Liggett got it right

"You cannot compare what's not comparable," said Hinault. "If Eddy Merckx
had competed only in the Tour de France, he would have won it 15 times. The
problem with cyclists these days is that they do what they're told to do
because the media pressure and the expectations are so huge that the only
thing that matters is winning. If you don't wear yourself out by running
other races during the year and you concentrate on competing only two months
a year, then you have a big advantage over everybody else. And that's what
Armstrong does."

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/jul04/jul19news3

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx and
other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever his
opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Richard Longwood said:

"You cannot compare what's not comparable," said Hinault. "If Eddy Merckx
had competed only in the Tour de France, he would have won it 15 times. The
problem with cyclists these days is that they do what they're told to do
because the media pressure and the expectations are so huge that the only
thing that matters is winning. If you don't wear yourself out by running
other races during the year and you concentrate on competing only two months
a year, then you have a big advantage over everybody else. And that's what
Armstrong does."

Source: http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/jul04/jul19news3

Exactly.
It will be interesting to reflect on this historical time in TDF history
and for cycling in general if in years to come kids speeding up and down
our streets on bikes will still be thought of or referred to as "like
Eddy Merckx".
Or will the moniker have been passed to Lance??
Will kids be riding bikes even??

--

Sierraman said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx and
other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever his
opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Presumably his opinion would not have been "kinder" to LA??
Splitting hairs I guess,they're both great cyclists.
And Eddy had a heavier bike to contend with ;-)
--

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx and
other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever his
opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Bob has his nose sooo far up Lance's ass it changes the shape of Lance's
nose
Dave

Lance prepares ONLY for the TDF

Eddie Merckx has won:

Tour de France: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974
Giro de Italia: 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974
Vuelta: 1973
Woerld Champ.: 1967, 1971, 1974
Milan - San Remo: 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976
Tour des Flandres: 1969, 1975
Paris - Roubaix: 1968, 1970, 1973
Liege - Bastogne - Liege: 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975
Amstel Gold Race: 1971, 1973
Tour de lombardie: 1971, 1972
Het Volk: 1971, 1973
Gent - Wevelgem: 1967, 1970, 1973
Flèche Wallone: 1967, 1970, 1972
Dauphiné Libéré: 1971
Paris - Nice: 1969, 1970, 1971
Tour de Suisse: 1974
Hour world record 1972

Phil Liggett statement sounds correct.

"Dave H" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Bob has his nose sooo far up Lance's ass it changes the shape of Lance's
nose
Dave

Big Al also tried to bait Bob into saying something about the Simeoni Lance
affair and Bob very carefully talked his way out of it, referring to how the
Italians and the French cover cycling. I could hear Al laughing a little as
Bob side stepped the question again. Bob is smart enough to not stick his
foot in his mouth but at the same time he won't give his opinion about that
either, again in this segment. Bob knows where his bread and butter comes
from. I remember one time years ago when Paul was new working with Phil, and
Paul said something stupid and Phil said something to effect that Paul would
be getting his walking papers. I have this on one of my tapes of the tour
from WCP. I think it was part of a offbeat segment, but Phil was
semi-serious. Phil is top dog, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Bob is
down line in the food chain.

.... but Lance hasn't quit yet.

jw

Sierraman said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to
Merckx and other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the
question. Whatever his opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at
least not in this segment.

Bob's personal relationship with Lance would preclude any objectivity on his
part. He did a smart thing by side-stepping such a question.

We all already know what Bob's answer is anyway, don't we?

Regards,
H.

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.

That is what I have said for years now and even that is generous to Lance.

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Richard Longwood said:

"You cannot compare what's not comparable," said Hinault. "If Eddy

Merckx

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

had competed only in the Tour de France, he would have won it 15 times.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

problem with cyclists these days is that they do what they're told to do
because the media pressure and the expectations are so huge that the

only

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thing that matters is winning. If you don't wear yourself out by running
other races during the year and you concentrate on competing only two

months

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a year, then you have a big advantage over everybody else. And that's

what

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Armstrong does."

Source:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/jul04/jul19news3

Quoted message said:

Exactly.
It will be interesting to reflect on this historical time in TDF history
and for cycling in general if in years to come kids speeding up and down
our streets on bikes will still be thought of or referred to as "like
Eddy Merckx".
Or will the moniker have been passed to Lance??

Yes, but only in the US. It has already happened.

Quoted message said:

Will kids be riding bikes even??

--

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx and
other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever his
opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Where do you think that brown on his nose comes from? He is almost as bad as
Papai.

Quoted message said:

From: "Chris"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Phil Liggett statement sounds correct.

Very obvious too (except to the >Lance-ophiles).

You forgot about the 17 Six-Days wins. And the "500 race wins".

As a "Lance-ophile" (admitted or pasted on anyway), I find it amusing to
"defend" Lance by reminding that Lance himself has repeatedly said he does not
place himself next to Merckx or other greats who won all kinds of races.
Ironic, no?

Note that LA did come very close to winning the Ardennais Double in '96, a rare
feat indeed. Who knows what the future holds. --TP

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5505017/

"Sierraman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"The Dude" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lance-greatest TDF cyclist ever
Merckx-greatest cyclist ever.
fair enough.
--

Yeah, he said that.

On another note, when Big Al asked Bob about comparing Lance to Merckx and
other Tour greats, Bob completely side stepped the question. Whatever his
opinion is he's not saying on national TV, at least not in this segment.

Bob has said that Merckx is the greatest cyclist ever. Period. He said it
on OLN during this year's TdF coverage.

Dave