Thanks to the fantastic 1991 DB by rogercoll / spanish team, I can finally do something I always wanted. Relive the time of Miguel Indurain and try to win more than the 5 tours he managed.
Indurain (pronounced "In-dur-rine" turned professional in 1985 and entered the Tour de France for the first time the same year, ultimately entering it in each of the next eleven years. Although he dropped out of the Tour in 1985 and 1986, his standing improved steadily until his first win in 1991. He rode in support of his team captain Pedro Delgado in the 1990 Tour, even though he might have been strong enough to win it himself. He won the event from 1991 to 1995, becoming the first to win five consecutive times (Jacques Anquetil was the first to win the event five times non-consecutively).
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Indurain is often said[by whom?] to have been the best time trialist in the Grand Tours, putting in large gains against his rivals on the time-trial stages and riding defensively in the climbing stages. In the 1992 Tour he finished a 65 km time trial an astonishing three minutes ahead of the second-place rider. On the morning of the time trial Big Mig had ridden the course and declared he "liked it" so had a 55-tooth chain ring fitted. He did not disappoint. A picture of sublime power and grace combined with the trademark grin, he demolished the field. Such was his dominance that approaching the finish line he caught the rider who started 6 minutes in front: a certain Laurent Fignon, second in the Tour three years previously. Despite his five Tour victories, he won only two Tour stages that were not individual time trials: mountain stages to Cauterets (1989) and Luz Ardiden (1990) in the Pyrenees. He was often accused[by whom?] of not fighting hard enough for wins in mountain stages in which he arrived in the lead group, while others respected this as a sign of a gentleness and gratefulness to his rivals.
In 1992 and 1993, years in which he won the Tour, Indurain also won the Giro d'Italia. In 1994 he set a world Hour record of 53.040 kilometres (circa 32.96 miles), breaking the previous record set by Scotland's Graeme Obree. During the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, where professional cyclists were allowed to compete for the first time, Indurain won the gold medal in the individual time trial. He also won the Dauphiné Libéré in 1995 and 1996.
1996 seemed to be going smoothly as Indurain prepared to defend his Tour crown. The usual indicator of Indurain's form was the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. After giving a master class in attacking and race control during difficult conditions, it was clear Indurain was ready. None doubted the usual result during July.[citation needed]
Suddenly all bets were off. In the 1996 Tour, Indurain was aiming for a sixth victory, but he suffered right from the beginning. The dominant display in the Prologue was replaced by a 7th place and a rather labored performance. Usually Indurain would have a smooth, fast cadence and finish first. Many[who?] had said he was using a higher gear and rolling it round. Reports surfaced later that Indurain had been in rather a "state" after the ride and had to be helped into the team bus. After developing bronchitis after an extremely cold and wet first week of the race, Indurain started to lose time from stage 7 and never recovered. In the years that have passed, extensive drug use by Indurain's rivals, the Telecom and Festina teams, showed that only a fully fit Indurain may have won for a record 6th time. The eventual winner Bjarne Riis later admitted having used EPO to win, gaining the nickname "Mr 60%", but is still considered by the Tour organisers as the overall winner, albeit with reservations.
Indurain finished 11th and, in a stage passing through his hometown and ending in Pamplona, he finished 19th, eight minutes behind the stage winner. Later that year he abandoned the Vuelta a España, which his Banesto team had insisted he enter, saying that his legs felt like wood and that he could not breathe. He later announced his retirement from racing.
Even during the five years when he dominated the Tour, Indurain resisted comparison to great Tour champions of the past and once said that he had "never felt superior to anyone". On the bike, he seemed rarely to struggle or lose his composure. That, along with his quiet nature, led some[who?] to compare him to an extraterrestrial or a robot. He was also known to be exceedingly generous with his teammates. In 1992, fans reported overhearing him say "Mi baño es tu baño" (My bath is your bath) after big stages concluded especially to fellow countryman and domestique extraordinaire, Pedro Delgado.[citation needed]
In retirement he is a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee and of UCI's Professional Cycling Council. He is also Honorary President of the Miguel Indurain Foundation. He often attends cyclotourist events such as L'Etape du Tour and the Cape Argus Pick & Pay Cycle Tour in Cape Town, South Africa.
Miguel Indurain during the XXI Criterium Ciutat de L'Hospitalet, in 1996
[edit] Physical advantages
At the top of his career, Miguel Indurain had a physiology that was not only superior when compared to average people, but also when compared to his fellow athletes. His blood circulation had the ability to circulate 7 litres of oxygen around his body per minute,[1] compared to the average amount of 3-4 litres for an ordinary person and the 5-6 litres for his fellow riders. His cardiac output is 50 litres a minute; a fit amateur cyclist's is about 25 litres a minute. Also, Indurain's lung capacity was 8 litres, compared to an average of 6 litres. In addition, Indurain's resting pulse was as low as 28 BPM, compared to a normal human's 60-100 bpm , which meant his heart would be less strained in the tough mountain stages.[2] His VO2 max was 88 ml/kg/min; in comparison, Lance Armstrong's was under 80 ml/kg/min and Greg LeMond's was over 92 ml/kg/m
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I want to try to win the Vuelta he never won, the Tour more than 5 times, and see how far it goes Edited by ruben on 14-03-2010 13:17
Indurains schedule to win Tour and Vuelta this year
Tour des Pyrénées méditerranéennes / 1.4
Team Banesto's Aitor Garmendia was in the break of the day, unfortunately Garmendia had only one rider to help him out. The stage would end in a mass sprint. Although Banesto rider Bernard tried to avoid it in the final, but he came up short. Our sprinter Mújika however suprised many by finishing second, just slightly behind winner Van Brabant!
Results
GP des Besseges / 1.4
This oneday race is an excellent preparation for the Star of Bessèges which starts a few days later. Banesto rider Pacheco was in the break of the day which started out as a thirteen-man lead group. During the race, more riders atacked and joined until the group had sixteen riders in it. Even that was not enough to stay away. On the final hills the attacks started. Banesto leader Bernard was protected during the day and had the energy to go with the best. But on the last hill, an attack by Robert(a) Millar proved to strong. He held on in the downhill and won with a slight lead over a duo of TVM riders. Bernard finished the group sprint in 7th place, 11 seconds behind winner Millar. A good result on the whole.
On the final hill, Banesto leader Bernard escaped, only to be caught and passed by the young Italian Stefano Dello Santa. Bernard hung on to finish 2nd, and is now in good position already, with the hardest stage still to come at the end of the week!
Bernard finishes 2nd after a good attack
1 Stefano Della Santa Amore & Vita - Fanini 2h52'26 2 Jean-François Bernard Banesto s.t.
3 Luc Suykerbuyk Festina - Lotus + 17
4 Adrie Wijnands Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx + 38
5 Miguel Ángel Vos Wigarma - JM Catering s.t. 6 Jokin Mújika Banesto s.t.
7 Laurent Desbiens Tonton Tapis - GB - Corona s.t.
8 Alain Van den Bossche TVM - Sanyo + 56
9 Claude Michely Bleiker s.t.
10 Willem-Jan Van Loenhout TVM - Sanyo s.t.
Stage 3
Another flat stage in which team Banesto helped control the peloton. We didn't want to take any risks with Bernard sitting in good position in the general classification. In the end, Heynderickx was again the strongest sprinter. Mújika finished in 5th place!
The last flat stage, some of our helpers got a free role and went into the attack, but a sprint was unavoidable. Wijnands was the fastest this time. Mújika finished third, just like in the first stage.
Wijnands takes the win, while Banesto sprinter Mújika does a good sprint in third position
Banesto leader Bernard had his sights set on the double, stage victory and overall victory. Team Banesto worked hard all the day to make the race as hard as possible. Already on the first climb Pacheco and Lazpiur were setting the pace, aided by Dutch team TVM, that had Theunisse as one of the favorites for the stage.
TVM and Banesto set the pace on the front at the climbs
On the second set of climbs of the day, team Banesto already had the breakaway group in sight. Shortly after this climb, 75 riders were left, with one short hill to come. It seems the plan had worked, the peloton seemed tired and out of energy.
Banesto riders Martinez Oliver and Fuchs see the early breakaway riding in front of them on the second big climb of the day
At the last climb of the day, Aitor Garmendia gives it his all to string out the peloton in a long line. Just before the top, Jean-François Bernard decides it's time to attack. Nobody is able to follow, and the gap is sufficient to win both the stage and the overall. A great job by Team Banesto early in the season!
Bernard with the decisive attack
The Frenchman was focused on gaining time, he didn't risk cheering until after the line
After the finish line, the relief is there, victory!
Bernard receives the flowers and the kisses, and ofcourse the trophy!
The team classification was also ours
1 Jean-François Bernard Banesto 3h16'53
2 Alberto Camargo Ryalcao - Postobon - Manzana + 23
3 Adrie Wijnands Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx s.t. 4 Jokin Mújika Banesto + 1'03
5 Stefano Della Santa Amore & Vita - Fanini + 1'26
6 Serge Baguet Lotto - Super Club s.t.
7 Andrzej Mierzejewski Subaru - Montgomery s.t.
8 Roberto Pagnin Festina - Lotus s.t.
9 Steve Hegg Subaru - Montgomery s.t.
10 Gert-Jan Theunisse TVM - Sanyo s.t.
General Classification 1 Jean-François Bernard Banesto 14h14'00
2 Adrie Wijnands Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx + 53
3 Stefano Della Santa Amore & Vita - Fanini + 1'38
4 Alberto Camargo Ryalcao - Postobon - Manzana + 1'39 5 Jokin Mújika Banesto + 1'57
6 Luc Suykerbuyk Festina - Lotus + 2'07
7 Miguel Ángel Vos Wigarma - JM Catering + 2'36
8 Asiate Saitov Kelme - Ibexpress - CAM + 2'46
9 Vincent Lacressonniere Tonton Tapis - GB - Corona s.t.
10 Erwin Nijboer Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx + 2'48
Very great and impressive db except some little mistakes. For example, Jokin Mujika was a good climber (11è Giro 1987) and not a sprinter or a flat racer.
Zico wrote:
Very great and impressive db except some little mistakes. For example, Jokin Mujika was a good climber (11è Giro 1987) and not a sprinter or a flat racer.
A very good work!
I didn't make the database wrong thread mate.
He has good hill and climb stats as well, but because he has 70 SP, he is also our only sprinter
Another race where our main goal is to win the general classification with Jean-François Bernard. Can he do it again?
Stage 1
Banesto was part of the break of the day with Arnaud. When the break was caught, De Las Cuevas tried to attack and stay away, but the sprinter teams took control. In the sprint Malcolm Elliot was superior to Mújika, who suprised again with a second place!
Another flat stage, and with the same result as the first stage. Elliot wins, Mújika finishes in his wheel. Nothing we can do against this guy!
Malcolm Elliot beats Banesto rider Mújika again!
1 Malcolm Elliott Seur Deportes - Otero 2h08'26 2 Jokin Mújika Banesto s.t.
3 Michel Cornelisse La William - Saltos - Duvel s.t.
4 Michael Hübner Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx s.t.
5 Wilfried Nelissen Weinmann - Eddy Merckx s.t.
6 Michael McCarthy Subaru - Montgomery s.t.
7 Maurizio Fondriest Panasonic - Sportlife s.t.
8 William Pulido Ryalcao - Postobon - Manzana s.t.
9 Andrei Vedernikov Lada - Ghzel s.t.
10 Gert Jakobs PDM - Concorde - Ultima s.t.
Stage 3
Indurain in front! But not Miguel, but his brother Prudencio, he was part of the break of the day and put some work in to stay ahead. But unfortunately, the stage ended again in another mass sprint. This time no Elliot, but Fondriest, one of the favorites for overall victory, who took the stage!
Fondriest takes the stage!
1 Maurizio Fondriest Panasonic - Sportlife 2h01'45
2 Michel Cornelisse La William - Saltos - Duvel s.t. 3 Jokin Mújika Banesto s.t.
4 Malcolm Elliott Seur Deportes - Otero s.t.
5 Uwe Raab PDM - Concorde - Ultima s.t.
6 Peter Hilse Seur Deportes - Otero s.t.
7 Wilfried Nelissen Weinmann - Eddy Merckx s.t.
8 Andrei Vedernikov Lada - Ghzel s.t.
9 Urs Freuler Telekom - Mercedes - Merckx s.t.
10 Gert Jakobs PDM - Concorde - Ultima s.t.
GP Ciudad de Albacete - 1.3
The first race of the year for Miguel Indurain, one of our leaders for this years Tour de France. The race had a predictable scenario that lead to a mass sprint. Indurain wanted to test his legs and took Martinez Oliver with him in his wheel, Miguel rode so hard, nobody could stay in his wheel but Banesto rider Martinez, Martinez rounded off his teammates work. A great test and a great succes for Banesto.
Winning without a sprinter, it's possible when Miguel is there...
Miguel Indurain takes it easy in the first kilometers of the race
The time trial, a stage where Banesto looked forward to. De Las Cuevas had a fall in the last stage and was one of the earliest starters. That was good for us so he could set a time for Bernard to focus on. The weird part was, the UCI had placed obstacles on the course. A new test?
A freaky start for De Las Cuevas
Armand de Las Cuevas did score an early best time, but he was surpassed by some other riders soon. When Bernard started, he knew he had to do significantly better than his teammate. At the split point, he was already a smashing 17 seconds ahead of Peter Meinert, the number one at the time. At the finish, Bernard was 22 seconds faster than Herinne, the current best. It looked good so far, but there were still some good riders to come!
Bernard on his way to catch a rider
However, none of the other favorites did good enough to come even close. Malcolm Elliot did a nice try at keeping his jersey, coming in 13th, but lost too much time as well. Bernard is already in pole position to win this race!
Victory for Jean-François Bernard!
1 Jean-François Bernard Banesto 19'02
2 Pierre Herinne Lotto - Super Club + 22
3 Eddy Schurer TVM - Sanyo + 26
4 Peter Meinert TVM - Sanyo + 31 5 Armand De las Cuevas Banesto s.t.
6 Henri Manders Helvetia - La Suisse + 33
7 Álvaro Pino Kelme - Ibexpress - CAM s.t.
8 Gerard Rué Helvetia - La Suisse s.t.
9 Jesús Blanco Villar Festina - Lotus s.t.
10 Michael McCarthy Subaru - Montgomery + 34
Stage 5
The fifth stage looked like to be a predictable flat stage. The opposite was true however. At the final hill of the day, Fondriest snuck away with two other riders, Jan Siemons (TVM) and Michel Cornelisse (LA William).
Panic for Team Banesto as they still had '2 minutes lead with 20km to go!
Fondriest with a sneaky attempt
The team did their best to catch the leaders, but with 8km to go it was still 50 seconds. It was Jean-François Bernard himself who used his TT skills to close the gap. Fondriest had to do all the lead work, and therefore Siemons and Cornelisse could profit, while Fondriest was caught in the sprint. A perfect way to finish the stage for Team Banesto!
Siemons profits from going with Fondriest
1 Jan Siemons TVM - Sanyo 4h37'27
2 Michel Cornelisse La William - Saltos - Duvel s.t.
3 Malcolm Elliott Seur Deportes - Otero s.t.
4 Andrei Vedernikov Lada - Ghzel s.t.
5 Maurizio Fondriest Panasonic - Sportlife s.t. 6 Jokin Mújika Banesto s.t.
7 Uwe Raab PDM - Concorde - Ultima s.t.
8 Jozef Haex Lotto - Super Club s.t.
9 Wilfried Nelissen Weinmann - Eddy Merckx s.t.
10 Peter Hilse Seur Deportes - Otero s.t.
Stage 6
With the final stage being more suited to Fondriest, it was decided that Bernard would try and increase his lead on the Mont Faron stage today. A somewhat predictable stage evolved. Until with 15km to go, suprisingly sprinter Malcolm Elliot attacked. Elliot, who became GC leader after his 3rd place in the sprint in stage 5, was surely not going to survive the Faron, but did what he could to hang on to the jersey anyway.
Elliot suprised the bunch with an attack inside the final 15k
At the foot of the climb, Montoya, one of the big favorites, accelerated right away. Bernard was comfortable riding alongside of him for a while, until Fondriest accelerated. Bernard followed right away, while De Las Cuevas was not far away either!
Bernard follows the accelerations, de Las Cuevas tries to do the same as well
With 2km to go, De Las Cuevas couldn't keep up the pace and Bernard was on his own with Fondriest, Gianetti and Alvaro Pino. The latter one couldn't keep the pace long anymore, and with 1,5km to go Bernard felt he was the strongest and went.
They never saw him again! Another succes for Banesto!
The moment Bernard accelerates
Bye bye Fondriest
Victory!
1 Jean-François Bernard Banesto 3h39'25
2 Jesús Montoya Amaya Seguros + 50
3 Maurizio Fondriest Panasonic - Sportlife s.t.
4 Mauro Gianetti Helvetia - La Suisse s.t.
5 Gerard Rué Helvetia - La Suisse + 1'18 6 Armand De las Cuevas Banesto + 1'36
7 Álvaro Pino Kelme - Ibexpress - CAM s.t.
8 Jesús Blanco Villar Festina - Lotus + 2'11
9 Dirk De Wolf Tonton Tapis - GB - Corona s.t.
10 Patrice Esnault Amaya Seguros + 2'30
Stage 7
A hilly stage that suits Fondriest well, but with the bonus Bernard has, it should not pose a threat. Banesto tries to give the break of the day a chance, but the teams of Fondriest and Montoya (Panasonic and Amaya Seguros) don't give them the space.
With 28km to go, Fondriest attacks already. Bernard is the only Banesto rider capable of joining, altough De Las Cuevas and Philipot tried to as well. Bernard was on his own.
Bernard joining Montoya and Fondriest in last wheel. Trying to save himself
Team Banesto chases wildy back in the bunch, and with 6.5km to go, four (!!) Banesto riders close the gap to their leader, and making him feel more safely..
Four Banesto riders join the lead group and Bernard is no longer isolated
After Fondriest and Montoya see Banesto's might, they quickly give up trying to break Bernard or get the stagewin. Dirk de Wolf and Gilles Delion get the space to attack, and De Wolf outsprints his companion to take the victory in this final stage. Bernard wins the overall classification! What a great start to the season for him!
De Wolf takes the stage
Bernard was clearly the best
M'újika wins the points classification!
1 Dirk De Wolf Tonton Tapis - GB - Corona 3h10'47
2 Gilles Delion Helvetia - La Suisse s.t.
3 Jesús Blanco Villar Festina - Lotus s.t. 4 Jokin Mújika Banesto s.t.
5 Jean-François Bernard Banesto s.t.
6 Dominique Arnaud Banesto s.t.
7 Mauro Gianetti Helvetia - La Suisse s.t.
8 Willem Van Eynde Lotto - Super Club s.t.
9 Jan Siemons TVM - Sanyo s.t.
10 Francisco Antequera Amaya Seguros s.t.
GC 1 Jean-François Bernard Banesto 18h53'28
2 Maurizio Fondriest Panasonic - Sportlife + 1'17
3 Jesús Montoya Amaya Seguros + 1'45
4 Mauro Gianetti Helvetia - La Suisse + 1'50
5 Gerard Rué Helvetia - La Suisse + 2'11
6 Álvaro Pino Kelme - Ibexpress - CAM + 2'29
7 Jesús Blanco Villar Festina - Lotus + 2'56
8 Dirk De Wolf Tonton Tapis - GB - Corona + 3'09 9 Jokin Mújika Banesto + 3'21
10 Pierre Herinne Lotto - Super Club + 3'25
turned professional in 1985 and entered the Tour de France for the first time the same year, ultimately entering it in each of the next eleven years. Although he dropped out of the Tour in 1985 and 1986, his standing improved steadily until his first win in 1991. He rode in support of his team captain Pedro Delgado in the 1990 Tour, even though he might have been strong enough to win it himself. He won the event from 1991 to 1995, becoming the first to win five consecutive times (Jacques Anquetil was the first to win the event five times non-consecutively).
wrong thread mate.
. Nice ! It's only the second story I read here but what a challenge 
