Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Birth of a Legend
Tour de France 1952 Alpe d'Huez
In the pciture are the days protagonists. Riders rode for their countries in these years and Robic, pictured trailing Coppi, launched the first attack. He tried to take his team mate Raphael Geminiani up to the stage victory. Coppi meanwhile had it in his mind to wait on that day. He supposedly did this for three reasons: 1) He would not have to break his rythm 2) He would see who his main rivals were 3) He could demoralize the attackers by later jumping onto their wheel.
After the two Frenchmen had been away 3km Coppi made his move and with a lighning turn of speed was on their wheel. This must have fit all three of his criteria of holding back. It must have been terribly demoralizing seeing how easy he came up to them and had in the same move isolated his main rivals of the day.
Coppi climbing in the big chain ring for 7km pulling Robic behind him until with 6km to go he launched his move. Robic unable to stay on the Campionissimo's wheel could only watch as he pulled away. Coppi new he had dropped him because he could no longer hear the heavy breathing and tires crushing the gravel rode behind him. As light as an angel he shot up the Alpe d'Huez moving into the yellow jersey that he kept to the end. As a side note he was the only rider to win on d'Huez and then go on to win the overall until Armstrong came along almost 50 years later.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Man who Broke the Reign of Terror
Belgian's in strength
Let's not forget that Merckx did have a team at the Worlds in 1974. Here you can see him flanked by a team mate while another is driving the pace to close down the break away of Thevenet
Worlds 1974
Here is another one of Thevenet on his solo break away. Notice the service vehicle, sure Riis or Bruyneel would love to have one of those when they make their way to the front of the motorcade
1974 Worlds
Pictures By Ken30684 and ddsiple
Info from Cycling Revealed
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Cannibal
The palmares says it all:
5x Tour de France (1969-72, 1974), 96 days in the yellow jersey
5x Giro d’ Italy (1968, 1970, 1972-74)
1x Vuelta (1973)
3x Worldchampion (1967, 1971, 1974)
1x Tour of Switserland (1974)
2x Tour of Belgium (1970-71)
1x Belgian Champion (1970)
34x victories in Tour de France (6x in 1969, 8x in 1970, 4x in 1971, 6x in 1972, 8x in 1974, 2x in 1975)
24x victories in Giro d’Italy
3x Parijs-Nice (1969-71)
1x Dauphiné Libéré (1971)
4x Tour of Sardinië (1968, 1971, 1973, 1975)
1x Tour of Romandië (1968)
1x Midi Libre (1971)
1x Giro di Catalonia (1968)
1x Parijs-Luxemburg (1969)
7x Milaan-San Remo (1966-67, 1969, 1971-72, 1975-76)
2x Ronde van Vlaanderen (1969, 1975)
3x Parijs-Roubaix (1968, 1970, 1973)
5x Luik-Bastenaken-Luik (1969, 1971-73, 1975)
2x Ronde van Lombardije (1971-72)
2x Omloop Het Volk (1971, 1973)
3x Gent-Wevelgem (1967, 1970, 1973)
3x Waalse Pijl (1967, 1970, 1972)
2x Amstel Gold Race (1973, 1975)
1x Parijs-Luxemburg (1969)
1x Rund um den Henninger-Turm of de Grand Prix Frankfurt (1971)
1x Grand Prix des Nations (1973)
1x Parijs-Brussel (1973)
1966 Eddy Merckx
As a bit of a tribute to Englands uselessness at the World Cup I find solice that Merckx was also suffering during his 1966 attempt at the World's. And where did the race take place, no other than Germany. Well today England lived up to their choker reputation. I guess that is why I find solice in supporting them as my third attempt at the National's yesterday left me once again in fourth place. Bring on the XC Nationals and in the mean time I get to watch the European XC Champs in two weeks. Will definitely be better than the football.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Cinelli Milano
The is something truely beautiful about anything Italian. Even though their football team was completely off par this world cup I can't say that it suprises me. The is passion in Italian designed equipment found in very few countries. Just look at the crazy tiffosi this last Giro. If someone didn't tell me that is was a real mountain I would have thought that the Zoncolan was a mountain of people. Not even the Alp d'Huez brings out the crowds like the Giro does. I have fallen in love with Cinelli, esspecially with the help of the Cinelli Only blog.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Merckx 1970 Belgian Champ
With the upcoming national's this weekend, here's a pic from the Canibal after he had just won his national title in 1970. The intensity on this man's face always amazes me.
Viva le Tour
"We recently completed a fun little feature for USA Bicycling Magazine. The Illustration accompanies an article about the famous Tour De France. Lots of little hidden things in this one!"