Who's Now the Greatest After Lance?

Hi all, just returned from hols where I only had occasional access to news.

In one respect I'm pleased because the one that I've always thought of as the greatest (sorry Eddy) is still the joint record holder...Bernard H.

He did everything the hard way..the year of the Great Sulk, the year he withdrew at the death with tendinitis, the year where he broke his nose, the year he won the Vuelta with about 90% of Spain as his enemy...

I just hope Miguel was clean; well he was freak of nature.

Hinault greater than Merckx? No chance.

Unless you were talking about greatest TDF cyclist, which could be the case because you mention Armstrong in the equation. Even if you ignore the doping, he barely scrapes top 10 all-time overall when you look at things pragmatically and without the usual hysteria that comes from Armstrong fans past and present.

If I had to go with anyone I'd say Anquetil. First to win all three grand tours, first to win 5 TdFs - and did it all without cheating. He may well have been doping, but as it wasn't banned at the time he is very much in the clear.

Lance was never the greatest - most famous possibly, but that was a combination of media coverage, being American and the whole cancer-survivor thing.

Merckx was always the best overall rider, and his record is very unlikely to be equalled now that riders tend to specialise more.
Hinault was the last great all-rounder (last TdF winner to also win Paris Roubaix), and ever since Lemond riders have looked to be either Tour riders or Classics riders, not both.

Add in the likes of Coppi and Anquetil (noting that both are known to have doped to the gills with amphetamines, and had rather 'interesting' private lives), and you probably have the 4 finest road race riders in history.

Merckx #1
Coppi, Anquetil and Hinault you can make an argument for any order between #2 and #4.

It's an interesting debate and I guess most people's views will depend on how far back their memories go.

It just seems to me that Hinault seemed to thrive on making enemies of everyone and was beset by demons.

Merckx will always be the greatest ever. I have only seen film of him but he seemed to just be out of this world good.

I think on a stage of the Giro he rode something like 187km out in front on his own holding off the field in the mountains. That just doesnt happen anymore

When did people start doping? You pretty much have to discount anyone after that I'd have thought.

People started doping about ...em.... 40,000 years ago. So yeah - everyone is discounted

There was a documentary about the Tour history on French TV . A very popular French rider of the time ( the 20's ) shocked people with a public protest about the way riders body was mistreated . By this time riders used a mixture of cocaine and chlorophorm ( ? ) which was highly damageable for any future health .
This chlorophorm is very surprising, but maybe a proper dosing with cocaine made the deal .