Rough Attempt at an All-Time Ranking

[Peyroteo94]

I don't buy the idea that it was all that easier to win in the past, at least in terms of couple of decades, they took it seriously.

How many riders do you have from the specialization era? Valverde and Pogacar. Valverde is not even close to be a top10 rider of all times. Froome, Contador and Nibali are above him in big wins.

 

[YavorD]

I don't buy the idea that it was all that easier to win in the past, at least in terms of couple of decades, they took it seriously.

Of course it wasn't. The best 2-3 or 5 riders compete with each other, they don't compete with the average rider.

 

[KenFiamingo]

I don't buy the idea that it was all that easier to win in the past, at least in terms of couple of decades, they took it seriously.

Even in the era of Merckx of which a lot of people say he was racing against farmers. I obviously don't agree with that. All of his competitors tried to be the best version of themselves using the means and knowledge of those days. Just like they do today. Sports is a survival of the fittest and because of that athletes will always seek how they can become better.