Road Bike Racing - Soooo!?!?! Who was the Best??

After listening to Bob Roll, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin do their thoroughly enjoyable commentary on the Giro, TdF and Veulta, I get the feeling from their comments about one another that Phil and Paul both feel that Bob was the superior rider amongst the three of them. What do you think?

Phil never raced professionally.

Paul and Bob are probably pretty evenly matched. Though I've never seen Bob's resume, Paul's is fairly impressive. Lots of top-10 finishes in tough races and a couple stage wins.

Bob did a lot of mountain biking too. Not sure how well he did.

I wonder how Bob acted in the peloton... with his hand gestures and quasi-comedic performances and all.

Surprised to hear that Phil did not race as a pro. He is quite knowledgeable and a good commentator.

Here is an article that explains one of his biggest accomplishments.

http://www.nytimes.com/library/sports/other/080199bike-armstrong.html

And some of Bobke's credentials......

Member of the Cycling Hall of Fame as part of the original 7-Eleven Cycling Team
· Former member of the Motorola Cycling Team
· Four-time Tour de France racer
· Three-time Giro d'Italia racer
· Eight-time Paris-Roubaix racer
· Three-time Tour de Suisse racer
· Won stage 3 of the 1988 Tour de Romandie
· Won stage 11 of the 1985 Coors Classic
· Won the 1997 & 1998 San Franciso Hill Climb
· Raced in eight World Championships

Being a member of the first US team to compete full tme in Europe is probably his biggest, single credential. Still, his palmares are admirable. He was notorious for being a, um, unique character and a cut-up. I heard he always wore cowboy boots, so the Europeans called him cowboy.

Winning the SF Hill Climb as recently as five years ago is pretty impressive, as well. And he is very entertaining as a TV commentator, as well. Now if he can just call TdF number six for LA all will be well.

Bobke takes it by a wheel with the insanity factor. He's all cleaned up for his commentary gig, but you should see him when the sideburns are grown in.