Following the recent Belgian and Italian debate themes....

a/ Who is the best French cyclist post Fignon? and

b/ why are the recent crop of French bikeriders so crap?

I'm stating a/ Jalabert, followed by daylight.

b/ I blame the French federation and French director sportifs for having bugger all idea on what they are doing (developmentally, tactically and from a disciplinary side of things) and for creating an environment where French riders turn into a soft, overpaid, cosseted bunch of mummies boys and p*ssies.

b/ why are the recent crop of French bikeriders so crap?



God is American and France will not have a top level GC rider until some French rider takes off the curse created when Hinault failed to support Lemond. That might be a long time as I don't see any French rider with a real chance supporting any non-french teammate in the near future.

The French riders wouldn't be 2nd tier if their federation wasn't so strict with the "controles". That simple.

The French need to realize that no country, even one that has had a gifted champion in its history, is never garaunteed another, or for that matter, one at all. For example, Spain cannot bank on another Idurain, Belgium cannot bank on another Merckx, and America cannot be assured another Armstrong.

What France needs to do is embrace thier current crop of riders and be proud of thier achievements. Riders the likes of Cristophe Moreau, Richard Veranque, Thomas Voeckler, and Jean-Patrick Nazons are riders any nation would be proud of, and France should be also. Granted, they may not be Hinault, Fignoon, or Jalabert, but they are men who can get thier names up into the better half of the standings in any given race. The next Hinault may just be around the corner, but so might be the next Armstrong, Indurain, and Merckx at the same time, so nothing is ever assured for France or any cycling nation.

France, in the meantime, needs to learn to be gracious hosts for races like the Tour, embrace any champion from any nation who shines in it, and say merci for the best riders that France can produce at any given time. Maybe they should study the Italians in this manner. And they should also look to stock thier continental team with more French riders. Not to shun the Aussies in FDjuex, but I'm sure the next great Freench rider might right now be an anonymous somebody on a lowly local team who can do something special if given the colours of a squad like AG2R, Credit Agricole, or Cofidis.

And finally, they need to let go of the grudges!!!

Laurent Jalabert.

and then in no particular order....

Fred Moncassin.

Thierry Marie.

Jacky Durand.

Thierry Claveyrolat.

Laurent Roux.

Christophe Moreau.


I'm out.....

France, in the meantime, needs to learn to be gracious hosts for races like the Tour, embrace any champion from any nation who shines in it, and say merci for the best riders that France can produce at any given time. Maybe they should study the Italians in this manner. And they should also look to stock thier continental team with more French riders. Not to shun the Aussies in FDjuex, but I'm sure the next great Freench rider might right now be an anonymous somebody on a lowly local team who can do something special if given the colours of a squad like AG2R, Credit Agricole, or Cofidis.



Nah, they already have too many riders in their teams who don't deserve pro contracts

The French riders wouldn't be 2nd tier if their federation wasn't so strict with the "controles". That simple.

All riders on French teams are subject to the same controls, not just the Gallic ones. Why is it only the French riders are 2nd rate?

Laurent Jalabert.

and then in no particular order....

Fred Moncassin.

Thierry Marie.

Jacky Durand.

Thierry Claveyrolat.

Laurent Roux.

Christophe Moreau.


I'm out.....

**Richard Virenque

Don't forget Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle!

**Richard Virenque

speaking of "controles..."

**Richard Virenque



oh yeah.....forgot Tricky.


Merde!!


I also really liked Pascal Lino. Dunno why....but he had a beautiful pedalling action.

oh yeah.....forgot Tricky.


Merde!!


I also really liked Pascal Lino. Dunno why....but he had a beautiful pedalling action.

tête de merde

haha just joking
...but seriously :p

Fair dinkum, I've got the memory of a hamster. I can't remember what I did yesterday.

All riders on French teams are subject to the same controls, not just the Gallic ones. Why is it only the French riders are 2nd rate?


Hmmm...
That is odd.
Maybe I am wrong about the Frenchies being too clean, but I can't imagine there disappearance is from a lack of effort.

Anyway, back to the subject, Jalabert is by far the best Frenchman, post-Fignon.

Matt Wilson said on radio the other night that the French riders have things a little easy. All they have to do is get a pro contract then they're superstars in their home village; getting on TV, etc..

Matt Wilson said on radio the other night that the French riders have things a little easy. All they have to do is get a pro contract then they're superstars in their home village; getting on TV, etc..

+1

Very true.

Matt Wilson said on radio the other night that the French riders have things a little easy. All they have to do is get a pro contract then they're superstars in their home village; getting on TV, etc..

Haha. See post #1

yeah, a bit like the local footballers. All they had to do in the old days was get into an under 19 squad, and they could strut around Moorabbin pool in their official VFL shorts, pickin up.
For many of them, this was enough.

yeah, a bit like the local footballers. All they had to do in the old days was get into an under 19 squad, and they could strut around Moorabbin pool in their official VFL shorts, pickin up.
For many of them, this was enough.

he he!!

See Matt Hardy's "Saturday Afternoon Fever".....

yeah, a bit like the local footballers. All they had to do in the old days was get into an under 19 squad, and they could strut around Moorabbin pool in their official VFL shorts, pickin up.
For many of them, this was enough.

It's sad when you get 40 year old blokes saying - 'oh such and such, great footballer - played 4 games with Fitzroy in 1977-1978. Works as a sales rep for such and such company (employment based on those 4 games, even though hasn't made a sale in four years). Great bloke too' (when he's actually an alcoholic wife basher on his fourth marriage, with 2 failed businesses and a string of debts).

Melbourne is full of 'em. Rant over.

yeah, there's stacks of them who were washed up pissheads by the time they were 21 :)

It's sad when you get 40 year old blokes saying - 'oh such and such, great footballer - played 4 games with Fitzroy in 1977-1978. Works as a sales rep for such and such company (employment based on those 4 games, even though hasn't made a sale in four years). Great bloke too' (when he's actually an alcoholic wife basher on his fourth marriage, with 2 failed businesses and a string of debts).

Melbourne is full of 'em. Rant over.


Gold.

hey Ed, I'm gettin a few miles out of your "my first day on 'P' plates at the bike race" story :p

hey Ed, I'm gettin a few miles out of your "my first day on 'P' plates at the bike race" story :p


Yeah....it's pretty funny. In retrospect!

Everyone is forgetting that France is producing top notch XC and track riders. Julien Absalon and Miguel Martinez are xc world champions, Arnaud Tournant is a world champion in track. Ok, we are in 'road bike racing' forum.

The longitudinal controls that are performed in france monitor physiological characteristics over time. It makes it harder for an athelete to 'prepare' (dope) for a specific event. Say if the athelete's normal hematocrite level is 42%, and he is controlled at 49,5% prior to a race then something is obviously off even if he is under UCI cutoff limit of 50%.

Jalabert.........it isn't close.