Who has been the biggest champion of cycling?
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TheManxMissile |
Posted on 08-09-2015 11:51
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Maybe because he was eating the flesh that was dropping from lightning fast Anquetil and Merckx who were ahead of him all the time?
The "if i eat him, i will gain his power" theory, also used by Suarez and voodoo shamen...
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trekbmc |
Posted on 08-09-2015 11:53
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Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Maybe because he was eating the flesh that was dropping from lightning fast Anquetil and Merckx who were ahead of him all the time?
Nah, he was 'a cannibal eating Ventoux with the ferocity of one eating an archbishops calf.'
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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trekbmc |
Posted on 08-09-2015 12:02
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TheManxMissile wrote:
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Maybe because he was eating the flesh that was dropping from lightning fast Anquetil and Merckx who were ahead of him all the time?
The "if i eat him, i will gain his power" theory, also used by Suarez and voodoo shamen...
UCI Globalisation scheme leads to next voodoo shaman tour de France winner.
In other news, the sudden disappearance of Chris Froome.
"What done is, is one." - Benji Naesen
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Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 22:43
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SSJ2Luigi |
Posted on 08-09-2015 12:02
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you know it
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Strydz |
Posted on 08-09-2015 17:26
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Shonak wrote:
Generally, it's Mercks no questions asked. But to me personally, it's Coppi.
Yep Merckx is the best that cycling has ever seen but I agree that Coppi has that something, to me he was the last real champion of the romantic, beautiful era of the sport, all the photos, stories and footage ive seen he had a beautiful style on the bike and a certain cool factor that I can't help but enjoy
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Ian Butler |
Posted on 08-09-2015 19:05
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Just watched the first episode of Merci Merckx, which is on tv here in Belgium. (it was on last week, but just watched it)
Apparently, Merckx was checked up by a doctor once, trying to explain why one man could be so dominant, even against other top professionals.
Some numbers from the check:
He could pump 8 liters blood per minute, while normal people 4 - 5l.
Lung volume was 1 l more than Fausto Coppi
actic acid disappeared immensely quickly with him. The doctors couldn't explain it. Which meant he could attack so quickly after a previous attack.
Well, explains part of it. |
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Strydz |
Posted on 08-09-2015 19:57
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Ian Butler wrote:
Just watched the first episode of Merci Merckx, which is on tv here in Belgium. (it was on last week, but just watched it)
Apparently, Merckx was checked up by a doctor once, trying to explain why one man could be so dominant, even against other top professionals.
Some numbers from the check:
He could pump 8 liters blood per minute, while normal people 4 - 5l.
Lung volume was 1 l more than Fausto Coppi
actic acid disappeared immensely quickly with him. The doctors couldn't explain it. Which meant he could attack so quickly after a previous attack.
Well, explains part of it.
Would of been interesting to see what modern testing could show us of Merckx in his prime physical years, I really dig the physiological side of human ability. Clearly he was a genetic outlier, I mean sure he doped but what they used back then were more uppers which would give you a boost but couldn't turn an average rider into anything more than that, if anything things like amphetamines can be counterproductive in endurance sports. The guy was a freak! All things being equal he would of been a champion in any era
Hells 500 Crew and 6 x Everester
Don Rd Launching Place
Melbourne Hill Rd Warrandyte
Colby Drive Belgrave South
William Rd The Patch
David Hill Rd Monbulk
Lakeside Drive Emerald
https://www.everesting.cc/hall-of-fame/
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ArturoBandini |
Posted on 08-09-2015 20:22
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My brain says Merckx and my heart Hinault. |
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udoi |
Posted on 08-09-2015 20:29
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Thank you all for voting |
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vismitananda |
Posted on 21-09-2015 11:26
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Domestique
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Of course its no other than the Cannibal, but personally I like the eternal seconds more. Like Poulidor, etc. They have a big heart and never say never attitude.
-Pain is temporary, Quitting lasts forever-
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Riis123 |
Posted on 21-09-2015 12:04
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Shonak wrote:
Generally, it's Mercks no questions asked. But to me personally, it's Coppi.
For all the things I have heard, Coppi is way bigger for me than Merckx and honestly, I think he was the more talented rider (at least uphill without a single grain of doubt), but unfortunately was robbed from pretty much his best year. Imagine if he wasnt, 10 Giros would have been realistic.
Its super personal and none of us obviously have seen the riders, but generally I like the fragile climber a lot more than the dominant rider. Would have loved to see Coppi in the high mountains, especially when I heard his pedal strokes explained by Jørgen Leth |
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Ian Butler |
Posted on 21-09-2015 12:29
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Coppi was too weak mentally to be the biggest champion of cycling.
He was great, don't get me wrong.
But I heard biographies of both Coppi and Merckx and I must say, Merckx is (in terms of pure cycling achievements) bigger than Coppi.
Coppi did some amazing stuff, don't get me wrong. But Merckx did some things nobody ever would have thought possible and nobody well ever do again. Plus the fact he went 100% for every, every single race. Roubaix was just as important as a shit-small criterium. That's a true bike racer and there aren't many like that. None, actually |
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Riis123 |
Posted on 21-09-2015 12:47
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Ian Butler wrote:
Coppi was too weak mentally to be the biggest champion of cycling.
He was great, don't get me wrong.
But I heard biographies of both Coppi and Merckx and I must say, Merckx is (in terms of pure cycling achievements) bigger than Coppi.
Coppi did some amazing stuff, don't get me wrong. But Merckx did some things nobody ever would have thought possible and nobody well ever do again. Plus the fact he went 100% for every, every single race. Roubaix was just as important as a shit-small criterium. That's a true bike racer and there aren't many like that. None, actually
But if you take away five of the Cannibals prime years his palmares wouldnt be as great. Coppi still managed to get 5 Giros, 5 Lombardias, 2 Tour, 3 MSRs etc. which still is insane.
But as I said, its personal preferences and thank god for that. Otherwise it would have been super stale. And Valverde is probably the closest to Merckx at the moment, but yeah, way, way, way off still, but his mindset I would say is close. |
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