Most impressive rides of all time?

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Another good example for bad weather rides is François Faber in 1909. The TdF in 1909 had the worst weather the Tour has ever seen. We're talking about prehistoric times here, so the stages could be as long as 400km and we didn't have nice asphalt roads like today; so after a period of extensive rain and snow, the roads were completely messed by up mud and frost. By the 7th stage already a third of the field had abandoned and in the end only 55 of 150 finished.

However, the worse the weather became, the better Faber started to ride. The conditions in the first stage were still okay, but during the night it started to storm and the following days were very cold, with a lot of rain and snow. Faber, being the best one for those conditions, won the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th stage. In the 2nd stage he did solo of 200km. In the 3rd stage, Faber's chain broke and he had to run with his bike for the last kilometer. In the 5th stage Faber got blown off his bike by the wind twice and kicked of his bike by a horse, but he remounted every time and still won the stage. Five consecutive stage wins; a record that still stands today. Faber completely destroyed all opposition over the course of those 5 days, winning the race easily. He also won the 10th stage. This guy has got to be one of the greatest hard man in the history of cycling.

(I also hear he's Betancur's idol)

 

[Walkman]

I don't count donkeys turned into climbers by the help of the clinic.

…

Because Contador is such a natural talent?

 

[LaFlorecita]

…

Because Contador is such a natural talent?

yes he is

 

[Jspear]

…

Because Contador is such a natural talent?

AC has more natural talent when it comes to climbing. He is built for it....Landis not as much.

 

[contador977]

And not much in modern cycling can touch Landis' 2006

I was disappointed at Vino, Armstrong, Ullrich, Basso,etc but I cut them some slack for watever reasons. When it comes to Landis, its different for me, I choose to have no memories of him.

 

[contador977]

Another good example for bad weather rides is François Faber in 1909. The TdF in 1909 had the worst weather the Tour has ever seen. We're talking about prehistoric times here, so the stages could be as long as 400km and we didn't have nice asphalt roads like today; so after a period of extensive rain and snow, the roads were completely messed by up mud and frost. By the 7th stage already a third of the field had abandoned and in the end only 55 of 150 finished.

However, the worse the weather became, the better Faber started to ride. The conditions in the first stage were still okay, but during the night it started to storm and the following days were very cold, with a lot of rain and snow. Faber, being the best one for those conditions, won the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th stage. In the 2nd stage he did solo of 200km. In the 3rd stage, Faber's chain broke and he had to run with his bike for the last kilometer. In the 5th stage Faber got blown off his bike by the wind twice and kicked of his bike by a horse, but he remounted every time and still won the stage. Five consecutive stage wins; a record that still stands today. Faber completely destroyed all opposition over the course of those 5 days, winning the race easily. He also won the 10th stage. This guy has got to be one of the greatest hard man in the history of cycling.

(I also hear he's Betancur's idol)

Great post. I know nothing of this man but those feats u mention are mind boggling and a great addition to this thread.

 

[happytramp]

Another good example for bad weather rides is François Faber in 1909. The TdF in 1909 had the worst weather the Tour has ever seen. We're talking about prehistoric times here, so the stages could be as long as 400km and we didn't have nice asphalt roads like today; so after a period of extensive rain and snow, the roads were completely messed by up mud and frost. By the 7th stage already a third of the field had abandoned and in the end only 55 of 150 finished.

However, the worse the weather became, the better Faber started to ride. The conditions in the first stage were still okay, but during the night it started to storm and the following days were very cold, with a lot of rain and snow. Faber, being the best one for those conditions, won the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th stage. In the 2nd stage he did solo of 200km. In the 3rd stage, Faber's chain broke and he had to run with his bike for the last kilometer. In the 5th stage Faber got blown off his bike by the wind twice and kicked of his bike by a horse, but he remounted every time and still won the stage. Five consecutive stage wins; a record that still stands today. Faber completely destroyed all opposition over the course of those 5 days, winning the race easily. He also won the 10th stage. This guy has got to be one of the greatest hard man in the history of cycling.
[/SIZE]

Reading this and then looking back at the petty squabbling over Contador's rides (meager by comparison) make me want to punch myself in the head.

 

[Walkman]

AC has more natural talent when it comes to climbing. He is built for it....Landis not as much.

Didn't RaceRadio say that Landis, if anyone, was a huge talent?

Also, "built for it", yeah…and you know that, how?

 

[classic1]

Hinault 1980 LBL

Hinault, lots of races. Just a selection....

1979 Tour of Lombardy (rode all bar Contini off his wheel)
1980 World Championships (rode everyone off his wheel)
1981 World Championships (crossed a minute and a half gap solo to a break containing all the favourites, only beaten by Freddy Maertens by a wheel)
1983 Vuelta, Avila stage
1985 Tour, first long ITT

 

[contador977]

Also, "built for it", yeah…and you know that, how?

Built for it.... Contador 5'-9" 137lbs , Landis 5'-10" 150lbs

 

[classic1]

Andre Tchmil, 1994 Paris-Roubaix

 

[Amazinmets73]

Built for it.... Contador 5'-9" 137lbs , Landis 5'-10" 150lbs

Assuming the listed heights and weights are correct, 1.98 to 2.14 PPI is substantial. But, remember it's all about power to weight. We don't know who would have a higher power to weight ratio naturally, and we never will.

 

[Jspear]

Didn't RaceRadio say that Landis, if anyone, was a huge talent?

Also, "built for it", yeah…and you know that, how?

RaceRadio said!!

 

[zlev11]

the best Rasmussen ride was Tignes for sure. rode the whole breakaway off his wheel one by one and the peloton barely ever even put a dent into his lead.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Another good example for bad weather rides is François Faber in 1909.

Great story thanks for sharing! We tend to forget that in the old days how long the stages were, plus many of the paved roads were pavé, and the mountain passes all dirt.

Didn't RaceRadio say that Landis, if anyone, was a huge talent?

I don't know about RR's quotes (or sources), but IIRC Floyd did have a fairly high natural VO2Max, something in the mid-80's.

 

[Angliru]

Is it surprising that only GT rides are mentioned?

Is it surprising that only after the initial post you're already on here complaining? Why not just post your most impressive rides? I'd be interested to hear what they are.

 

[Angliru]

In a thread were we are supposed to discuss the most impressive rides of all time you guys comes dragging with Contador in the 2012 Vuelta?! Heck, piti was more impressive in that stage!

Andy and Floyd are in entire different league compare to Contador. I mean, come on, even die hard fan must see that.

Andy's only won him a grand tour stage and the yellow jersey (If my memory is correct). Contador's won him a grand tour. To make matters worse, Andy lost the race lead the following day due to his efforts to shadow Contador's epic but failed attack ending on Alpe d'Huez.

 

[Angliru]

I think the ones who show heart and courage deserve a place in this thread too. 2 example's of that are.

Laurens Ten Dam in the Tour De France, shreds his face on barbed wire fence, pedals home, face covered in bandages, lips swollen, what an image to see him ride home. A standing ovation was neccessary. This is inspirational, tough and admirable.

I also wanna mention Contador in this years Tour Stage 10, breaking his leg and pedals on for another 20k and then apoligizes to Roche in the fog because he cant continue.

Have you seen LTD on a normal mountainous day? Snot dripping from his nose, saliva/drool flowing from his mouth. He's always a mess.

 

[GuyIncognito]

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.

I thought this was single day performance so I was specifically talking about dropping the peloton on a flat stage, then staying away solo for 135kms while chased by Coppi, Ockers, Bobet, Bartali, Magni, Géminiani etc, all going flat out.

 

[Angliru]

The stage that made me fall in love with cycling The spirit of Iban lives on.

One of my all-time cycling highlights! Mayo's jersey fully unzipped, flailing behind him like a cape as he danced away for the stage win on Alpe d'Huez. A very happy time!

 

[Angliru]

I know a few folks have weighed in on this, but feel like sharing my perspective anyway. In terms of outcome, gotta give it to Contador over Schleck; Andy's move was from far out and was impressive (for sure the highlight of his career), although after the initial attack most of the benefit was from the work of Monfort or whoever the guy up the road was. But it didn't win him the Tour; arguably Evans had the more epic ride that won him the Tour in the last 20km of that stage. And Schleck's hand was only forced when Contador shook things up a couple of days before with his attack on a cat 2 or whatever in the rain. So the context of Andy's ride wasn't really much more epic than, say, Contador's own failed attempt that same year on the Alpe D'huez stage, in that neither won the Tour. Andy won his stage, of course, and put things into more uncertainty, but still, the proof is in the pudding.

And not much in modern cycling can touch Landis' 2006 (unless you want to talk about 'believable' performances rather than face-value spectacle, but that would be a different topic); I liked that because he was clearly the strongest rider in the Tour, but had ridden so conservatively to that point that L'Equipe had the headline 'en jaune, mais sans panache' when he first took it. The thing that made Fuente De great in a totally different way was that Contador wasn't the strongest rider in the Vuelta - he couldn't snap the elastic, and with so many uphill finishes he was just trying and trying and trying and his chamber seemed empty (unintentional pistolero metaphor there). It's pretty easy to understand why riders who continually attack are beloved, as they make racing unpredictable and tense. So to see him attack over and over again without real gain and then to try that kind of hail mary and have it work, was pretty epic in terms of buildup and tension. So I have no qualms about declaring it among the best rides ever.

My sentiments exactly. Well done.

 

[gustienordic]

More old timer lore:

Merckx hour record. According to him, his most difficult race. Eddy climbed off his bike at the end and looked like he was about to have a stroke he was so spent.

Bernard Hinault 1980 LBL in blizzard conditions of snow and high winds. Hinault attacked with 80km to go and no one followed, in fact, it caused entire teams to drop. Second place Hennie Kuiper was 9:24 behind, and the last place finisher a full 24 minutes back. Only 21 riders were able to even finish, a staggering number. Hinault suffered some frostbite and it took a couple weeks to get full feeling back in his hands.

Just as bad was Andy Hampsten taking the Maglia Rosa on the Gavia in 1988. Huge props to Erik Breukink too, who won the stage and had no jacket, but only newspapers stuffed in his jersey on the final descent. Actually, props to all riders on that day.

This winter, honor these riders by picking a snowy, windy day, and go ride your bike over the local hill a few times and report back to us. I'll do it if you will.

That's called my commute to work everyday once it starts snowing...

 

[Archibald]

I always loved this one:

Robbie McEwen
Stage 1, 2007 TdF, Canterbury.

Simply awesome. He crashes with 20k remaining, then his Lotto teammates drilled it to get him back into contention against a very determined peloton that was driving forward with all the expected intensity of a TdF opening stage.

Then from out of nowhere...McEwen smokes them all. Brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlc-s7eI5Cg

I like that someone notes this ride, although vanSummeren's ride to get him back was pretty impressive, if not more impressive.



Have to hand them to those that rode the early Tours and Giros though - epic stages of 400kms+, starting at 4am and going well into the next evening, on heavy, single-speeds and having to fend for themselves.
So a big nod towards the Faber ride.

Far too many of the current squabbles are over too many recent rides that can only be put down as "clinical"...

 

[Tonton]

More old timer lore:


Bernard Hinault 1980 LBL in blizzard conditions of snow and high winds. Hinault attacked with 80km to go and no one followed, in fact, it caused entire teams to drop. Second place Hennie Kuiper was 9:24 behind, and the last place finisher a full 24 minutes back. Only 21 riders were able to even finish, a staggering number. Hinault suffered some frostbite and it took a couple weeks to get full feeling back in his hands.

Actually, in an interview (the same where he said "cycling is a combat sport"), BH said that he never quite recovered feeling in two of his fingers. I watched the race live: it was insane. Epic.

 

[pastronef]

Actually, in an interview (the same where he said "cycling is a combat sport"), BH said that he never quite recovered feeling in two of his fingers. I watched the race live: it was insane. Epic.

can we find TV coverage of that LBL?