A race's worth in collective memory is based on the adversity of a particular era & how much impact the winner makes. No matter how many people might want a value set in stone which determines the "best", by & large the reality is the best is where the best race & how memorable the fight was (or the performance).
I mean there's just no way Geraint Thomas's Tour win for example is worth more than Roglic's 3 Vueltas. It was nice for Thomas of course but than one win doesn't mean he'll be remembered as a better cyclist than Primoz Roglic. Where were the memorable stages? The battles? The key moments? The drama? That's what matters.
This applies to all races & winners. Just look at this season: technically speaking Milan San Remo is a bigger race than Strade Bianche, yet I'd wager Mathieu van der Poel crushing Alaphilippe in Strade had far more impact on cycling followers than Jasper Stuyven winning Milan San Remo.
Yes, the Tour de France is obviously the biggest race. But it has had its ups & downs with its less memorable, less favored winners who're quickly forgotten. Pogacar is such a superstar in large part due to "how" he won both Tours: a smashing TT which shocked the world last year & total crushing domination this year (putting 3 minutes on his rivals in a mountain stage is very rare).
If Evenepoel wins the Vuelta in the coming years, you'll be singing a different tune.
I mean there's just no way Geraint Thomas's Tour win for example is worth more than Roglic's 3 Vueltas. It was nice for Thomas of course but than one win doesn't mean he'll be remembered as a better cyclist than Primoz Roglic. Where were the memorable stages? The battles? The key moments? The drama? That's what matters.
This applies to all races & winners. Just look at this season: technically speaking Milan San Remo is a bigger race than Strade Bianche, yet I'd wager Mathieu van der Poel crushing Alaphilippe in Strade had far more impact on cycling followers than Jasper Stuyven winning Milan San Remo.
Yes, the Tour de France is obviously the biggest race. But it has had its ups & downs with its less memorable, less favored winners who're quickly forgotten. Pogacar is such a superstar in large part due to "how" he won both Tours: a smashing TT which shocked the world last year & total crushing domination this year (putting 3 minutes on his rivals in a mountain stage is very rare).
Ok, we're officially entering coocoo land. This is where i get out.
If Evenepoel wins the Vuelta in the coming years, you'll be singing a different tune.