Best Climber

How about Virenque ? He's got a few KOM jerseys (guernseys) in the cupboard.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Kona_Blue
How about Virenque ? He's got a few KOM jerseys (guernseys) in the cupboard.

I think he'd belong more in a poll inquiring as to who "was" the best climber. he has been surpassed.

not a hugely educated cycling fan, but after watching the 2003 Giro highlights on DVD, and seeing Simoni crush the Zoncolan...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by meehs
I think he'd belong more in a poll inquiring as to who "was" the best climber. he has been surpassed.

don´t bet on it :p

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by el Inglés
don´t bet on it :p

True... That may have been a little premature!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by el Inglés
don´t bet on it :p

I'm with you, he hasn't retired yet.

One further point..... whether the performance is yesterday or last year, all judgements are made on PAST results.

Best climber on his day would be Mayo, its just his day doesnt come as often as some... but when it comes no one can touch him (IMO)

How about Vinikorov. He looked pretty strong on those
hills last year and still had something for the TT's.

I am very surprised that Heras has not been mentioned and leading the poll. This guy is nothing other than a GOAT. If your talking about incline climbers, There are a lot of GREAT climbers out there, but when the road gets steep, Heras is the man. Remember, the IMTT in the 03 Vuelta? When Heras wants to go, his pace is CRUSHING. and he can hold that pace longer than any other climber out there.

Mayo is a great climber, but he sucks wheel during the set up. Makes the finish a little easier wouldn’t you say? I have yet to see him lead the pace up a mountain and then finish it off.

Jdawg

I'm with Jdawg on this one. Heras all the way. Besides the IMTT in the O3 Vuelta, also take note of his O2 Vuelta stage win on l'Angliru, one of the most fearsome climbs in cycling. Besides blowing away his closest challenger by a minute and a half, Heras was accelerating up some of the steepest portions in a driving downpour of rain.

If I remember correctly, If Super Mario hadn't bailed out of the race early (big shock), he had planned to switch to a triple crank mountain bike at the foot of the climb. 🙂

Cadel Evans might surprise this year. If he can stay on his bike.

Iban Mayo is the best climber at the present time, followed closely by Lance Armstrong. Mayo is a pure climber and showed that he can climb as well as anyone else at L'Alpe D'Huez in 2003. Recently he set a record for a climb in Alcobenas while winning three stages. He also won the Vuelta Asturias on a climb. Heras is a good climber and may have had a bad Tour, but when Mayo flew up L'Alpe he was unable to follow. Heras is a great climber though. Lance has proven that he is one of the best climbers in the world by winning the Tour five times. Armstrong climbed L'Alpe in 38:00, but Mayo climbed it in 39:06.

The way Evans went up Mt Wellington in the tour of Tassie a few years back, I agree.

Thierry Claveyrolat (RIP)....murdering his customary 44 ring on the Col de la Joux Plane in 1991. Incredible.

Heras or Mayo - depending on the day. I've seen Heras when nobody could keep up with his pace. Even Lance squawked in 2003 that Heras was setting too much of a pace for him. But Mayo can do the same thing if it's his day.

i still go for Pantani

did Calveyrolat pass away? What happened to him?

Mayo wins Mont Ventoux, Hamilton a close second, Armstrong 4th, about 2 minutes back. We'll see how Lance fares come TdF coming up July 3. That's only 20 days away, and Bruyneil says he's still not ready.

Of course, the hype is swirling heavily now as it usually does before the TdF. Jan Ullrich is holding the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de Suisse. He must have shed those mammoth pounds he had in the winter. I have a feeling it may be Jan's year in the Tour this year.

heras all the way!!!
lets see who will be the better climber in the tdf!!!