EDIT: Also, if you feel like watching a 1hour video, here's the epic pursuit in the 1993 Vuelta: Rominger putting all on the line, in yellow, attacking alone to gain time on Zülle before the final TT
I've pretty much just posted three of the very very few exciting moments of the boring, boring, boring cycling in the 90s that EPO produced.
If only we could go back to the pre-90s exciting cycling of long breakaways and favorites attacking 200kms from the finish. But we can't. EPO changed that. Maybe one day.
Edited by issoisso on 21-07-2012 23:56
The preceding post is ISSO 9001 certified
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
The-Pot wrote:
*Froome vs. Cobo on Pena Cabarga video*
Oh, come on! That is a bit like Ecuador playing Greece in the World Cup final.
Now, here's a proper Vuelta a Espana mountain top fight. Heras trying to wrestle Nozal out of the golden jersey, Cardenas gunning for the King of the Mountains, Sevilla being a superb domestique and Valverde staging a most impressive comeback. An high-octane MTF the way it should be!
EDIT:
issoisso wrote:
Finally, here's Chiapucchi's legendary stage win at Sestriere after 125kms solo with Induráin chasing.
"I love him, I think he's great. He's transformed the sport in so many ways. Every person in cycling has benefitted from Lance Armstrong, perhaps not financially but in some sense" - Bradley Wiggins on Lance Armstrong
Personally, the whole 2011 Tour de France! Since I'm from Norway it was just absolutely spectacular to see Edvald and Thor take 4 (and a half) stage wins.
By the way, I love Liggetts comment: "I refuse to kiss and hug Paul Sherwen n everytime Mark Cavendish wins a stage"
Edited by cactus-jack on 22-07-2012 00:29
There's a fine line between "psychotherapist" and "psycho the rapist"
Roche winning the big one. Who would have thought the little leprechaun with the mouth of a sailor could do it.
Then Riis riding up and down the line before taking off up Hautacam in '96, showing Indurain was actually human and giving poor old Phil L a confusing moment or two. Then to see him turn to look at Virenque, Piepoli and Dufaux had simply fallen off without another attack.
Of course, Riis was something more than human but that's a whole other thread.
Finally, probably the Beloki crash. Who knows how high he could have gone but for all those broken bones.
It was eleven more than necessary. Jacques Anquetil
Off the top of my head:
1. Di Luca soloing into Pinerolo after an epic descent and a dropping of the hammer on Menchov, Pellizotti and the others on what can only be described as a speed bump. (2009 Giro)
2. Cancellara's late attack and epic win. (Milano - San Remo 2008)
3. Cancellara powering away from Boonen on the Muur. (RvV 2010)
4. Sastre's win on Alpe d'Huez. (2008 TdF)
5. Nibali's epic solo descent into Asolo. (2010 Giro)
That's pretty much why I got fond of Jalabert at some point of my life.
I changed my opinion on him afterwards though.
Attacking from very far, with team mates that'd sacrifice themselves one after the other, then winning the stage with some gap.
Indurain and Banesto realised a bit late what was going on, and had to react in a hurry to chase the Once down. They reduced the gap because, whilst doped to the eye balls, the Once faded in the end, but that day Indurain must have feared for his yellow, like rarely during his reign.
Edited by Aquarius on 22-07-2012 11:52
The first thing that comes to mind for me is when Armstrong passed Basso in the 2004 Tour de France Stage 16 ITT up Alpe d'Huez. Also, although it didn't really change the outcome of the GC at all, the battle between Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador up the Tourmalet a few years ago is pretty memorable. Schleck's chain drop on Port de Bales comes to mind as well.
I think I'll have to say the TT to Disneyland where Bjarne Riis threw away a good GC because of his new bike fucked up. That was one to watch. Also the big breakthrough of Ullrich that year where he won. The previous year he was like Froome this year.
Also the massive attacks from Festina pre-98 where the riders Virenque, Dufaux, Zülle, Brochard etc. etc. etc. I remember Brochard always in pain. Dufaux a very strong downhiller, Zülle a very poor downhiller, and Virenque in love with the mountains jersey.
Those were the days, when Casagrande, Virenque, Escartin, Rominger, Berzin and those likes were battleing the 5-10 GC places.
One of my best ever cycling memories was when Laurent Fignon collapsed after losing the Tour time trial on the Champs Elysees to Greg Lemond Edited by sutty68 on 22-07-2012 23:27
From the recent ones:Stage 7 from Giro 2010, the Gardeccia stage from Giro 2011 and Stage 2 of 2007 Vuelta Burgos.
But from the older ones: I have to say Tour de Romandie 2002 - that very snowy stage where Alex Zulle won; Giro 2005 - the Finestre stage (much better then in 2011); Tour de France 2003 stage 8 with Iban Mayo's great attack and the last but not least the stage from Midi Libre 2001 with Mont St-Clair and win from talented rider who never showed his real pontential (rejuvenated my memories about it thanks to this year's tour).
Edited by I_Mayo on 22-07-2012 23:16
I know someone mentioned that was like Ecuador v Greece in the World Cup but sometimes those are the best games and that was a crazy finish.
One of my favourite moments is not only of our new TdF Champion but of him in the 2007 stage when Wiggins ended up, by accident, going on a lone breakaway on a flat stage for about 140km before being chewed up and spat out the back (it happened to by on the anniversary of Simpson's death too)
