The Best and The Worst One Hit Wonders.

[perico]

Best: Not counting Ullrich-
Delgado- His 3 GT victories all had some controversy, as his 1988 victory definitely had. However, he could've or should've won at least 2, if not more.

1983- Was 2nd on GC in the 3rd week ahead of Fignon. Came down with food poisoning and it killed any chance as he lost tons of ground and finished 15th. He likely would've won that Tour.

1984- was top 5 then crashed out on the last day in the mountains.

1985- 6th on GC. Won the stage to Luz Ardiden.

1986- Was lying 4th overall in the last week, when he abandoned on the stage to Alpe d'huez. Would've likely podiumed ahead of Zimmerman, who completely blew up on the descent and lost 9 minutes on the last stages.

1987- 2nd overall on the final GC, 44 seconds behind Roche. Bad tactics probably cost him the race, as he went too early on the climb to La Plagne, but Roche deserved the victory.

1988- 1st- 8 minute victory over 2nd place in a TDF that he completely dominated.

1989- Strongest rider in the race. Also maybe the dumbest. Take away the 2:48 he lost for showing up late to the prologue and you have a completely different race.

1990- LeMond's top rival, and the only one he was really concerned about through the entire race. A strange race all the way around, with the 10 minute advantage to Chiappucci. Delgado came down with an illness in the last week and lost his podium spot, winding up 4th. Was probably the 3rd strongest rider, as this was LeMond's most dominant win, despite the small time gaps, and also a bit weaker than his own domestique, Big Mig.

1991- Played 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 9th.

1992- 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 6th.

1993- 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 9th.

Basically had the same career arc as that of the other two dominant riders of the 1983 era: LeMond and Fignon. All the great riders from 1983-90 saw their powers wane as a new "enhanced" generation come to the fore.

 

[Angliru]

Best: Not counting Ullrich-
Delgado- His 3 GT victories all had some controversy, as his 1988 victory definitely had. However, he could've or should've won at least 2, if not more.

1983- Was 2nd on GC in the 3rd week ahead of Fignon. Came down with food poisoning and it killed any chance as he lost tons of ground and finished 15th. He likely would've won that Tour.

1984- was top 5 then crashed out on the last day in the mountains.

1985- 6th on GC. Won the stage to Luz Ardiden.

1986- Was lying 4th overall in the last week, when he abandoned on the stage to Alpe d'huez. Would've likely podiumed ahead of Zimmerman, who completely blew up on the descent and lost 9 minutes on the last stages.

1987- 2nd overall on the final GC, 44 seconds behind Roche. Bad tactics probably cost him the race, as he went too early on the climb to La Plagne, but Roche deserved the victory.

1988- 1st- 8 minute victory over 2nd place in a TDF that he completely dominated.

1989- Strongest rider in the race. Also maybe the dumbest. Take away the 2:48 he lost for showing up late to the prologue and you have a completely different race.

1990- LeMond's top rival, and the only one he was really concerned about through the entire race. A strange race all the way around, with the 10 minute advantage to Chiappucci. Delgado came down with an illness in the last week and lost his podium spot, winding up 4th. Was probably the 3rd strongest rider, as this was LeMond's most dominant win, despite the small time gaps, and also a bit weaker than his own domestique, Big Mig.

1991- Played 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 9th.

1992- 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 6th.

1993- 2nd fiddle to Big Mig and finished 9th.

Basically had the same career arc as that of the other two dominant riders of the 1983 era: LeMond and Fignon. All the great riders from 1983-90 saw their powers wane as a new "enhanced" generation come to the fore.

To add to the above I believe IIRC he has the most grand tour top tens in the history of the sport.

 

[airstream]

Wow, I'm surprised that Froome is not included in the list of one day wonders. )

 

[SetonHallPirate]

Wow, I'm surprised that Froome is not included in the list of one day wonders. )

Froome would have a Vuelta title were it not for both bad tactics by Team Sky (in retrospect) or Cobo being a one-hit wonder in that Vuelta.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Who do you think is the best rider and the worst rider to have won THE TDF only once?. This is for THE TDF after the 2nd WW, considering only their exploits in the 3 GT'S.

EDIT: Who was not handed a win after the events.

After 1990:

Best: Carlos Sastre
Worst: Tie between Bjarne Riis, Bradley Wiggins, and Chris Froome.

Edit: I meant after 1990

 

[perico]

To add to the above I believe IIRC he has the most grand tour top tens in the history of the sport.

Yes, he does. His acceleration in the mountains was absolutely devastating. Unlike Herrera who was graceful, Delgado's accelaration was brutal. It was like watching a boxer. He was also one of the best TTing riders considered a pure climber I can remember.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

He was also one of the best TTing riders considered a pure climber I can remember.

Indeed. When he remembered his start time, that is.

 

[perico]

Indeed. When he remembered his start time, that is.

You got that right. LOL.

 

[AngusW]

Worst: Roger Walkowiak
Tour (6 starts, 1 win, 2 DNF)
Vuelta (2 starts, highest placing: 15, 1 DNF)

Best: Felice Gimondi
Tour (5 starts, 1 win, 1 other podium, 3 other top tens)
Giro (14 starts, 3 wins, 6 other podiums, 3 other top tens, 2 other top 20s)
Vuelta (1 start, 1 win)

18 GT top tens, 12 podiums

 

[VeloFidelis]

Wow! This is the most interesting slice of opinion defying history I can remember. Very illuminating....

My opinion of best and worst:

Best (ever): Eddy Merckx

Four consecutive wins, five in six years, 34 stage wins (most ever). Average winning margin 11' 52" (largest individual margin 17' 54").

Worst: Oscar Pereiro

Gifted the lead by Floyd Landis and Jens Voight and awarded the overall victory as a consolation. Zero stage wins, previous best GC placing 9th. Winning margin 32 seconds.

I find it interesting the amount of sentiment here giving "Best" to Ullrich, and Pantani. I'd paint them with the same brush as Lance Armstrong (of whom there is no mention yet). While I am convinced there has never been a "clean" winner of the TDF, I do separate the miracles of modern pharmacology from the rest of the field.

 

[Afrank]

Wow! This is the most interesting slice of opinion defying history I can remember. Very illuminating....

My opinion of best and worst:

Best (ever): Eddy Merckx

Four consecutive wins, five in six years, 34 stage wins (most ever). Average winning margin 11' 52" (largest individual margin 17' 54").

I find it interesting the amount of sentiment here giving "Best" to Ullrich, and Pantani. I'd paint them with the same brush as Lance Armstrong (of whom there is no mention yet). While I am convinced there has never been a "clean" winner of the TDF, I do separate the miracles of modern pharmacology from the rest of the field.

Merckx doesn't qualify, it's best one hit wonder. Meaning won the Tour only once.

 

[Big Doopie]

Best (without a doubt): Luis Ocana

Only rider to literally destroy Merckx when Merckx was at the top of his game. Orcieres-Merlette is considered an absolutely epic ride by all those who raced that day.

1973 The guy who finished second, Bernard Thevenet, was something like 15 minutes behind. Unheard of in the modern era other than with Merckx (Hinault came close).

Worst: Pereiro, Schleck, Pantani, Riis

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

This is a great thread, but it maybe would help if we break this down into 20 year periods.

I don't see many better than Sastre as far as a 1 time winner since 1990. In the 1980s, I'd say Delgado for sure, maybe Delgado from 1980 to present.

Seriously, how can a 1-time winner be worse than Wiggins? He went from a non-contender, to winner, to not even being invited to the Tour on his own team.

 

[ustabe]

Best (without a doubt): Luis Ocana

Only rider to literally destroy Merckx when Merckx was at the top of his game. Orcieres-Merlette is considered an absolutely epic ride by all those who raced that day.

Ocana out-climbed Merckx but never destroyed him. Merckx sat out the 1973 Tour to concentrate on the Vuelta and the Giro.

In my opinion, Ocana may have been a bigger champion had his career not coincided with Merckx's, but staying healthy and injury-free was always an issue. The same could be said for a few other riders who were more consistently near the top.

In my opinion, Felice Gimondi was the best of this group, wining one Tour (1966), winning three Giros and a Vuelta, many podiums, a Paris-Roubaix, and a Worlds (where he beat Merckx). My vote for best is for Gimondi.

 

[Archibald]

I don't see many better than Sastre as far as a 1 time winner since 1990.

Really?
Evans palmares is better than Sastre's...

they're pretty close in terms of GT stages and placings, but Evans has also WC, Fleche Wallone, Tirreno Addratico, Romandie (x2), etc...

 

[VeloFidelis]

Merckx doesn't qualify, it's best one hit wonder. Meaning won the Tour only once.

Aaahhhh!...Well that changes everything doesn't it, and explains what I thought to be some pretty random choices. Thanks for putting me on track.

In that case, and at the risk of showing my age, I would have to pick Louis Ocaña, A worthy adversary for Merckx who, but for some horrible luck and a bad crash in the 71 Tour involving Merckx and Zoetemelk, would most likely have won. His 73 Tour victory by more than 15 minutes was most impressive. A talented rider who but should have won several times.

 

[86TDFWinner]

The worst? Delgado

 

[GJB123]

1989- Strongest rider in the race. Also maybe the dumbest. Take away the 2:48 he lost for showing up late to the prologue and you have a completely different race.

Funny that, how people always seem to remember that Delgado lost 2:48 in the prologue but always forget that this landed him an early starting time in the ITT giving him the opportunity to ride under much faiare weather conditions. Also having lost the time early on, there was less need on the part of LeMond and Fignon to chase him down on each attack. They could afford to give him some leeway. Lastly if he was the strongest how come he didn't recoup the time lost to LeMond and Fignon in the mountains. I suspect some rose tinted glasses have clouded your memories somewhat.

Truth is Delgado won in a very weak 1988 field. Having said that I liked the man's style. He was aggressive and could climb and downhill withe absolute best of them.

 

[Morbius]

There are plenty more candiates for worst rider than Wiggins. He had perfectly respectable palmares for a first-time winner
3rd in TDF
3rd in Vuelta (two months after a broken collar bone)
1st Dauphinee *2
1st Paris-Nice plus another podium
1st Romandie

He then started as clear favourite and dominated the race.

 

[Ruby United]

Can't believe people are saying Froome is the worst. How can you compare Froome to Walkowiak, Aimar, Bjarne Riise...? He is in a different league!

 

[Gloin22]

Some people are just deluded, envious with his success I guess.

 

[del1962]

Can't believe people are saying Froome is the worst. How can you compare Froome to Walkowiak, Aimar, Bjarne Riise...? He is in a different league!

In a years time he probably wont fit the criteria in this thread

 

[classic1]

Worst undoubtedly Walkiwiak in ninteen fifty six; He raced the Tour six times winning once and other than that his best result was 47th.

Best is between Zoetemelk and Pantani and Ullrich. I'll go with Zoetemelk because he was such a legend.

You could also argue Walkiwiak was the greatest Tour win of all time, because he was far from a champion.

Zoetemelk, Gimondi are probably the best single Tour winners for mine. Fantastic palmares over very long careers.

 

[perico]

Funny that, how people always seem to remember that Delgado lost 2:48 in the prologue but always forget that this landed him an early starting time in the ITT giving him the opportunity to ride under much faiare weather conditions. Also having lost the time early on, there was less need on the part of LeMond and Fignon to chase him down on each attack. They could afford to give him some leeway. Lastly if he was the strongest how come he didn't recoup the time lost to LeMond and Fignon in the mountains. I suspect some rose tinted glasses have clouded your memories somewhat.

Truth is Delgado won in a very weak 1988 field. Having said that I liked the man's style. He was aggressive and could climb and downhill withe absolute best of them.

Uh, no. That's easy, because he was worn down from having to claw back from 9:48 down. Remember that he lost another 6 minutes in the TTT. He did have better conditions, but even in that case, he loses 1:30 at most to LeMond in the first TT. Also beat LeMond in the mtn. TT. He was the strongest rider in the race.

 

[perico]

Delgado: Already listed his tour palmares
83- 15th
84- crashed out
85- 6th, stage win
86- mother's death- stage win
87- 2nd, stage win
1988 1st, stage win
89- 3rd
90-4th
91- 9th
92-6th
93- 9th

Giro
1988- 7th
1991- 15th

Vuelta
1982- 29th
1983- 15th
1984- 4th
1985- 1st, stage win
1986- 10th
1987- 10th
1989- 1st, 3 stage wins
1990- 2nd
1992- 3rd, 1 stage win
1993- 6th
1994- 3rd (his final race as a pro)