>>
>> Numbnuts -
>> What changed with LA is that he trashed the competition EVERYWHERE,
>> ITT, Mountains for 7 YEARS and bonked only once (Joux Plane 2000),
>> champs like Merckx, Hinault or Fignon could only do that for one or
>> two years when they peaked.
>>
>
> From 1991-1995 Indurain entered 9 grand tours and finished
>no worse than 3rd in the 1994 Giro. That's 7 wins, including
>4 consecutive in 1992-3, and 9 consecutive podium finishes.
>He did that by trashing the competition everywhere.
Certainlub NOT IN THE MOUNTAINS,! He built his wins in the ITTs like
Hinault and Merckx before him. Granted he may have been able to do it,
but he didn't so we'll never know.
>Hinault won the Pernod Trophy for 5 consecutive years, from
>1978-1982. He won 7 grand tours during that period, and a
>shitload of big one-day races. During that time he was the
>best in the TTs and the best climber.
Best climber from 1978 to 1982 ?! What are you on ? Check your facts,
he lost several ITTs (here's a clue, 1979) and other than in 1981 he
certainly was NOT the best climber. Vam Impe, Winnen, Martinez, come
to mind.
>There are two things that differentiate LANCE from the rest,
>and in my arrogant opinion they are related. One was that
>LANCE limited the scope of his objectives far more than any
>of the other top riders. The other was that he stayed injury
>free. If he had ridden a race program like Hinault or Indurain
>had, the odds would have swung strongly against him in that
>respect. I think Indurain is a greater marvel in terms of
>durability.
>
>Bob Schwartz
