Lance won the tour 7 times, Merckx only 5 times. But Lance focused only on the tour while Merckx entered contest all the year through.
2006-09-22 06:48:47 · 12 answers · asked by AGoodPerson 2 in Sports ➔ Cycling
Eddy Merckx won all contests worth the name in bicycle world (fe 5 times Giro D'italia) including a hour record that stood very long (and on a normal bike not on something futuric).
Lance and Eddy both had the winner spirit but if both cycled in the same time Lance would come second due to the fact that Merckx did more contest (more experience). In the tour Eddy made some phenomenal escapes which Armstrong never did on the same scale. Once all the publicity caravan had to stop making publicity and speed up because he was simply getting too close. Another time even the French mottards (motor police) didn't dare following him when he was descending the Pyrenees. (who ever has seen the tour live, knows what both examples are showing).
Another example : the first tour he won, he won ALL categories including climbing. Thought he was no real expert in the mountains no one ever could get lost of him.
Another thing that makes Eddy greater : in his time tactics were still being developed. Something in which Eddy participated also.
I have a deep respect for Lance but I had the great luck that I could follow both in their best years. My conclusion : Eddy was the greatest, no dough. Then I should nominate Lance has second greatest.
2006-09-22 18:42:03 · answer #1 · answered by Rik 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your just talking about the Tour then you have to go with Lance. If you are talking overall then there is no question Merckx was by and far a more dominating rider. With more wins in more races from one day classics to the grand tours Lance just cannot compete with Eddy in those instances.
I'm not sure Eddy could match Lance in a race like the Tour but then again I don't know think Lance would be nearly as strong in the Tour if he raced the number of races that Eddy was doing every year.
2006-09-22 07:49:18 · answer #2 · answered by Dru 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
In Europe the only time that you're heard about lance was with the tour DE France. When you focus to win only one tour in particular it isn't so difficult to win that tour.
Merckx had always a complete season to ride and the tour was part of it.
For me Merckx was , is and will be the greatest of them all
2006-09-23 06:54:57 · answer #3 · answered by general De Witte 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lance obviously has more Tour wins. He employs tatics like a general. He acts like an animal and he uses better equipiment than NASA. Speaking strictly about the bike and not cancer.
I am a huge Lance fan. Despite all of this I have to say Eddy Merckx is the greatest ever.
Sorry Lance, but there's a reason they call him The Cannibal...
2006-09-22 09:50:19 · answer #4 · answered by ozzfan_iam 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I thought Lance Armstrong has other specialities also. He doesn't ride the tour anymore. I have a big respect for this guy, cause he had cancer and fought back. But I think Eddy Merckx is the greatest!
2006-09-22 07:24:56 · answer #5 · answered by frenzie-ann 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lance is on record saying Merckx is the greatest.
2006-09-22 17:11:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best Tour de France rider - LA
The best cyclist of all time - Merckx.
I imagine that, if Eddy had focused on le race, he could have won more, but he didn't. In fact, one year he just skipped it because he was tired and didn't feel like doing it.
The truth is that in his time, the Tour wasn't the big deal that it is now.
These days, if you win the Tour you are set for life, money-wise, and you're a legend. Back then it was just a little more important than the rest.
2006-09-22 10:51:58 · answer #7 · answered by Jeff 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
greatest of all time would be Merckx.
imagine if it were possible to put all those greats in the same place at the same time and then see who really is the best. then again who would care, as the competition would be just scintillating.
on the drugs thing, again who cares. if LA was on drugs, then does anyone think he was the only one on them? of course not. so in that case he still beat everyone else, regardless.
LA won the tour through his single minded determination and having the best team to support him.
let's look forward to the next great tour riders, oh yeah!?!
2006-09-22 18:58:21 · answer #8 · answered by pugsbaby 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if like most French, you strongly believe that LA has been doping himself in order to win the 7 TdFrance then EM is the phenomenon - Actually you have also to count on Miguel Indurain and Bernard Hinault which, I believe won the same TdFrance a EM
To me Amstrong is the king...by far
2006-09-22 06:55:51 · answer #9 · answered by asyannis 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I prefer Eddy Mercks
2006-09-22 06:56:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋