Exploits

[Andreu]

Who, in 1 professional race (classic, 1day, or stage), made the greatest impact for you with regards to effort, domination, bravery etc?
My choice.
Hinault in the 1980 Liège - Bastogne - Liège, for me, displayed the greatest 1 race exploit (see: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/veloarchive/exploits/liege1980.htm for full story). He is my favourite rider of all time anyway so I am biased!

At one point he had to shield his face, the snow was so bad!
Brave (or stupid?) and his domination is there in black and white at the bitter end: 1st: Bernard Hinault, 244km in 7h 01' 42" (34,72km/h); 2nd: Hennie Kuiper, @ 9' 24"; 3rd: Ronnie Claes, @ same time; 4th: Fons De Wolf, @ 10' 34". 21 finishers from 174 starters in the snow. His bloody minded attempts to dominate races has never been bettered.
.....well read the link above to get the full story.

Who and where are your favourites and why?

A

[Bill Bove]

LeMond taking the final TT stage in the '89 TdF stands out in my mind.

[Kevin]

I'm with Bill. I have got to go with LeMond in the 89 TdF.

Kevin

[rnhood]

Another vote for Lemond in '89. Awesome ride!

[weisan]

I thought Lance did pretty good with the few scary moments in the 2003 tour. I won't exactly call it on top of the list but it's pretty memorable.

I didn't exactly see the video footage, but I also read somewhere that Andy Hampsten's exploit up the Gavia pass in the 88 Giro was exceptional. Here's a picture:

http://rivercitybikes.com/products/images/item2014.jpg

I remember reading one of the Bicycling Mag issues where they recounted the "greatest moments" in cycling history. They quoted quite a number that I have known for the first time. I will see if I can dig up that issue again.

weisan

[Too Tall]

*Every time he races RAAM* EVERY FRICKIN' TIME D@@d!!!

Rob Kish. (and than there's the rest).

Won RAAM 3 times (1992, 1994, 1995)
Competed in 18th RAAM in 2003 :eek:
Most finishes and most RAAM miles ridden (53,494)
Solo RAAM transcontinental record holder
Finished in the top three men's solo division (1990-1998 and 2001-2003)
Voted 2002 UltraCyclist of the Year
2002 Inductee into the UltraCycling Hall of Fame
Awarded Competitor Magazine's UltraMarathon Cycling Legend of the Year 2003

[Andreu]

LeMond taking the final TT stage in the '89 TdF stands out in my mind.
Have to agree....it would definitely be in my top 5 of all time exploits and top 3 TdF exploits...truly awsome.
A :beer:

[Dr. Doofus]

eddy merckx, 1969 tour of flanders

don't argue. the doc isn't interested in why you are wrong. eddy merkcx, 1969 tour of flanders


greatest display of strength+ineptitude ever:

doc, 1989 crit/kermesse in St. Lo. aliented, angered, disgusted, more frenchmen than GWB. anytime you can crash, take five or six guys out, chase back, crash again, take another five out, and quit, you know you've had a good day

[Climb01742]

ok, it's not cycling but...bill toomey winning the decathlon in mexico city in 1968. watching it on TV, listening to jim mackay call it, it was my first memory of how nobly an athlete could suffer. for cycling...andy in the snow in giro. basketball...willis reed, game seven.

[Keith A]

I would say that Tyler's stage win last year in the TdF is amoung my top rides.

[weisan]

Yep, Keith, I was just thinking about that this morning. Winning a stage with a broken collarbone??? Crazy people doing crazy things. :p

[zap]

Lemond, tdf '86.

[William]

1.) Watching my friend Chris hit a cat (that ran out on front of him) at speed, one hand came off the bars, one foot came unclipped. Doing an amazing balancing act, arm and bike flailing he was able to get it back under control and back on the bike with out going down. Amazing bike handling skills! What an inspiration! :D

For the PITA folks: As far as we know the cat was ok.

2.) Lemond? Yes, Lemond!

3.) Watching Alex Zulle break away on his own, building up a 5+ minute lead and getting the leaders jersey from Big Mig on the road. Mig puts the hammer down on the climb to LaPlange and blows the field apart and eats almost 3 minutes out of Zulle's lead by the time he gets to the top to keep the Yellow jersey.

4.) Not inspiring but thought provoking: Larent Jalabert's horrific mass sprint crash caused by a French Policeman who decided he wanted a picture of the pack coming up and stepped out onto the course to snap it. He ate a front wheel, Jalabert and the rest of the field ate pavement at top speed.

William

[Madship]

Not an inspiring moment, but the one I remeber most, and what made me fall in love with bicycle racing.

Casagrande self destructing on the final time trial of the 2000 Giro. The entire tour was a story of wasted opportunities for the big house. He had many chances to take a commanding lead but sat back and finished with the challengers. Then the pirate dragged garzelli to a giro victory on the final mountain stage.