Which is the better jersey to win!!!

If I had that kind of talent, I would rather a yellow. Just my bias anyway.

Sure you need a good team but you have to perform every stage, esp the hills & TTs. One bad day and you'll be unlikely to succeed.

In the worlds, it is a bit more hit and miss and whether it suits your abilities. A sprinter was always going to win last year but would have no chance this year. Not all the big guns were there also (timing issue?).

I feel that Bettini was unlucky not to get a rainbow this year. Should the leader of the World Cup races get the rainbow jersey? Great race by Astarloa but he had a particularly good day and on reviewing the form over the season, he is not someone you'd really hold up as a likely world champ before his win. It would be unfair to say he was just "lucky" but he sure was a surprise. You don't get too many surprise TDF winners in that they generally show the appropriate form in the lead up.

Yellow, pink or gold ..........

The general public knows the Tour, 95% of the world didn't even know the World's was this past week .......

World's is just another 1-day classic. The Tour, Giro, or Vuelta are three weeks of hell ...........

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by patch70
If I had that kind of talent, I would rather a yellow. Just my bias anyway.

Sure you need a good team but you have to perform every stage, esp the hills & TTs. One bad day and you'll be unlikely to succeed.

In the worlds, it is a bit more hit and miss and whether it suits your abilities. A sprinter was always going to win last year but would have no chance this year. Not all the big guns were there also (timing issue?).

I feel that Bettini was unlucky not to get a rainbow this year. Should the leader of the World Cup races get the rainbow jersey? Great race by Astarloa but he had a particularly good day and on reviewing the form over the season, he is not someone you'd really hold up as a likely world champ before his win. It would be unfair to say he was just "lucky" but he sure was a surprise. You don't get too many surprise TDF winners in that they generally show the appropriate form in the lead up.

You are correct in stating that no one would have mentioned the winner as the winner before the start. We watched the entire race live and it was awesome. The reason I perfer the Worlds is that someone like the winner has a chance. Unlike the Tour, where there might be 3-5 cyclists who has the team to win. Then again, the Worlds are not as well known to the public outside of Europe. All in all, I would rather win the Worlds....

Memph

ps, you had some great points..

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Daremo
Yellow, pink or gold ..........

The general public knows the Tour, 95% of the world didn't even know the World's was this past week .......

World's is just another 1-day classic. The Tour, Giro, or Vuelta are three weeks of hell ...........

So who are you winning the race for, yourself or the public???

Memph

World Champion 2003. Now THAT is a moniker I could deal with! Sure the Tour is a great race with much history and prestige but the undisputed world champion for 12 months.........yes please

Personally, I don't think Bettini deserved it Sunday, I only saw him come to the front for about one brief try, I think his team actually lost it a bit for him by keeping the pace so low that a lot of people were still in it at the end

Oh, sorry, I'll have the yellow please. If given the option.

World Champion, Olympic Champion ........ one day races, has nothing to do with who is the best/strongest rider .......

Has EVERYTHING to do with being on form on that weekend and getting a good/lucky break.

Being one of the Tour champs has everything to do with abilities, strength, form, and everything that is celebrated about the sport.

No one ever puts a lot of credence on the World Champ.

What I think is more prestigious is the old season long World Cup points system where consistency was awarded for results in ALL the classics, and the leader then is what I would consider a World champ.

Worlds will never be anything more than a hyped up national team 1-day race. Being "World Champ" doesn't seem to hold much clout to me.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Daremo
World Champion, Olympic Champion ........ one day races, has nothing to do with who is the best/strongest rider .......

Has EVERYTHING to do with being on form on that weekend and getting a good/lucky break.

Being one of the Tour champs has everything to do with abilities, strength, form, and everything that is celebrated about the sport.

No one ever puts a lot of credence on the World Champ.

What I think is more prestigious is the old season long World Cup points system where consistency was awarded for results in ALL the classics, and the leader then is what I would consider a World champ.

Worlds will never be anything more than a hyped up national team 1-day race. Being "World Champ" doesn't seem to hold much clout to me.

So you would rather win the World Cup over the World's or TdF???

Memph

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Memphmann
So you would rather win the World Cup over the World's or TdF???

Memph

No, what I was attempting to say was that the World Cup winner should be considered the World champ, not one guy who got lucky in a break or a mass sprint .........

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Memphmann
Please give a short reason why?

Money.

These are professional riders. The one to make the most money for the winner.

It's why Lemond concentrated on TdF and Worlds; the only 2 things significant in USA. Smart man.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Daremo
No, what I was attempting to say was that the World Cup winner should be considered the World champ, not one guy who got lucky in a break or a mass sprint .........

I see your point. Why should someone who got lucky for one day be the World Champ. So sould the TdF count toward the points? If so, how many points should be rewarded for TdF? I am in agreement. The World Cup shows someone strength thru out the entire season, not some races. Kinda like Tennis point system...

Memph

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Roy Gardiner
Money.

These are professional riders. The one to make the most money for the winner.

It's why Lemond concentrated on TdF and Worlds; the only 2 things significant in USA. Smart man.

So you are lending toward a PGA style of Champ. The cyclist with the most winnings is the Champ? Could work I guess....

Memph