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- Aug 31, 2012
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It would take far greater physiological talent than Eddy or Bernard had to replicate their palmares. If your criteria for legendary status don't adjust for how it's becoming harder to win, especially to win different types of competitions, then you must be ok with it becoming impossibly difficult for a rider to become a legend.
- Aug 16, 2011
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To be a legend a rider must do something unique that either not many other riders, or even no other rider, has done before. The rider must achieve feats in their career that will stand the test of time.
Hampsten racing through snow up the Gavia, Museeuw pointing to the leg he almost lost as he won Paris-Roubaix, Magni using an inner tube held in his mouth to help steer his bike; these are the types of rides that will always be remembered and give the riders legend status.
Hampsten racing through snow up the Gavia, Museeuw pointing to the leg he almost lost as he won Paris-Roubaix, Magni using an inner tube held in his mouth to help steer his bike; these are the types of rides that will always be remembered and give the riders legend status.
- Aug 18, 2013
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People think they are not a legend, because they are still riding. When they are retired and being missed, they would be legend one day. It's normal, people missed the old days. My point is I don't see how Valverde and Boonen not great enough to be a legend in their era. And Cavendish did had an incredible records in Tour de France.
- Mar 20, 2010
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LOL I am old, my list of legends stopped at Hinault. Only one even close since him was Pantani and that has become tarnished. Maybe with the passage of some time Contador might be considered one, maybe not. Legends need the perspective of time and reflection before they become legends.
MatParker117 said:
LOL I am old, my list of legends stopped at Hinault. Only one even close since him was Pantani and that has become tarnished. Maybe with the passage of some time Contador might be considered one, maybe not. Legends need the perspective of time and reflection before they become legends.
- Nov 7, 2010
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Cav would have had to have won MSR about 4 times, won at least 4 or 5 green jerseys to be a legend imo.
Zabel did that and I still wouldn't consider him a legend (even if he had become World Champion once as well).
Winning loads of GT stages in exactly the same way makes for a great palmares, but doesn't equal legendary status.
Zabel did that and I still wouldn't consider him a legend (even if he had become World Champion once as well).
Winning loads of GT stages in exactly the same way makes for a great palmares, but doesn't equal legendary status.
- Aug 16, 2011
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Legendary rides make a rider into a legend.
My main point is that these rides will be remembered forever, and the riders that made them will be remembered as well. You can't look back on a ride without remembering who made it. They did things that few other riders have. Riders like Merckx, Hinault or Coppi are remembered for the same reason, achieving what very few others have achieved.
gunara said:
Legendary rides make a rider into a legend.
My main point is that these rides will be remembered forever, and the riders that made them will be remembered as well. You can't look back on a ride without remembering who made it. They did things that few other riders have. Riders like Merckx, Hinault or Coppi are remembered for the same reason, achieving what very few others have achieved.
- Apr 17, 2014
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I guess it depends on how you define a legend. If a cyclist is only a legend if they have won pretty much every race going- Grand Tours, Hilly Classics, Monuments, Week long races, WC etc) then no one is a legend in the peleton, and it is hard to imagine any riders achieving this in the future (probably the closest would be Valverde). If a legend is some one who is the best ever at what they do, then Cav would be a "legend". He has won pretty much everything a sprinter can win, and will be rememebered as one of, if not the greatest sprinter of all time.
If Contador can add 2 or 3 GT's (especially at least 1 more TDF) then by the 2nd definition he would be a legend.
If Contador can add 2 or 3 GT's (especially at least 1 more TDF) then by the 2nd definition he would be a legend.
- Nov 7, 2010
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Cav wins in pretty much exactly the same way 90% of the time. A large part of his success was down to a very well drilled train, and he has also struggled to make much of an impact since a faster guy came along (kittel).
Best flat stage race sprinter for half his career. Nowhere near legendary imo.
He's won MSR once and the TdF green jersey once. I'd want a legendary sprinter to win both of those considerably more times. A legendary sprinter, imo, should also at least be competitive at Paris Roubaix / RVV.fungusbear said:I guess it depends on how you define a legend. If a cyclist is only a legend if they have won pretty much every race going- Grand Tours, Hilly Classics, Monuments, Week long races, WC etc) then no one is a legend in the peleton, and it is hard to imagine any riders achieving this in the future (probably the closest would be Valverde). If a legend is some one who is the best ever at what they do, then Cav would be a "legend". He has won pretty much everything a sprinter can win, and will be rememebered as one of, if not the greatest sprinter of all time.
If Contador can add 2 or 3 GT's (especially at least 1 more TDF) then by the 2nd definition he would be a legend.
Cav wins in pretty much exactly the same way 90% of the time. A large part of his success was down to a very well drilled train, and he has also struggled to make much of an impact since a faster guy came along (kittel).
Best flat stage race sprinter for half his career. Nowhere near legendary imo.
- Feb 18, 2015
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Honestly, I think that Contador, Cavendish and Boonen will all be known as legends in the future.
Contador is one of the most successful gc riders ever, if he hadn't been disqualified for the tour 2010 and the giro 2011 he would be on number 3 of the most gc wins. At that point I also have to say that it hardly matters that officially he hadn't won these races, because we saw the races, we saw his domination in the giro and we saw the drama on the bales in the tour. He wrote history in these races, no matter if he got disqualified or not.
Cavendish is probably the best sprinter ever. You think he wont be a legend because of his other results? Well, nobody will care at the time he has retired long enough to say if he is a legend or not. He won a monument, he won the WC's and he is the most successful sprinter in the gt history. Maybe he really missed the olympic title 2012 but even so I think its fair to call him a legend.
Boonen has the most Paris Roubaix vicotries, IMO that alone makes him a legend. If nobody beats that record in the next fifty years, he still will be famous for this record and the name Boonen will still be very known.
Riders like Cancellara and Valverde are rather no legends IMO. Thats *** because they are worse, but they don't have such big records, and there are some important victories they ever wanted but didnt achieve. Cancellara misses a WC or olympic title in the road race while Valverde just isnt successful enough in gt's. Ofc he was always a good classics rider but I can't call a gc rider a legend when he "only" won one vulgate. (and ofc he also has never won the WC road race, although 6 podiums might be legendary too )
Contador is one of the most successful gc riders ever, if he hadn't been disqualified for the tour 2010 and the giro 2011 he would be on number 3 of the most gc wins. At that point I also have to say that it hardly matters that officially he hadn't won these races, because we saw the races, we saw his domination in the giro and we saw the drama on the bales in the tour. He wrote history in these races, no matter if he got disqualified or not.
Cavendish is probably the best sprinter ever. You think he wont be a legend because of his other results? Well, nobody will care at the time he has retired long enough to say if he is a legend or not. He won a monument, he won the WC's and he is the most successful sprinter in the gt history. Maybe he really missed the olympic title 2012 but even so I think its fair to call him a legend.
Boonen has the most Paris Roubaix vicotries, IMO that alone makes him a legend. If nobody beats that record in the next fifty years, he still will be famous for this record and the name Boonen will still be very known.
Riders like Cancellara and Valverde are rather no legends IMO. Thats *** because they are worse, but they don't have such big records, and there are some important victories they ever wanted but didnt achieve. Cancellara misses a WC or olympic title in the road race while Valverde just isnt successful enough in gt's. Ofc he was always a good classics rider but I can't call a gc rider a legend when he "only" won one vulgate. (and ofc he also has never won the WC road race, although 6 podiums might be legendary too
)
- Nov 12, 2010
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Cav is simply a legendary sprinter & not much else
Similarly Contador is a legendary stage racer
Boonen & Cance are legendary classics specialists
Bahamontes & Pantani are legendary climbers. No one would call them legendary sprinters
Only complete legendary riders would be Merckx & Hinault
the people who repeat legendary feats.
One legendary ride does not make legendary rider though. e.g Rebellin and Gilbert triple
Valverde on the other hand has too many podium because he would not risk. Not a legend imo.
Similarly Contador is a legendary stage racer
Boonen & Cance are legendary classics specialists
Bahamontes & Pantani are legendary climbers. No one would call them legendary sprinters
Only complete legendary riders would be Merckx & Hinault
the people who repeat legendary feats.
One legendary ride does not make legendary rider though. e.g Rebellin and Gilbert triple
Valverde on the other hand has too many podium because he would not risk. Not a legend imo.
To be a Legend, he should be really special.
Result, life, up & down, style.
I think a gifted rider with great results shouldn't be a Legend.
For me, Armstrong or Chris Foorme are Legends.
Armstrong fight back fron cancer and won it 7 times in a row. Then proven a doper after all glories.
Chris foorme is unknown till 27. He can't win B World campionship TT @ 24. But he beat very TT specialist @ 27.
He climbs super good. His life is different compared with all normal heros.
Result, life, up & down, style.
I think a gifted rider with great results shouldn't be a Legend.
For me, Armstrong or Chris Foorme are Legends.
Armstrong fight back fron cancer and won it 7 times in a row. Then proven a doper after all glories.
Chris foorme is unknown till 27. He can't win B World campionship TT @ 24. But he beat very TT specialist @ 27.
He climbs super good. His life is different compared with all normal heros.
- Apr 17, 2014
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Cav has a better palmares than Cipo imo. Plus I think Cipo is borderline Legendary.jsem94 said:
- Mar 23, 2010
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