Oldest TDF winner

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Quoted message said:

Here is a list of Tour winners > 30. Is that old? Sure seems to be. Especially in the last few
decades.

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Note(1): When the the "Pick the Tour" contest comes around, keep in mind that Rominger is 34
this year.

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Note(2): The conspicuous absence of any 5 time winners on this list.

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1903 Garin, 32 1919 Lambot, 33 1921 Scieur, 33 1922 Lambot, 36 1923 H. Pelissier, 34 1925
Bottecchia, 31 1926 L. Buysse, 33 1929 Dewaele, 33 1948 Bartali, 34 1950 Kübler, 31 1952 Coppi,
32 1959 Bahamontes, 31 1980 Zoetemelk, 33

What I liked best about Zoetemelk is that he won the world championship race just before his 40th
birthday (UCI retirement age), took the trophy and retired.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

Mark said:

I found an old mssg from Google re: oldest TDF winners. Posted at bottom.

Being from May 1994, that list is also missing Indurain. He was 30 when he won in 1994 and 31 when
he won his last one in 1995 so he should be on there twice; just like Armstrong.

Quoted message said:

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Note(2): The conspicuous absence of any 5 time winners on this list.

1903 Garin, 32 1919 Lambot, 33 1921 Scieur, 33 1922 Lambot, 36 1923 H. Pelissier, 34 1925
Bottecchia, 31 1926 L. Buysse, 33 1929 Dewaele, 33 1948 Bartali, 34 1950 Kubler, 31 1952 Coppi, 32
1959 Bahamontes, 31 1980 Zoetemelk, 33

--Bill Davidson
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Please remove ".nospam" from my address for email replies.

I'm a 17 year veteran of usenet -- you'd think I'd be over it by now

In article said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here is a list of Tour winners > 30. Is that old? Sure seems to be. Especially in the last few
decades.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Note(1): When the the "Pick the Tour" contest comes around, keep in mind that Rominger is 34
this year.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Note(2): The conspicuous absence of any 5 time winners on this list.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

1980 Zoetemelk, 33

What I liked best about Zoetemelk is that he won the world championship race just before his 40th
birthday (UCI retirement age), took the trophy and retired.

The UCI has a mandatory racer retirement age?

Okay, 40 isn't exactly cutting off the prime of any racer's career, but Would you rather have a
41-year old Ekimov on your team, or the median recruit from the latest batch of rookie pros?

That's cool about Zoetemelk, though.
--
Ryan Cousineau, [email hidden] sfu.ca~rcousineOpen ↗ President, Fabrizio Mazzoleni Fan Club

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I found an old mssg from Google re: oldest TDF winners. Posted at bottom.

Lance is now 32, and will be 33 next year (2004). Bday is Sept 11 1971 (?). So he goes for #6 @
33. If I got the numbers right, he is NOW the oldest 5-time winner.

Riis can be added to the list below @ 32, right?

If I have all this right, then next TdF will be double exciting, 'cause it will be this year but
more so: everybody shooting for Lance. Personally, I think Lance may well lose next year. BUT, I
wouldn't put it past Lance to lose next year and come back at 34 to win a last hurrah! He still
wouldn't be the oldest winner.

The #6 jinx gets everyone, there's no shame in it.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗

Hate to be the spoiler on this one but...

Joop Zoetemelk was born on December 3, 1946. He won the World Championship in September of 1985, making him 38 at the time.

The great Dutchman did win the Paris-Tours race twice plus the Fleche Wallone and Amstel Gold each once, the latter at age 40.

The story is still good though, considering he beat Greg LeMond (an expert at the World Championship race with two wins, two seconds and a seventh) when the American was in his prime.

Time Cop said:

Hate to be the spoiler on this one but...

Joop Zoetemelk was born on December 3, 1946. He won the World Championship in September of 1985,
making him 38 at the time.

That was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw. The road came to a split on a turn to the
right, and the whole pack went on the right split since it was shorter. They were only a km or two
from the finish, and all the favorites were watching each others like hawks.

Then you notice Joop hauling butt the long way around the corner, coming out about 50 yards ahead.
Everyone else just looked at each other and waited for someone else to start the chase - and they
did too late.

What they say about old age and treachery winning out over youth and strength is true.

Quoted message said:

The great Dutchman did win the Paris-Tours race twice plus the Fleche Wallone and Amstel Gold each
once, the latter at age 40.

The story is still good though, considering he beat Greg LeMond (an expert at the World
Championship race with two wins, two seconds and a seventh) when the American was in his prime.

Everyone got caught with their tights down, it seems. Beautiful.

Errrr, don't read too much into that mental picture please.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame