Most Memorable Grand Tour Stages 1985-2010

[Libertine Seguros]

Tour de franceStage 3 2010
Stage 8 2010
Stage 10 2008

This tops them all though,
Giro D Italia
Montalcino Stage 2010!

Not just because of Evans winning (okay 90% is why it is here) but because of the drama of the stage before the mud. Epic sums this stage up in 1 word. I was lucky enough to have the pleasure to watch this great stage live and to watch the best all round rider of the modern era win.

Are you sure you don't want to include stage 16 of the 2002 Giro and stage 1 of the 2010 Giro too?

(edit - also stage 8 of the 2009 Vuelta, even though that was a seriously disappointing stage)

PS I know you're primed and ready for an argument, clearly asking for one with your last sentence. I'll just say that it seems that the best all round rider of the modern era is unfortunately a jack of all trades and master of none.

 

[Kwibus]

Stage 15 Zoncolan - Giro 2010. I enjoyed it very much.

 

[craig1985]

I have the 2005 Giro DVD, and I enjoyed it very much. From Bettini putting Baden Cooke into the barriers, Basso looking strong until he got sick, Le Mevel winning a stage and me thinking 'who is he?', Ivan Parra winning two stages in a row, and the penultimate stage where Simoni, Rujano, and Di Luca all look off and Il Falco descended like a mad man to keep his Giro lead. Although one wonders if van Huffel and Ardila were both given a brown paper bag after the stage with some wads of euros in the bag as a 'thanks' for their work. What was impressive was Savoldelli winning the race when you looked at the Discovery Channel line-up:

71 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita)
72 Michael Barry (Can)
73 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr)
74 Antonio Cruz (USA)
75 Tom Danielson (USA)
76 Ryder Hesjedal (Can)
77 Benoit Joachim (Lux)
78 Jason Mccartney (USA)
79 Pavel Padrnos (Cze)

A 'B' team if there was one.

 

[Kwibus]

Without question 2005 Giro to Colle delle Finestre. Best stage ever.

Watch all of it. Wet yourself. The dirt road sections are the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xOJniKOuCs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFlqrrWxWjk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0TKPYOFsQ0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCTl0PYxY4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dg0n6urNEA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oTHLSW1IIc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOD5ouvWxVk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-VrcNqQ9ak&feature=related

Wow that was great. I did wet myself
Also watched the climb to Sestriere. Discovery bribing other teams to help Salvodelli hehe.
Lot of top 10 riders which can't get anywhere top 20 on a mountain top finish nowadays. Like Garate, Honchar, Ardilla and Valjevec. EPO in full effect those days. Doesn't really matter since everyone was f*cked those years.

Epic stuff!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Are you sure you don't want to include stage 16 of the 2002 Giro and stage 1 of the 2010 Giro too?

(edit - also stage 8 of the 2009 Vuelta, even though that was a seriously disappointing stage)

PS I know you're primed and ready for an argument, clearly asking for one with your last sentence. I'll just say that it seems that the best all round rider of the modern era is unfortunately a jack of all trades and master of none.

I am not asking for an arguement. Name a better rider in the past 10 years who is a stronger all rounder on climbs, time trials, sprints (on tougher routes), classics, cobbles or dirt roads...? You say Jack of all trades and a master of none? Well that is up for interpretation.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

I am not asking for an arguement. Name a better rider in the past 10 years who is a stronger all rounder on climbs, time trials, sprints (on tougher routes), classics, cobbles or dirt roads...? You say Jack of all trades and a master of none? Well that is up for interpretation.

We've not seen Cadel ride cobbles against the cobbled specialists. Amongst GC riders he's the best on those and the dirt roads, certainly, as he's proven this year, but let's be honest, it's stretching it a bit to say that he's a strong all-rounder on cobbles. I imagine that were he to try it in April Cancellara, Boonen and co would leave him in their dust.

I say jack of all trades master of none because he's there or thereabouts in the climbs, there or thereabouts in the time trials, there or thereabouts in the classics, but his palmarès doesn't match up to it because there's usually someone who's a better climber, better time triallist, better classics man on the day. One win in Flèche, the Worlds, a points jersey and an - admittedly incredible - Giro stage is scant reward for somebody who's supposed to be the best all rounder in the world, no? Especially when you consider the palmarès of some of the riders only missing one part of that collection - Gilbert, Cancellara, Valverde.

 

[auscyclefan94]

We've not seen Cadel ride cobbles against the cobbled specialists. Amongst GC riders he's the best on those and the dirt roads, certainly, as he's proven this year, but let's be honest, it's stretching it a bit to say that he's a strong all-rounder on cobbles. I imagine that were he to try it in April Cancellara, Boonen and co would leave him in their dust.

I say jack of all trades master of none because he's there or thereabouts in the climbs, there or thereabouts in the time trials, there or thereabouts in the classics, but his palmarès doesn't match up to it because there's usually someone who's a better climber, better time triallist, better classics man on the day. One win in Flèche, the Worlds, a points jersey and an - admittedly incredible - Giro stage is scant reward for somebody who's supposed to be the best all rounder in the world, no? Especially when you consider the palmarès of some of the riders only missing one part of that collection - Gilbert, Cancellara, Valverde.

Yes but the cobbles stage which he road showed that he is strong on there. Cancellara does not match evans by a far way on the climbs, Gilbert does not match cadel on time trials or climbs by a fair bit and valverde is suspended but he does not match cadel on the tt's and I doubt he would be good in the strade bianche/marrone or cobbles.

I agree that he should have a few more big wins to his palmares, I would argue that he has been the best in many races across his career but tatics, injury and even race programing has hindered performance. I think some of the race programs he took on this year especially and some races in past years has been questionable.

 

[The Hitch]

Horrible 'music' ok too?
You can also just download that stage from this complete 2005 torrent pack: http://cyclingtorrents.nl/details.php?id=1782

thanks
......................

 

[The Hitch]

I am not asking for an arguement. Name a better rider in the past 10 years who is a stronger all rounder on climbs, time trials, sprints (on tougher routes), classics, cobbles or dirt roads...? You say Jack of all trades and a master of none? Well that is up for interpretation.

You could argue Contador -
Loses 2 minutes to Cuddles on cobbles - Verdict - Cuddles better
Takes about a minute from Cuddles in a long tt- Contador marginally better
Takes anywhere between 3 and 10 minutes from cuddles on hc mountain stages - Contador way better

Or schleck
ST as Cuddles on Cobbles - Verdict - they are equal
Loses about a minute to Cuddles on long tt- Cuddles marginaly better
Takes anywhere between 3 and 10 minutes from cuddles on hc mountain stages - Schleck way better
-------------------------------------------------------------
Or more broad definition of all round -Valverde

Road race. Cuddles won a worlds title, Valverde has come 2nd, 2nd and 3rd. + won National championship. Won u23 national championship. - Verdict - Cuddles marginaly better (huge benefit of the doubt. i personaly think Valverde more impressive)

Cobbles - Valverde never tried, Cuddles has come 3rd in 1 cobbles stage, never challenged in cobbled classics - Cuddles better

Mud - Valverde never tried, Cuddles has won 1 stage + MTB champion- Cuddles way better

TTs - Cuddles + 9, Valverde + 36 in 2009 vuelta - Cuddles slightly better

Sprints- Cuddles hopeless, Valverde - one of the greatest gt sprinters of all time. Great GT sprinter of our generation. Good bunch sprinter as well. Has beaten the likes of Freire. - Valverde a million times better

Ardennes classics - Cuddles Flech Wallone2010 , 2nd Flech Wallone 2007. Valverde- Super feat of Flech wallone and LBL double in same week- 2006. 2nd in FLech Wallone and LBL same week 2007. LBL 2008, 3rd Amstel Gold 2008 3rd LBL 2010. - Valverde way better.

Stage races - Cuddles - Romandie - 2006, Tour of Austria 2001, 2004, 2nd Dauphine 2008, 2nd 2009 , 1 or 2 stage wins here and there.
Valverde- Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 2008, 2009 Vuelta a Pais Vasco 2005, 2nd 2006, 2nd 2010. Romandie 2010, 3rd 2006 Vuelta a Burgos 2004, 2009 Volta a Catalunya 2009 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, 2004, 2007 Vuelta a Murcia 2004, 2007 2008, 2nd 2006 Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid 2nd 2009 + uncountable number of stage wins Valverde way way way better

Grand Tour stages - Valverde - 5 Vuelta stages 3 TDF stages. Cuddles 1 tdf stage 1 giro stage. - Valverde 4 times better

Grand Tours GC- Cuddles, 2nd TDF 2007 2nd TDF 2008, 3rd Vuelta 2009, 4th Tour 2006, 4th Vuleta 2007, 5th Giro 2010, 8th TDF 2005, 1 Giro points classification ( no wins 3 podiums, 3 more top 5, 1 more top 10 1 jersey.)

Valverde - 1st Vuelta a España 2009, 2nd 2006 3rd 2003, 3rd 2004, 5th 2008 6th tdf 2007 9th TDF 2008 Twice winner of combination classification ( 1 WIN, 3 more podiums, 1 more top 5, 2 more top 10s, 2 points jerseys) - Valverde way better

UCI Pro Tour Cuddles - Winner of UCI pro tour. 2007
Valverde - Winner of UCI pro tour. 2006, 2008

I did that, trying to be favourable to Evans -i said hes better on cobbles based on 1 top 5 cobbles stage placing, and i said hes better at road race based on 1 10 minute effort even though Valverdes 3 podiums and national jersey will be seen by many as evidence he is better. It also gives Cuddles the benefit of the doubt on tts based on 2009 vuelta even though Valverde has beaten Cuddles on other occasions And it doesnt count the 10 or so smaller classics victories Valverde had, of which cuddles has none

there it is.

Not quite the greatest all rounder of last decade, whatever way you look at it.

 

[the3verB]

Valverde beats Evans only in sprints.

in ITT, Valverde is a mediocre rider and Evans has a better GT palmares.

 

[El Pistolero]

Cuddles best allrounder this decade? What a joke.

Some of you must have never heard of Armstrong.

1) Better time trial specialist
2) Better climber
3) Better classics specialist(Armstrong didn't do much outside the Tour, but he did enter the Amstel Gold Race from time to time and got some good results. And in his past career he was a classics specialist)

I'de rate Contador way above Cuddles as well. And let's not forget Menchov...

 

[sublimit]

Welcome to the site BanjoBob.

Jean Francois Bernards epic individual time trial victory on Mt Ventoux back in the 1987 Le Tour. I am sure its on youtube. Why ? . Because I was on that slope cooked, and when this rider passed the pain and effort that was in his face gave you a chill. An awesome piece of riding. Think he took the yellow jersey after that and really looked like he would win the Tour but Roche had other ideas . Interesting times. Hinault just retired and Lemond injured and new generation of rider was coming through and the whole of France where depending on Bernard as the next successor to Hinault.

I go with that., Jeff(Jean- Francios) Bernard was something else.. When he put his mind to it he could batter anybody out of site.

Its very rare to find a rider capable of riding long flat ITT's and mountain ITT's equally well but he had the class to do it.

 

[The Hitch]

Valverde beats Evans only in sprints.

in ITT, Valverde is a mediocre rider and Evans has a better GT palmares.

I will retype the Grand Tour results comparison for your benefit

Grand Tours GC- Cuddles, 2nd TDF 2007 2nd TDF 2008, 3rd Vuelta 2009, 4th Tour 2006, 4th Vuleta 2007, 5th Giro 2010, 8th TDF 2005, 1 Giro points classification ( no wins 3 podiums, 3 more top 5, 1 more top 10 1 jersey.)

Valverde - 1st Vuelta a España 2009, 2nd 2006 3rd 2003, 3rd 2004, 5th 2008 6th tdf 2007 9th TDF 2008 Twice winner of combination classification ( 1 WIN, 3 more podiums, 1 more top 5, 2 more top 10s, 2 points jerseys) - Valverde way better.

So Valverde has 4times as many GT stage wins as Cuddles. He has 4 podiums to Cuddles 3. He has 2 jerseys (not counting win) to Cuddles 1.

ANd most importantly, he has won a gt.

Whichever way you look at it, Valverde has a better Gt record than Cuddles.

Come to think of it you were probably joking, but you might as well have said - Cuddles has a better Gt record than Contador. It would be equally wrong.

 

[the3verB]

I will retype the Grand Tour results comparison for your benefit

Grand Tours GC- Cuddles, 2nd TDF 2007 2nd TDF 2008, 3rd Vuelta 2009, 4th Tour 2006, 4th Vuleta 2007, 5th Giro 2010, 8th TDF 2005, 1 Giro points classification ( no wins 3 podiums, 3 more top 5, 1 more top 10 1 jersey.)

Valverde - 1st Vuelta a España 2009, 2nd 2006 3rd 2003, 3rd 2004, 5th 2008 6th tdf 2007 9th TDF 2008 Twice winner of combination classification ( 1 WIN, 3 more podiums, 1 more top 5, 2 more top 10s, 2 points jerseys) - Valverde way better.

So Valverde has 4times as many GT stage wins as Cuddles. He has 4 podiums to Cuddles 3. He has 2 jerseys (not counting win) to Cuddles 1.

ANd most importantly, he has won a gt.

Whichever way you look at it, Valverde has a better Gt record than Cuddles.

Come to think of it you were probably joking, but you might as well have said - Cuddles has a better Gt record than Contador. It would be equally wrong.

it s your point of view.
Therefore Cadel Evans has a way better palmares than Piti in road race beacause he has a WIN in the Worlds, but you say their palmares is almost equal in this category.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

it s your point of view.
Therefore Cadel Evans has a way better palmares than Piti in road race beacause he has a WIN in the Worlds, but you say their palmares is almost equal in this category.

Mainly because 3 podiums shows consistency.

In GTs, Valverde has more podiums than Evans, even without counting the win.

On the other hand, you could point out that Evans has 2 podiums in the Tour, whereas Valverde's are all in the Vuelta, and a debate about the relative qualities of the races could ensue.

But at the end of the day, it's not Valverde's fault Evans has failed to capitalise on the talent he has and taken as many wins as he should have done (or, depending on your cynicism about Valverde, maybe it is). All Valverde's done is race, and he has a much, much, much better palmarès than Evans has.

On the other hand, there may not be a cloud hanging over Evans' achievements, while there will always be one over Valverde's. But Valverde has a better record in classics, and if I'm charitable to Evans I'll say "as good as" Evans in the GTs (allowing for some sway about the relative merits of the Tour and Vuelta podiums. But Valverde is much better at sniffing out victories, and you may say "Evans is better on dirt and cobbles", but how many times have he and Valverde locked horns on those? How many times has Evans actually raced on those? The three places those guys lock horns are hilly classics (Valverde has a superior palmarès, though Evans having the Worlds does something to pull it back), short stage races (Valverde has a much better palmarès) and Grand Tours (Evans has an equal palmarès to Valverde's, tempered slightly by Valverde having an overall win)

 

[Kellys Big Sprocket]

I go with that., Jeff(Jean- Francios) Bernard was something else.. When he put his mind to it he could batter anybody out of site.

Its very rare to find a rider capable of riding long flat ITT's and mountain ITT's equally well but he had the class to do it.

I forgot he was called Jeff He was a class act but I feel after Hinault soooooooo much was expected from him and this did him no favours but then again if he rode for La Vie and then onto the Toshiba stable the media where always going to build him up before knocking him. Just like Ronan Pensec.............always had room for improvement.

 

[The Hitch]

Mainly because 3 podiums shows consistency.

In GTs, Valverde has more podiums than Evans, even without counting the win.

On the other hand, you could point out that Evans has 2 podiums in the Tour, whereas Valverde's are all in the Vuelta, and a debate about the relative qualities of the races could ensue.

But at the end of the day, it's not Valverde's fault Evans has failed to capitalise on the talent he has and taken as many wins as he should have done (or, depending on your cynicism about Valverde, maybe it is). All Valverde's done is race, and he has a much, much, much better palmarès than Evans has.

On the other hand, there may not be a cloud hanging over Evans' achievements, while there will always be one over Valverde's. But Valverde has a better record in classics, and if I'm charitable to Evans I'll say "as good as" Evans in the GTs (allowing for some sway about the relative merits of the Tour and Vuelta podiums. But Valverde is much better at sniffing out victories, and you may say "Evans is better on dirt and cobbles", but how many times have he and Valverde locked horns on those? How many times has Evans actually raced on those? The three places those guys lock horns are hilly classics (Valverde has a superior palmarès, though Evans having the Worlds does something to pull it back), short stage races (Valverde has a much better palmarès) and Grand Tours (Evans has an equal palmarès to Valverde's, tempered slightly by Valverde having an overall win)

Since we are throwing around all these variables, we could add that all of Cadelsa big results ( tdf podiums, gt stage wins, fw world) have come since the turn of 30, and Valverde has just turned 30. He will lose 1 of those years, but he seems to improve with age (not as much as others, but improve nonetheless) so could yet improve on those 4 gt podiums (to evans 3)

 

[ultimobici]

Valverde beats Evans only in sprints.

in ITT, Valverde is a mediocre rider and Evans has a better GT palmares.

Couple of questions, setting aside Valverde's clouds!

1 How many GT wins has Evans?
2 How many monuments has Evans won?

Answer in both cases - NONE!

To use the WC for any comparisons is inane. There are too many variables that skew things. Not all teams are the same numerically, as well as trade team alliances under the surface.

But to call any modern era rider an allrounder is somewhat disingenuous to the true meaning of the term.

Tuesday saw the death of one of the last true allrounders. A rider who competed in the GT's as well as competing in the Classics from MSR through PR and on to Lombardia. From the dawn of the modern (EPO) era specialisation has been the norm to the point where it is almost impossible to be competitive in all fields. GT OR Classics is the choice forced on riders now.

As for my choices, in no particular order

Charly Mottet's 1988 Lombardia
Lemond's 1989 World's
Madiot's 1985 Roubaix (and anyone else who rode, let alone finished!)
Fignon's 88 & 89 San Remos
Kelly's 92 MSR - Almost felt sorry for Argentin.
Kelly & Lemond sprinting it out at Lombardia in 83*

* I know it's 27 years ago but it has to go in!

 

[The Hitch]

it s your point of view.
Therefore Cadel Evans has a way better palmares than Piti in road race beacause he has a WIN in the Worlds, but you say their palmares is almost equal in this category.

Of all the posts i have ever written, that was probably the only one to which the phrase " Thats your point of view" doesnt really work. 90% of the post was me pasting in their grand tour results.

the other 10% was me making the observation, that in anyway you calculate, Val Pitis numbers are higher than those of Evens.

Number of wins - 1-0 Valverde. Number of podiums 4-3 Valverde. Number of top 10s 7-7 tie. Number of stage wins 8-2 Valverde.

I am simply observing that the number 1 is higher than the number 0.

ps Had you said - better tdf rider, you would have had a point, but you said gt rider, and that includes them all.

 

[skidmark]

As for my choices, in no particular order

Charly Mottet's 1988 Lombardia
Lemond's 1989 World's
Madiot's 1985 Roubaix (and anyone else who rode, let alone finished!)
Fignon's 88 & 89 San Remos
Kelly's 92 MSR - Almost felt sorry for Argentin.
Kelly & Lemond sprinting it out at Lombardia in 83*

* I know it's 27 years ago but it has to go in!

All of the ones of those that I've seen or read about are exciting. But this is a stage asking for Grand Tour stages from 1985-2010, and none of those examples are of Grand tour stages.

 

[bobs nob]

Stage 17, 2006. Hands down.

Stage 17 will forever be one of the greatest moments in sports ever for me.

 

[marinoni]

I'm not sure about epic, but the final TT into Paris in 89 was incredibly exciting. It was actually spoiled a bit for me. The broadcast was on at 4:30pm, long before the days of live coverage in North America. Since I knew that no matter what would happen it would be amazing, I carefully avoided any exposure to the TV all day so I would not hear the results early. At 4:30 I sat down in front of the TV thinking I'm home free when just before the show, one of those "here's whats coming up at 6 on Eyewitness News" updates came on. Before I could shut the TV off they announced that American Greg Lemond has won the Tour de France by 8 seconds. AAAAAAAh!!! Oh well... it was still pretty cool though.

 

[Ferminal]

Giro 2010 Mortirolo.

Agreed, I feel that history may overlook the events of this day perhaps in favour of the Montalcino and L'Aquila stages, but Mortirolo was truly epic, if only for Arroyo's fight.

 

[skidmark]

Stage 17 will forever be one of the greatest moments in sports ever for me.

Yeah, there's nothing that can ever ruin that moment (assuming you're talking about 2006, or course). When it was announced that Landis was positive, it was head-shaking (not crushing, as I didn't like Landis or want him to win, but was enraptured by the style of his win nonetheless). But with perspective and a greater understanding of how professional cycling works/worked, I can really shrug it off and enjoy it for the spectacle it was when I watch the replay. Such an incredible and audacious exploit, it deserves its place in the pantheon of the sport in my opinion. I'm sure many will disagree; for me though, that moment was what took my interest in pro cycling up a level.

 

[jens_attacks]

Stage 17 will forever be one of the greatest moments in sports ever for me.

+1.

it's sad that something so epic won't happen anymore.