is it fair to consider Eddy Merckx, who was caught doping three times in his career

[GOTHBROOKS]

the best road cyclist of all time?
when many other top performers have been shunned?

[weisan]

Fair no.

Life isn't.

Exceptional he is.

Best all time?

Most likely.

Because times have changed.

We probably won't see another "Merckx".

[jtbadge]

Nostalgia is a toxic impulse. Just like baseball where dopers from the distant past are glorified while more recent "offenders" are vilified.

[fiamme red]

Originally Posted by GOTHBROOKS

the best road cyclist of all time?
when many other top performers have been shunned?

In your opinion, which top performers who have been shunned were greater than Merckx?

[charliedid]

I really can't say...

[bicycletricycle]

Cyclists dope, F1 teams cheat, just seems to be part of the sports.

[markie]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

Cyclists dope, F1 teams cheat, just seems to be part of the sports.

Imagine how bad it is to cheat and not win... The red cars are not very quick this year

[bicycletricycle]

Originally Posted by markie

Imagine how bad it is to cheat and not win... The red cars are not very quick this year

They got 3 of their cheats taken from them so they have fallen behind. Battery trickery, burning oil and some fuel flow sensor manipulation. Although we will never really now the story because they made a deal to keep it secret. Oh well, I am sure they will figure out some kind of new way to stretch the rules.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Hmmm, I didn’t realize he had ever been caught doping. Then again I’m not sure what rules there were against doping in that era. I’d just always assumed just about everyone took “vitamin” injections.

[Toeclips]

At least he admitted to it
Plus he was sabotaged and there after he set the standard for urine tests by submitting two or three samples per race in wax seal tubes
Got that from merckx half man half bike

[Mark McM]

[robt57]

Dave Stoler doctrine:

https://youtu.be/DJETB-MfpnQ

[FlashUNC]

There's also a universe of difference between gobbling some uppers and advanced blood doping.

Also he seems to not be a world class asshole who ruined the lives of others.

I prefer Coppi myself. But that's the heart and not the head talking.

[fiamme red]

Look at the schedule of professional cyclists in Merckx's day and it's easy to understand why they used amphetamines.

[carpediemracing]

Originally Posted by Spaghetti Legs

Hmmm, I didn’t realize he had ever been caught doping. Then again I’m not sure what rules there were against doping in that era. I’d just always assumed just about everyone took “vitamin” injections.

Back then doping was generally a 10 day suspension, and when a racer tested positive they'd usually say something like "When I come back I'm going to win to prove I'm innocent" which didn't make sense to me. Wouldn't winning just prove you doped?

Sean Kelly was one such rider. His positive was even in his book. I don't remember if guys like Vanderarden tested positive but I'm pretty sure he did. Many did. Even a guy that beat Lemond in Tour de L'Avenir tested positive - in his case I think he got docked 10 minutes, handing Lemond the win.

The thing with amphetamines or cortisone or testosterone is that although they allowed you to basically use more of your body, they didn't increase what your body could do. Meaning you'd recover faster or feel less pain or whatever, but your heart and blood were still the same - you weren't changing how much oxygen you could get to your muscles.

With EPO, blood doping, it actually changed the limits of the rider. It wasn't that EPO/boosting allowed you to use more of your body - it made your body better. This is doping at a different level. It's why suddenly speeds went up, why suddenly everyone was good.