with a blistering attack on the Verbier.

 

[Echoes]

Is it surprising that only GT rides are mentioned?

 

[ILovecycling]

Schleck 2011

Contador 2012

Talansky 2014

 

[GuyIncognito]

Koblet 1951. None other even comes close.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Fabian Cancellara - Ronde van Vlaanderen 2010
Tom Boonen - Paris-Roubaix 2012

Just to name two recent ones.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Talansky 2014

Contador in Fuente Dé and Schleck on the Galibier were impressive, but Talansky 2014?! Did I miss something?

All I remember him doing this year is winning a prep race because he got in a break, which was very strong and it got a bit of room because the strongest riders were looking at each other. He didn't even win the stage. I mean, how he raced was great, don't get me wrong, I really appreciate his ride, but how it constitutes one of the most impressive rides of all time is beyond me....

 

[Volderke]

You have to love the guys over here who always want to impress by looking back 50 years and more in time.

I wasn't there and it wasn't live. So I won't judge.

But from what I remember, (some of) the most impressive rides I have seen were:
2008 Tour of Flanders (Stijn De Volder)
1996 Hautacam (Bjarne Riis)
1998 Paris-Roubaix (Franco Ballerini)
1999 Navalmoral (Frank Vandenbroucke)
2010 Paris-Roubaix (Fabian Cancellara)
1990 Utsonomiya WC (Dirk De Wolf)
2001 Alpe d'huez (Lance Armstrong)
1997 Alpe d'Huez (Marco Pantani)
1997 L-B-L (Michele Bartoli)
1994 Milan-San Remo (Laurent Jalabert)
2002 Angliru (Roberto Heras)
2004 state 21 Vuelta (Santiago Perez)
world hour record by Rominger (still miles ahead of the 'competition' nowadays)

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Zabriskie 2004 Vuelta stage 11 - 162km solo effort... nuff said

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Contador in Fuente Dé and Schleck on the Galibier were impressive, but Talansky 2014?! Did I miss something?

All I remember him doing this year is winning a prep race because he got in a break, which was very strong and it got a bit of room because the strongest riders were looking at each other. He didn't even win the stage. I mean, how he raced was great, don't get me wrong, I really appreciate his ride, but how it constitutes one of the most impressive rides of all time is beyond me....

Totally agree. Might aswell have written 'JVDB 2014' instead of Talansky. Not a solo effort at all, just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

 

[sir fly]

Henri (Ritte) Van Lerberghe, Ronde van Vlaanderen 1919.

 

[BlurryVII]

Talansky 2014

Talansky?

We're talking best rides of all times. Couldn't even finish it off and win the stage. A legendary ride has got be concluded with the stage win at least.
Talansky wouldn't have moved an inch to protect his GC position if Contador had a team.

Even Quintana in the controvertial stelvio stage would be worth of mentioning instead of him.

 

[icefire]

How many riders have been able to put 9 minutes on the Great One, when the Great One was in his prime years?

http://www.ina.fr/video/I04201131

 

[BlurryVII]

Landis 06'

 

[Kwibus]

Is it surprising that only GT rides are mentioned?

Sigh, well give us your most impressive rides.
We all understand you value one day races more and that you have to cry after all of these posts. You don't have to point it out in every post you make.

Personally I value one day races very highly as well, higher than a single stage in a stage race(most of the time), but that doesn't change the fact that there could very impressive rides in an GT.

 

[Coat-O]

Schleck 2011

Contador 2012

Talansky 2014

Talansky is a quite random choice. He was a fighter in the Tour, but Contador was by far the best in Dauphine. Other than that, he has not really done anything.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Coppi Milano-Sanremo 1946 must be up there. One of the most important races ever as well.

Oh, and Bartali in the 1948 Tour! That has to be the most impressive ride ever.

 

[oldcrank]

Koblet 1951. None other even comes close.

Yes, my friend, a magnificent win in the Tour and
a silver in the Pursuit at the World Championships
in the same year shows a huge amount of class.

 

[Netserk]

Not of all time, but from the top of my head of those I've seen live myself.

 

[Tonton]

Hinault 1980 LBL

 

[burning]

Milan - San Remo 1996 - Colombo & co

 

[sir fly]

Not of all time, but from the top of my head of those I've seen live myself.

Too bad you haven't seen Galibier 2011.

 

[Netserk]

Too bad you haven't seen Galibier 2011.

Too bad it didn't win him the race, unlike the three mentioned.

 

[sir fly]

Too bad it didn't win him the race, unlike the three mentioned.

Landis won?!
Then it's too bad you haven't seen Morzine-Avoriaz 2010.

 

[Jspear]

Landis won?!
Then it's too bad you haven't seen Morzine-Avoriaz 2010.

Where Andy was 10 seconds ahead of the other GC guys? I wouldn't call that very impressive (in an all time category.)

 

[rghysens]

All time, according to me: Lucien Buysse during the stage from Bayonne to Luchon in the 1926 Tour.

From the races I watched: Ballerini in the 1998 Paris-Roubaix