2006-07-22 07:18:34 · 12 answers · asked by KirstenP 4 in Sports ➔ Cycling
You can't talk about the greatest TdF riders without mentioning Merckx or Hinault. Or Pantani. How about Fausti Coppi, the first rider to win both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year. Armstrong never even rode both, choosing to focus on the Tour.
Floyd's TdF win--making up most of a 10 minute deficit with a solo breakaway in the Alps--is historic. But between Armstrong and Landis, I'd have to choose Armstrong as the best Tour de France rider. Armstrong won the race an incredible seven times; Floyd only once. When they've competed side by side, Armstrong bests Floyd. And Lance has changed the way that riders prepare for and ride the Tour--he's changed the sport. And that's mark of great athlete.
But I think I'd rather hang out with Floyd...
2006-07-22 18:24:09 · answer #1 · answered by Spot! 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Are you comparing the 2 only or best of the modern era? Lance has had more success in the Tour because he had such strong teams to support him (the team time trials really helped Lance a lot), a great coach, great strategy, the latest and most expensive equipment. He also worked as hard or harder than anybody. He earned his success. But he usually didn't race a full season compared to other riders. Don't forget that Floyd rode with Lance and supported him for years on the same team. And we never got to see a good head to head race between them when Landis didn't have an necrosing hip (his crash was in 2003). Landis didn't have a very strong team this year, they weren't weak, but somewhere in the middle of the pack, and when he attacked his team helped at first with a fast tempo,but then he was on his own, Lance rarely went it alone, and certainly not on long breakaway like that.
You can't really compare them. Eddy Merckx was the best cyclist of all time. If he wanted to win a stage, no one could beat him, just ask the compeitition. FYI, it was Eddy Merckx who called Floyd Landis and told him he had to attack after Floyd bonked in the mountains on the previous stage. It was Axel (Eddy's son), who came up and supported Floyd when he was bonking on the mountain, or he might of fallen even further behind. That individual performance was better than any of Lance's head to head. It was awesome.
2006-07-22 12:43:48 · answer #2 · answered by doc_jhholliday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans are really ignorants when it comes to sports outside of their own country. First Lance Armstrong who is a cheater , epo user , is not even close to be the best cyclist of all time. Eddie Merckx has won far many more races than Lance who , in his fraudulent career focused almost manly on the Tour de France. Yes Lance won 7 times , but any of you guys ever saw before and after cancer pictures of the dude? It is amazing that people buy what Lance has been trowing at them ,be mindful he might be trying to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge one day!
Anyway Floyd Landis ride on Thursday is one of the best sports moment of all time , His effort is something that is hard to understand, and many did not give him a single chance to come back. Lance in all his tour victories had someone to help him,Floyd did not. Floyd did it on his own , without a very good team, without epo and without steroids.
I have been cheering for Floyd the whole tour and the kicker is :I am french!!!
2006-07-22 08:37:27 · answer #3 · answered by cyril 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lance is far better than landis... look at what he ha dto overcome in order to win all of those titles at the tour... and against such stiff competition, too... some say that the cycling world is a lot like professional golf: there are too many excellent competitors to safely predict any winner, in any event, except if the golf event includes tiger woods, or if the cycling competition boasts lance armstrong.
2006-07-22 07:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by greaterrome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Floyd's ride on Thursday is a top-5 all time stage in the Tour.
That performance is being compared to Lemond in 89, Merckx in 69, Armstrong at Sestriere, Chiapucci's ride into Italy, and Pantani on Alpe dHuez in 98.
2006-07-22 07:23:45 · answer #5 · answered by scott.braden 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lance
2006-07-22 07:24:32 · answer #6 · answered by johnboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lance
2006-07-22 07:22:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmm 7 times in a row winning the tour, coming back after have cancer, and still having the balls to call the french a$$holes on ESPN. You gotta give it to Lance!!
2006-07-22 07:41:32 · answer #8 · answered by MarinoMan13 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A no-brainer, Lance. It will be a long time when anyone comes close to his record...I still want Landis to win. He's got guts...
2006-07-22 14:27:22 · answer #9 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Armstrong......7 in a row!.....no one will ever match that....not even 3 in a row.
2006-07-22 07:23:20 · answer #10 · answered by whichwayisup 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋