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Even Pantani could have an off-climbing day. The real difference between him climbing and Indurain, was at the Motirolo-Aprica stage of the 94 Giro. This was when the Italian TV comentator said Pantani on the Mortirolo was like watching a raging bull charge up a mountain. Indurain blew up and lost that Giro to Berzin, who was also dropped by Marco, as a result. Big Mig though had some fine climbing days, another was Hautacam in the 94 Tour, but mostly he had to ride with prudence against the pure goats.
Indurain is probably one of the most underrated climbers ever.
Right Hautacam was in 94, when on GC I think Indurain won of course, Ugrjumovs was 2nd and Pantani 3rd. On Hautacam Pantani I think attacked from the bottom, but he wasn't going in full flight just yet. So Indurain, in one of his best climbing days ever, bridged up with Luc Leblanc in tow, dropped Pantani, with the Frenchman winning the stage with a late attack inside 1 km to go. It was very foggy on the mountain.
True Armstrong had the most solid team and would build up a big lead with a TT and the first mountain stage. However, he could be vulnerable deep in the race in the mountains and that's where Pantani could have made him seriously crack and ship big time. I think the Pantani of 99, had Madonna di Campiglio not happened, would have been flying in the Tour uphill. And he would have had peak powers in 2000, 2001, 2002 and possibly 2003. I'm not saying he would have consistently won more Tours, but 1 or 2 plausibly, again had Madonna di Campiglio never gone down. Doubtless, however, he would have done more climbing feats and probably set more climbing record times.
During Indurain's reign people kept saying it was impossible a rider his size beat little climbers in the mountains - but he kept rubbing mud in their faces. Hautacam 1994 was a great example, he let Leblanc take the stage after riding off the front in pursuit of Pantani near the bottom. Pantani was eventually 16 seconds down on stage. Another example of Indurain's underrated climbing was 1993 - to stage 10 to Serre Chevalier. He finished with Rominger but check the time gaps to climbers like Virenque, Zulle, Bugno and Chiappucci
www.procyclingstats.com
PS: The thing is Armstrong could not have lived with Pantani, had Madonna di Campiglio never happened. Marco would have made Lance extremely nervous, with his nous for the right moment to attack, unpredictability (the Texan liked to have everything under control, but with Pantani that's not possible) and his indomitable will. Pantani was one tough son-of-a...in cycling terms, who would not have been intimidated, nor bullied into submission and Lance knows it. Pantani, without Madonna di Campiglio, would have been US Postal's worst nightmare, other than Ullrich.
Well, I've never seen GT before where the 'massive favourite' wins 5 stages, gets on the podium 8 times and finishes in the top 20 twelve times and never has a difficult moment. It's almost as bad as in Catalunya where he made a fool out Landa, Vlasov, Mas and Kuss. Let me guess: 3rd tier riders, right?
This is a result of a generational talented rider +3rd tier riders in a race of 21 days.
Well Landa, Vlasov and Mas are not stronger riders than those currently behind Pog at this Giro. You’d could make a case for Kuss on last year’s Vuelta but Landa was convincingly beaten by Jai Hindley two years ago.
Naaaa......... 3rd tier. There's not a single top 15 climber in this race except for Pogacar.
Truly
Looking at their peak numbers Marco would smoke him a lot of times in the mountains
Exactly and that would have driven Armstrong insane. Let's remember, Armstrong never had to deal with a peak Pantani, who, unlike Ullrich, would have made him lose hair and given him sleepless nights.
The only thing who could save Armstrong against Pantani, was the usual 2 time trials of 55 km in the Tour.
Armstrong looked really cranky when Pantani dared to challenge him on Ventoux in 2000. I think he also made some narky comments afterwards. Yet Marco was clearly at a lower level by the 2000 TdF after what happened at Madonna di Campiglio.
Even so, Pantani dropped Armstrong on courchevel right?
For me, he rather reminds me somehow of Obelix, who accidentally fell into magic potion as a kid. Which made him unbeatable and stronger than all those who have to drink magic potion before each battle.
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