What does Contador have to do to be the greatest of all time?

[Psalmon]

I think so far what we are seeing is the next in succession of reigning GT champions. That's all (which is still saying a lot).

From a post regarding 3-time Tour winners, I mentioned the gap between a dominant rider's "reign" at the TdF is at most 4 seasons. Since Bobet in 1955 the gaps have been: 1,4,3,0,0,3 and maybe 1 if AC wins a third in '10. Shout out to Polish who posted the dates from which to do the analysis.

In today's sport environment, winning the Tour alone draws acclaim, resources, and incentives that not only help perpetuate the reign, but also tilt the risk-reward away from seeking "greatest" or immortal status.

I would love to see AC go for the double or even the seemingly unattainable triple. The currently younger AC may be able, but paradoxically would seem unlikely to try, risking losing the Tour to Andy (or worse, Lance ).

So for now, AC will focus on winning the Tour again where he'd get 3 victories, maybe hears the SPANISH national anthem, and gets to affirm the beat down on Lance for another year. Frankly then, until Lance retires again, that's his destiny. This media mental sniper attack game won't end until then and will only get worse as the weather warms and Lance's last, last chance approaches. And as long as Lance sets the table, AC will want to dish out the meal (cold) IMO.

After that, I hope we see an abandonment of this pop-media, number-of-Tours-someone-can-win as being the measure of a cycling champion (or even stage race champion), and see Alberto, in his prime, take some risk and go for the double (and the triple?), publicly announced as a goal tooo. The reward would be truly setting himself apart win or lose, and in the case of winning, cycling would again have a champion worthy of some immortality.

 

[uphillstruggle]

Cycling is completely different now - I doubt anyone is a ever going to be a complete rider in the mould of Merckx, Hinult or Coppi. It seems like there are certain races for certain types of riders these days. Also the training regimes the riders have today are so specific (i.e 1 maybe 2 peaks in form a season) that they have to chose a goal for a season and go for it; anything else is a bonus. Which is why, as has been said above, Contador will unlikely even risk the Giro-tour double that will bring him close to the past champions because the Tour is the cash cow of cycling. (I consider Indurain a more successful GT rider than Lance for his two doubles.)

Just out of interest does anyone know the height/weight of the likes of Merckx, Hinult, Coppi and Lemond? It's hard to tell from the old videos as it's all relative to the other riders. Would be interesting to know who in the current peleton has a similar build.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Just out of interest does anyone know the height/weight of the likes of Merckx, Hinult, Coppi and Lemond? It's hard to tell from the old videos as it's all relative to the other riders. Would be interesting to know who in the current peleton has a similar build.

That's a good question. I'm not sure, but I've always thought Merckx looked rather big for a GT contender, let alone 11 time winner. He looked to have more of a classics build. One of the reasons his palmares amaze me, I suppose.

 

[theyoungest]

After that, I hope we see an abandonment of this pop-media, number-of-Tours-someone-can-win as being the measure of a cycling champion (or even stage race champion), and see Alberto, in his prime, take some risk and go for the double (and the triple?), publicly announced as a goal tooo. The reward would be truly setting himself apart win or lose, and in the case of winning, cycling would again have a champion worthy of some immortality.

Frankly, I don't think the triple is possible. If he'd pull it off, that'd be truly Merckx-like. In terms of modern cycling, that is.

 

[Psalmon]

Frankly, I don't think the triple is possible. If he'd pull it off, that'd be truly Merckx-like. In terms of modern cycling, that is.

I don't either, but if AC dominates this year's Tour, I really hope he goes for it in 2011 or 12. To do it, you'd have him announce the intent to attempt the double only, with the private idea to only go for the Vuelta if he achieved the double.

It would make such a great modern sports story tooo. I think it's fair to say that in no other sport does winning the "crowns" (regarding only the GT side in cycling) have such an adverse or challenging effect on winning the next. Either the sport does not have sufficiently established crowns (thinking Triathlon like Kona), or the events don't impact each other.

I think Basso was the last to announce an attempt back when he had is 2006 "extraterrestrial" Giro win. However, he then got pulled from the Tour when Puerto hit (thankfully we know now). Achieving the double then of course would bring the inevitable chorus call, but that's not the point. If AC just "lances" the next 6 Tours, then I'll be disappointed not to mention bored out of my skull with the whole thing by 2015.

 

[markene2]

Vino's too old

Age is just a number