Pantani 99 vs Armstrong 99

[Race Radio]

Looking back on the 1999 TDF route, it definitely plays into the hands of the TTer with 2 TTs of over 50kms

True. Also a short Prologue......Pantani lost 48 seconds in an even short prolouge in 1998.

Lance would likely win

 

[The_Juan]

That does not tell me much. If Pantani were allowed to continue during the '99 Giro, then he probably would have dominated for a while. However, that was not the case and he never regained his former level. Armstrong never had to deal with such a major blow to his program.

Doesn't tell me me much... LOL.



God bless you brother.

 

[Archibald]

physically Pantani would have topped him.
mentally, with Wonderboy's games and antics, I'm not so sure...

 

[staubsauger]

Pantani never wanted to compete at that years tour. He planned to rest after his Giro victory anyway.

So you should if he would've been able to beat Armstrong in 2000 with top-shape.

 

[ghostofjoy]

physically Pantani would have topped him.
mentally, with Wonderboy's games and antics, I'm not so sure...

this is my first thought. armstrong would have been close-ish on the climbs, probably superior in the tt, and would have mind f---ed pantani to death in between.

 

[MBotero]

No way,in Lance we trust I'm not convinced that a top shape Pantani could have beat Lance,that guy was so focused on his goals,don't think even a top Pantani would have stopped him.

 

[jens_attacks]

he wasn't that strong in 1999 though. 2000 was something else...

 

[MBotero]

he wasn't that strong in 1999 though. 2000 was something else...

Hard to say if Lance was ever forced to ride to his limits.I seen some stages with the actual top guys,where they give the impression they could go even faster but they hold back for the obvious reasons.

 

[Amazinmets73]

Hard to say if Lance was ever forced to ride to his limits.I seen some stages with the actual top guys,where they give the impression they could go even faster but they hold back for the obvious reasons.

I say he absolutely was pushed to his limits in 2003

 

[perico]

After Sestriers in 99, his Lanceness took his foot off the gas so he wouldn't look too suspicious. In all likelihood, he was as strong as he was in 2000-01 that year. I was a Pirate fan back in those days, but there was no way he would've beaten Armstrong. Armstrong would've pushed him over the mental edge.

 

[perico]

I say he absolutely was pushed to his limits in 2003

Ullrich was the only rider physically capable of beating the clinician, and had he not been sick in the Alpes, he likely would've won that year.

 

[djpbaltimore]

he wasn't that strong in 1999 though. 2000 was something else...

USPS also wasn't nearly as strong in 1999 as what it would soon become. They had some strong guys on the flats, but Hamilton and Livingston were his only help in the mountains. Andreu was fourth on the team in GC and he lost 2hr.

 

[roundabout]

he wasn't that strong in 1999 though. 2000 was something else...

Only Zülle finished within 90 seconds basically on Sestriere.

Game over from there.

 

[Futuroscope]

I completely disagree that Lance could have gotten Pantani off his game by playing mindgames. Pantani wasn't the most mentally stable person but when he was on the bike, in shape and focused Lance wouldn't have been able to intimidate him. It would only have made Pantani better!

 

[jens_attacks]

Only Zülle finished within 90 seconds basically on Sestriere.

Game over from there.

yes but lance didn't give any sign of very high wattage. actually even vayer i think has him at green! level lol in 1999
on the other hand, marco was flying to absolut limit and above it in giro 1999. 7 w/kg and above only. it would have been a slaughter i'm sure

one year later, the texan boss came prepared to the teeth though, no more "just some jet fuel but a litttle not much".

 

[Futuroscope]

I think Pantani '99 beats every version of Lance. And there is no way he could have controlled the races the way he wanted to with an in shape Pantani in the race.

 

[roundabout]

They climbed Alpe d'Huez in about 42 minutes that year, I think?

I did not watch most of the climb and tuned in when Heulot was almost caught. I remember being surprised that there were 10 people or so still in the group.

Then again, I don't remember if it was the wind, or they genuinely could not go any faster.

 

[Fearless Greg Lemond]

Then again, I don't remember if it was the wind, or they genuinely could not go any faster.

The race was already over, why worry?

Armstrong 1999 was no match for Giro Pantani, no way.

 

[roundabout]

10 people (ok, I checked and it was Guerini +8) within 20 seconds at the finish is rather unusual for Alpe d'Huez

Edit: there was a rather large group behind Mayo in 2003 as well. Another slow climb, incidentally.

 

[Netserk]

10 people (ok, I checked and it was Guerini +8) within 20 seconds at the finish is rather unusual for Alpe d'Huez

Edit: there was a rather large group behind Mayo in 2003 as well. Another slow climb, incidentally.

2011 also saw a big group (edit: 6 riders. Thought it was more) together.