Oh! I do love this article on RDV...

[beer_thirty]

And if RDV has issues with Pozzato being too pretty, what did the old man have to say about this, circa 2003?

AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Parrulo]

AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH! MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!

better now?

 

[beer_thirty]

better now?

That is simply beyond description; train wreck hideous. Makes the Cipo picture look like Prince Charles in a top hat and tails.

Please, no more, I beg of you!!

 

[usedtobefast]

His statement about Pozzato and his Ferrari is hilarious to me because it brings to mind an associate/club member who bought a 2 seater as his only car and now expects everyone to be his and his bike's mode of transport to any race, ride or event that is of any distance.

i liked that comment too,very revealing.

 

[unsheath]

The man has earned the right to say whatever the F he wants.

Personally I think he's hit the nail on the head, except that he did compete in an era of a significantly smaller talent pool so he has over inflated his own accomplishments.

 

[fatsprintking]

The man has earned the right to say whatever the F he wants.

Personally I think he's hit the nail on the head, except that he did compete in an era of a significantly smaller talent pool so he has over inflated his own accomplishments.

Merckx, Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas, Hinault, Verbeek, Kneetemen, Zootmelk, Sarroni - yeah the talent pool was tiny - he should have won 400 races riding against those chumps. If ever there was a time to win ALL the monuments of the sport that was it, when there was really nobody else around.

 

[La Pandera]

better now?

EEEEEOOOOOOh!!!! Did they have to greeeze him all up like that???!!!

 

[La Pandera]

merckx, moser, maertens, kuiper, raas, hinault, verbeek, kneetemen, zootmelk, sarroni - yeah the talent pool was tiny - he should have won 400 races riding against those chumps. If ever there was a time to win all the monuments of the sport that was it, when there was really nobody else around.

lol!!!! +10000

 

[auscyclefan94]

better now?

How would a greased up hetero sexual nut job like Pozzato advertise Sidi shoes?

Anyway, RDV has come across as a real ***. Pozzato doesn't always ride with panache but his comments were harsh, incorrect and over the top about him and Boonen. RDV also has a big ego.

 

[movingtarget]

Merckx, Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas, Hinault, Verbeek, Kneetemen, Zootmelk, Sarroni - yeah the talent pool was tiny - he should have won 400 races riding against those chumps. If ever there was a time to win ALL the monuments of the sport that was it, when there was really nobody else around.

I love it. Great rider who I think is more cynical about some of today's riders and the sport than he is jealous. He is also obviously stirring the pot and is funny as well. His points about talented riders targetting a handful of races each season are completely valid and that is one major difference between his generation of riders and today's.

 

[hrotha]

Merckx, Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas, Hinault, Verbeek, Kneetemen, Zootmelk, Sarroni - yeah the talent pool was tiny - he should have won 400 races riding against those chumps. If ever there was a time to win ALL the monuments of the sport that was it, when there was really nobody else around.

The best riders were very good, but the average level wasn't as high so it was much easier for the best riders to shine. Just like in amateur races.

 

[goggalor]

Merckx, Moser, Maertens, Kuiper, Raas, Hinault, Verbeek, Kneetemen, Zootmelk, Sarroni - yeah the talent pool was tiny - he should have won 400 races riding against those chumps. If ever there was a time to win ALL the monuments of the sport that was it, when there was really nobody else around.

Smaller talent pool, not fewer stars.

 

[fatsprintking]

Smaller talent pool, not fewer stars.

Yeah and RDV had to compete against those stars in almost every race he rode. The fact is that the talent pool in modern cycling is diluted due to specialization - the point I think the great man was trying to make.

 

[spalco]

Personally I think he's hit the nail on the head, except that he did compete in an era of a significantly smaller talent pool so he has over inflated his own accomplishments.

I'm not convinced that is even true. Cycling is a bit more diverse in regards to nationality than it used to be, but are there really more people actually racing competitively today on a decent level than in the 70s?

Maybe the answer is "yes" but I don't think it's self-evident only because there are a couple Russians and Americans in the peloton.

 

[fatsprintking]

I'm not convinced that is even true. Cycling is a bit more diverse in regards to nationality than it used to be, but are there really more people actually racing competitively today on a decent level than in the 70s?

Maybe the answer is "yes" but I don't think it's self-evident only because there are a couple Russians and Americans in the peloton.

You also only had road, track and cyclocross with many riders doing all three. The options for cyclists have gotten greater even within cycling let alone when you think about the multitude of other sporting options that are available.

It also seems stupid to talk about it somehow being harder to win now considering one rider managed to dominate the tour for 7 years - regardless of the obvious answers.

 

[JA.Tri]

off topic

His statement about Pozzato and his Ferrari is hilarious to me because it brings to mind an associate/club member who bought a 2 seater as his only car and now expects everyone to be his and his bike's mode of transport to any race, ride or event that is of any distance.

Some people are "royalty" and obviously deserve/have earnt the right to treat all and sundry as servants (NOT). The degree of arrogance illustrated by above "****er" is almost legendary.

 

[Echoes]

The talent pool back then was as huge if not more than today.

De Vlaeminck raced when cycling was still at the peak of its popularity. The most popular sport in France, Belgium and Italy. Even bigger than football.

Popular culture would always refer to cycling.

Actually ALL Europe was cycling. Only 20% of the working class people could afford a moped. Almost all of the all time greats - older than his generation - were delivery men and used the bike as delivery men.

The super talents could NOT go unnoticed.

Coppi was a delivery man.
Bobet too
Van Steenbergen too
Van Looy too
Kübler too
Merckx too
Hinault too

The vespa started democratizing in the mid 50's, but it took some decades before it really becomes popular. The bike was still the most popular means of transport for some generations.

The "other nationalities" were there but the level of European racing was way above, period.

 

[pmcg76]

The talent pool back then was as huge if not more than today.

De Vlaeminck raced when cycling was still at the peak of its popularity. The most popular sport in France, Belgium and Italy. Even bigger than football.

Popular culture would always refer to cycling.

Actually ALL Europe was cycling. Only 20% of the working class people could afford a moped. Almost all of the all time greats - older than his generation - were delivery men and used the bike as delivery men.

The super talents could NOT go unnoticed.

Coppi was a delivery man.
Bobet too
Van Steenbergen too
Van Looy too
Kübler too
Merckx too
Hinault too

The vespa started democratizing in the mid 50's, but it took some decades before it really becomes popular. The bike was still the most popular means of transport for some generations.

The "other nationalities" were there but the level of European racing was way above, period.


And of course, no EPO back then.

I dont think there is any way to prove that Europeans were of a higher standard back then. Were Europeans of a higher standard in distance running before the Africans started to arrive en masse because that is a similar comparison. It is always hard to compete across generations.

I would agree the competition for most races was better in the 70s as most riders competed in more races, although I dont think the likes of Zootomelk, Gimondi, Thevenent competed in Flanders or Paris-Roubaix too often. I think there was a generation of riders at a similar high level which made the racing more interesting.

 

[fatsprintking]

I dont think there is any way to prove that Europeans were of a higher standard back then. Were Europeans of a higher standard in distance running before the Africans started to arrive en masse because that is a similar comparison. It is always hard to compete across generations.

I would agree the competition for most races was better in the 70s as most riders competed in more races, although I dont think the likes of Zootomelk, Gimondi, Thevenent competed in Flanders or Paris-Roubaix too often. I think there was a generation of riders at a similar high level which made the racing more interesting.

Get a copy of "A Sunday in Hell" and have a look at who is in there having a crack - pretty sure you will see old Joop baby and maybe even Gimondi as well. Most of the top riders rode all the races.

 

[hrotha]

The mere fact that riders didn't need to specialize suggests the average level was lower.

 

[Siriuscat]

The Gypsy was one of the true Flahute, he can say what he likes because unlike 99.9% of us keyboard warriors HE HAS DONE IT, he's won these monuments and has a palmares most of todays riders would dream of.

Does he sound like a bitter old man, yeah probably, my dad is of the same generation he's a miserable old scrote as well most of the time!!

Keep winding them up Roger!

EDIT....just for info purposes........

Milan – San Remo 1973, 1978, 1979
Ronde van Vlaanderen 1977
Paris–Roubaix 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1970
Giro di Lombardia 1974, 1976
Cyclo-cross World Championships 1975
Tour de Suisse 1975 (including six stage wins)
Tour de France (stage win) 1970
Giro d'Italia points classification: 1972, 1974, 1975
22 stage wins between 1972 and 1979
Vuelta a España (stage win) 1984
Tirreno–Adriatico (Overall) 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Omloop Het Volk 1969, 1979
La Flèche Wallonne 1971
Züri-Metzgete 1975
Paris–Brussels 1981
Belgian National Road Race Championships 1969, 1981
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne 1970, 1971
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen 1971
Milano–Torino 1972, 1974
Coppa Agostoni 1975, 1976
Giro del Veneto 1974
Druivenkoers Overijse 1970, 1972, 1974, 1978
Grote Scheldeprijs 1970

 

[movingtarget]

The Gypsy was one of the true Flahute, he can say what he likes because unlike 99.9% of us keyboard warriors HE HAS DONE IT, he's won these monuments and has a palmares most of todays riders would dream of.

Does he sound like a bitter old man, yeah probably, my dad is of the same generation he's a miserable old scrote as well most of the time!!

Keep winding them up Roger!

EDIT....just for info purposes........

Milan – San Remo 1973, 1978, 1979
Ronde van Vlaanderen 1977
Paris–Roubaix 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 1970
Giro di Lombardia 1974, 1976
Cyclo-cross World Championships 1975
Tour de Suisse 1975 (including six stage wins)
Tour de France (stage win) 1970
Giro d'Italia points classification: 1972, 1974, 1975
22 stage wins between 1972 and 1979
Vuelta a España (stage win) 1984
Tirreno–Adriatico (Overall) 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Omloop Het Volk 1969, 1979
La Flèche Wallonne 1971
Züri-Metzgete 1975
Paris–Brussels 1981
Belgian National Road Race Championships 1969, 1981
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne 1970, 1971
E3 Prijs Vlaanderen 1971
Milano–Torino 1972, 1974
Coppa Agostoni 1975, 1976
Giro del Veneto 1974
Druivenkoers Overijse 1970, 1972, 1974, 1978
Grote Scheldeprijs 1970

Not much more to add really, that says it all.

 

[Echoes]

The mere fact that riders didn't need to specialize suggests the average level was lower.

You cannot be serious!

Leman, didn't need to specialize?
Rosiers, didn't need to specialize?
Fuente, didn't need to specialize?

Thévenet, Van Impe, Demeyer, ... ?


If the likes of Merckx, Gimondi or De Vlaeminck were generalists, it's because they were multi talents and stronger than the average riders. That's all.

Today's is just a mug era.

I dont think there is any way to prove that Europeans were of a higher standard back then. Were Europeans of a higher standard in distance running before the Africans started to arrive en masse because that is a similar comparison. It is always hard to compete across generations.

Again, non-Europeans had already arrived 'en masse'. The first Aussie to race Milan Sanremo was Munro back in the 1910's.

I listed some non-Europeans who competed against the Gipsy, here: http://forum.cyclingnews.com/showpost.php?p=483899&postcount=16

And I could have added Danny Clark, Cochise Rodriguez, the Czech Jiri Daler, etc.

 

[El Pistolero]

Oh please, can't see how you can argue against the fact that cycling is on a higher level nowadays then back in the 70s.

As if Merckx could have ever won Paris-Roubaix and the Tour in the same year in modern cycling. To win the Tour nowadays you need to weight 60kg. Just look at Euskaltel-Euskadi what that does to you in Paris-Roubaix.

 

[Race Radio]

The breadth of the sport these days is far greater. In the 70's you basically could make a living on the road, and maybe as a 6 day racer. These days you have riders making a good living focused only on Cross, Mtn Bike, Endurance racing, Track, even Gran Fondo's. Instead of being focused on 3 countries there are opportunities to race world wide

I used to think that specialization was a bad thing for the sport but now I realize that it is a symptom of the health of the sport.