The Legends of tomorrow

[Panda Claws]

Which currently active rider do you think will be the most legendary in 50 years?


Personally, I would give Sagan a good chance as long as he can keep growing.

In Belgium it will probably be Gilbert though if he keeps going like this.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Which currently active rider do you think will be the most legendary in 50 years?


Personally, I would give Sagan a good chance as long as he can keep growing.

In Belgium it will probably be Gilbert though if he keeps going like this.

Don't think many of today's will stack up historically, just because the sport has moved on and become more professional, so in terms of pure palmares no-one will ever achieve the sort of breadth of results several guys did up until Sean Kelly as the last of that breed.

 

[Granville57]

A rider by the name of Alberto Contador Velasco comes to mind.

 

[El Pistolero]

Don't think many of today's will stack up historically, just because the sport has moved on and become more professional, so in terms of pure palmares no-one will ever achieve the sort of breadth of results several guys did up until Sean Kelly as the last of that breed.

I don't agree, Contador's name will live on and Cavendish' name as well as the "best sprinter ever".

Then there's guys like Cancellara, Gilbert, Bartoli, Boonen, Museeuw(6 Monuments, World title, lot of other classic wins)
edit: and Lance Armstrong of course. So I don't think it's fair to say that Sean Kelly was the last "legend".

 

[will10]

You only have to look at the "rare" feats/achievements to know that some current riders will be legends in years to come. Gilbert - Ardennes triple, Cancellara - 4x World ITT Champion etc.

 

[undencem]

Tejay Van Garderen , Wilco Keldermann(Rabobank) , Lars Van der Haar (Rabobank)

Gilbert will be listed among Eddy Merckx , Lance , Hinault , Indurain , Museeuw , Tchmil

 

[Kwibus]

Tejay Van Garderen , Wilco Keldermann(Rabobank) , Lars Van der Haar (Rabobank)

Gilbert will be listed among Eddy Merckx , Lance , Hinault , Indurain , Museeuw , Tchmil

I'm not sure what you mean with those first 3 names? That they will be the future legends?
Then I can allready tell you to remove Lars van der Haar since he is a cyclocross rider that allready said he isn't interested in the road.

Tejay van Garderen won't be a legend as well. Just not enough talent. He will be a nice and good rider, but nothing legendary for sure.

I doubt Kelderman will be a legend as well. He certainly has a lot of talent, but also a lot to proof as well.

 

[Panda Claws]

Tejay Van Garderen , Wilco Keldermann(Rabobank) , Lars Van der Haar (Rabobank)

Gilbert will be listed among Eddy Merckx , Lance , Hinault , Indurain , Museeuw , Tchmil

Tchmil was not all that great.


As said before it will probably be Contador and his (currently) 5 GT's (Merckx had 11).

Cancellara and probably Martin for their TT'ing.

Cavendish as "The Missile" best sprinter of that period.

and perhaps Gilbert too if he carries on like this.

Then we will have, "Phil" king of the classics or something.

 

[DirtyWorks]

Hey!

Sven Nys definitely qualifies as a legend.

It seems to me that there's a 'legendary' bias towards riders that excel in grand tours. I think Cancellara and Gilbert will fade despite their enormous successes. Sad but true.

 

[El Pistolero]

Tchmil was not all that great.


As said before it will probably be Contador and his (currently) 5 GT's (Merckx had 11).

Cancellara and probably Martin for their TT'ing.

Cavendish as "The Missile" best sprinter of that period.

and perhaps Gilbert too if he carries on like this.

Then we will have, "Phil" king of the classics or something.

Contador has won 6 Grand Tours.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Sven Nys definitely qualifies as a legend.

It seems to me that there's a 'legendary' bias towards riders that excel in grand tours. I think Cancellara and Gilbert will fade despite their enormous successes. Sad but true.

maybe that's because grand tours are a lot harder to win then classics

 

[Kwibus]

Tchmil was not all that great.


As said before it will probably be Contador and his (currently) 5 GT's (Merckx had 11).

Cancellara and probably Martin for their TT'ing.

Cavendish as "The Missile" best sprinter of that period.

and perhaps Gilbert too if he carries on like this.

Then we will have, "Phil" king of the classics or something.

Tony Martin can certainly become a TT legend, allthough I seriously hope he tries Parix - Roubaix some day, but he seems to be more focused on the TdF which imo is a waste. He should be happy if he rides a top10 in the TdF. With his body he should be good at Paris - Roubaix... physically. You never know though.

The others will become legends. Cancellara could use some more big wins to become a legend. He's not in the same league as legends like Merckx ofcourse, but certainly a rider that will be remembered in 20 years if you look back at cycling around 2010.

Gilbert has the potential to become a legend if he only stays near the level he had this season. Cavendish allready is the best sprinter of all time imo, allthough this year is interesting.

Contador will likely win atleast 5 more GT's if he doesn't get banned which makes him ofcourse a legend. If he isn't able to win more GT's he won't be a legend. He will just be a incredibly great rider.

 

[Kwibus]

Sven Nys definitely qualifies as a legend.

It seems to me that there's a 'legendary' bias towards riders that excel in grand tours. I think Cancellara and Gilbert will fade despite their enormous successes. Sad but true.

True, but if Gilbert stays the most important monument rider the next 5 years including winning more of them then he can certainly become a legend. What he did this year was the work of a potential legend. The question is if he can stay at this level the next 5-6 years.

 

[Panda Claws]

Contador has won 6 Grand Tours.

Indeed he did. My bad.

 

[El Pistolero]

Tony Martin can certainly become a TT legend, allthough I seriously hope he tries Parix - Roubaix some day, but he seems to be more focused on the TdF which imo is a waste. He should be happy if he rides a top10 in the TdF. With his body he should be good at Paris - Roubaix... physically. You never know though.

The others will become legends. Cancellara could use some more big wins to become a legend. He's not in the same league as legends like Merckx ofcourse, but certainly a rider that will be remembered in 20 years if you look back at cycling around 2010.

Gilbert has the potential to become a legend if he only stays near the level he had this season. Cavendish allready is the best sprinter of all time imo, allthough this year is interesting.

Contador will likely win atleast 5 more GT's if he doesn't get banned which makes him ofcourse a legend. If he isn't able to win more GT's he won't be a legend. He will just be a incredibly great rider.

Contador is already a legend. Just look at the list of cyclists who won all 3 Grand Tours. He'll forever be on that very selective list.

 

[Kwibus]

Contador is already a legend. Just look at the list of cyclists who won all 3 Grand Tours. He'll forever be on that very selective list.

True. Just not like Merckx or Hinault yet imo. He can certainly reach that status and I do expect he will as well.

 

[El Pistolero]

True. Just not like Merckx or Hinault yet imo. He can certainly reach that status and I do expect he will as well.

But those two are legends among legends

Cyclists who have achieved rare accomplishments will become legends imo(or have a good chance of becoming one):

- Cavendish might be able to break the record of most Tour stage wins
- Gilbert did the Ardennes triple, only done by Davide Rebellin before him.
- Gilbert might be the first since Bartoli to win a cobbled Monument and a hilly Monument.
- Cancellara holds the record of most WC time trial victories + Olympic time trial champion.
- Contador might be able to break the record of most GTs won.
- Contador already completed a GT grand slam.

 

[Panda Claws]

Contador is already a legend. Just look at the list of cyclists who won all 3 Grand Tours. He'll forever be on that very selective list.

That would make Gilbert, Rebellin and Freire legends though.

The first 2 for their 3 ardennes classics year.

And Freire for his 3 WC's which is a very small group as well.

EDIT: Nevermind, scratch that I get your point.

 

[Kwibus]

But those two are legends among legends

Absolutely. Contador has the potential to reach their status, allthough he has to do it without winning monuments. Which is a shame, because I think he can win L-B-L and Lombardia or classics like F-W. He just doesn't seem to interested in it.

 

[El Pistolero]

Absolutely. Contador has the potential to reach their status, allthough he has to do it without winning monuments. Which is a shame, because I think he can win L-B-L and Lombardia or classics like F-W. He just doesn't seem to interested in it.

I'm confident he'll put up a good show at the WC in 2014(TT and RR). And if he gets cleared he'll attempt the Tour+ Vuelta double.

 

[ferryman]

Absolutely. Contador has the potential to reach their status, allthough he has to do it without winning monuments. Which is a shame, because I think he can win L-B-L and Lombardia or classics like F-W. He just doesn't seem to interested in it.

If he escapes a ban you can expect a different Contador. I've no doubt he will want to set his mark. Starting with a TDF and Vuelta double in 2012 and then the classics in 2013.

In my 30 years of following cycling Contador is EASILY the greatest cyclist I have seen.

 

[Quixote]

Which currently active rider do you think will be the most legendary in 50 years?


Personally, I would give Sagan a good chance as long as he can keep growing.

In Belgium it will probably be Gilbert though if he keeps going like this.

I certainly hope that Sagan gets a chance to perform on the big stage(s)...but as legend making material, it's still too early to tell.
Personally, I think that if Cav retired tomorrow he would get, at the least, occasional mention in 50 years. Given his age, his trajectory certainly favors him making the list.
Alberto should also be a consideration, also considering his age and his versatility of excellence in several disciplines. I wonder how the upcoming decision will effect his future references.
Good thread Panda. There are a few strong opinions yet to post...should be interesting.

 

[will10]

If he escapes a ban you can expect a different Contador. I've no doubt he will want to set his mark. Starting with a TDF and Vuelta double in 2012 and then the classics in 2013.

In my 30 years of following cycling Contador is EASILY the greatest cyclist I have seen.

30 years takes us back to 1981, you're saying Contador is EASILY more legendary than Hinault?

 

[Granville57]

maybe that's because grand tours are a lot harder to win then classics

By what standard though? Has anyone ever won 7 Paris-Roubaix in a row?

There's so much more unpredictability in a Classic. If you have a bad day in a Classic, you don't have a day at all. Not to mention, we'll never see the equivalent of a Dirk Demol or Johan Van Summeren win a GT. On any given day in a Classic, anything can happen that will impact the entire race.

Lemond came close at Milan-San Remo but never pulled off a major Classics win. That speaks volumes to me.

Different skill-set these days though. Tough to compare.

 

[undencem]

Tchmil was not all that great.

I watched 1994 Paris - Roubaix live and that was enough to me to choose Tchmil as legend

length : 1:49:12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn4gzxNQbuM&feature=related