Road Bike Racing - Rider Of The Day

http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/images/portraits/argentin.jpg

Moreno Argentin

Born December 17, 1960 - Italy

1984 Giro d'Italia 3rd place
1985 World Championship Road Race 3rd place
1985 Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1st place
1986 World Championship Road Race 1st place
1986 Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1st place
1987 World Championship Road Race 2nd place
1987 Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1st place
1987 Tour of Lombardy 1st place
1990 Tour of Flanders 1st place
1990 Fleche Wallone 1st place
1991 Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1st place
1991 Fleche Wallone 1st place
1994 Fleche Wallone 1st place

One of my favorite riders.

Don D: I need you to contribute to this thread. Anyone.

(I think we all know what he looks like)

Lance Armstrong

Born September 18, 1971


A look at Lance Armstrong's Tour de France career:


TOUR VICTORIES: Five straight from 1999-03, tying the record for consecutive wins set by Miguel Indurain of Spain (1991-95). Three others won five Tours, but not in a row -- Jacques Anquetil of France (1957, 1961-64), Eddy Merckx of Belgium (1969-72, 1974), and Bernard Hinault of France (1978-79, 1981-82, 1985).

STAGE VICTORIES: 16 -- one each in 1993, 1995, 2000, 2003; four each in 1999, 2001, 2002. His U.S. Postal Service team also won a time trial together this year. Merckx won a record 34 stages, Hinault 28, Anquetil 16, and Indurain 12.

WINNING MARGINS: Beat Alex Zulle of Switzerland by 7 minutes, 37 seconds in 1999, Jan Ullrich of Germany by 6:02 in 2000, Ullrich by 6:44 in 2001, Joseba Beloki of Spain by 7:17 in 2002, and Ullrich by 1:01 this year. The largest gap between the winner and runner-up in race history is nearly 3 hours -- 2:59:21 to be exact -- set by Maurice Garin of France in the first Tour in 1903. The smallest margin is 8 seconds, in Greg LeMond's victory over Laurent Fignon in 1989.

AGE: 31; Armstrong will turn 32 in September and plans to compete in the 2004 Tour. Since 1953, seven riders 31 or older have won. The oldest was Firmin Lambot of Belgium, 36 in 1922. Of the other five-time champions, only Indurain won at 31 -- and that was the Spaniard's age for his final victory.

ENTRIES: This was Armstrong's ninth Tour de France. Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands raced in the most, 16.

PLACINGS: 1993-Did Not Finish; 1994-Did Not Finish; 1995-36th; 1996-Did Not Finish; 1997-Did Not Enter; 1998-Did Not Enter; 1999-1st; 2000-1st; 2001-1st; 2002-1st; 2003-1st

One of my favourite stories from It's Not About The Bike involves these two. It makes Argentin look like a king, and Armstrong a prat. Y'all know it?

Lance is in one of his first pro races, and charges up to the front of the group, next to the man, Argentin. Argentin looks at him, asks him what he's doing there, and calls him another American rider's name. Lance is furious that Argentin doesn't know who he is, so he shouts: "F*ck you, Chiapucci!"

They meet soon after, at a race that's pretty much Argentin's to win. There's a breakaway of four riders, and Lance goes for the sprint. Just short of the finish line, Argentin puts on his brakes, and sits up. Stays out of the medals, so as not to have to stand next to a man on the podium that he doesn't respect.

I missed Argentin's career entirely. I'm a part of the Lance generation, I suppose. I'd give lots to be able to go back and catch those years, though. I mean, dig those palmares!

Did you make that story up? I doubt any cyclist in any race would loose so they don't have to stand next to someone, if they did thats ******** and childish.

http://www.first-contact.demon.co.uk/cycling2/roche1.jpg

Stephen Roche November 28, 1959 - Ireland


1981 Paris - Nice

1983 Tour of Romandy

1984 Tour of Romandy

1985 Criterium International
1985 1 stage, Tour de France

1987 Tour de France
1987 1 stage, Tour de France
1987 Giro d'Italia
1987 2 stages, Giro d'Italia
1987 Tour of Romandy
1987 World Pro Road Race
1987 Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1989 Tour of the Basque Country

1990 Four Days of Dunkirk

1991 Catalan Week
1991 Criterium International

1992 1 stage, Tour de France



In 1987 Roche became only the second rider to win the triple crown of cycling (Giro, TDF and Worlds in the same year.)

After retiring, started a cycling camp (http://www.sroche.com/) on the island of Majorca.

"While it is a very hard and sometimes very cruel profession, my love for the bike remains as strong now as it was in the days when I first discovered it. I am convinced that long after I have stopped riding as a professional I will be riding my bicycle. I never want to abandon my bike. I see my grandfather, now in his seventies and riding around everywhere. To me that is beautiful. And the bike must always remain a part of my life."
—Stephen Roche

Did you make that story up? I doubt any cyclist in any race would loose so they don't have to stand next to someone, if they did thats ******** and childish.

It really happened.
That is a lot less childish than cursing him out.
I thought it was classy, as Armstrong did.
Its not like he 'lost' because of it. He just finished 4th instead of 3rd or 2nd.

Stephen Roche was one of the classiest riders I have ever watched pedal a bicycle. He had the smoothest pedal stroke I think I have ever seen for a road rider. His style was a mix of Gianni Bugno's great ankling technique and a track rider's high rpm spin. Never seen anything quite like it in any other rider.

He ran into a bit of controversy with the Italian riders after what they saw as his betrayal of Visentini in the Giro of 85' or 86', I can't remember exactly. He went on to prove his class while Visentini disappeared. Of course, if I recall correctly, Visentini was from a very rich family and had little motivation for the hard life of a professional cyclist.

Side note: Visentini wore AXO Turbo shoes in his Giro victory. These were always my favorite shoes. I just wore out my last pair last year. I would love to find some NOS of this shoe in a size 42. :)

Roche's years riding with Chiapucci were better times for him, as Chiapucci and Roche seemed to get on better.

Roche was a very blue collar guy, always good with the press, and a fan's rider.

[QUOTE=don d.]
He ran into a bit of controversy with the Italian riders after what they saw as his betrayal of Visentini in the Giro of 85' or 86', I can't remember exactly. He went on to prove his class while Visentini disappeared. Of course, if I recall correctly, Visentini was from a very rich family and had little motivation for the hard life of a professional cyclist.
QUOTE]

I remember this well. It was '87 and the Italian fans were enraged at his exploit and his loyal team mate Eddy Scheapes(sp?) sheltered him up a lot of the climbs when he was in pink.

I think his greatest day was '87 TDF up La Plangne. It was one of the most courages rides I've seen him do.
He was about 2.30 down on Delgado at the begining of the climb who needed time on Roche before the time trial. Roche slowly clawed his way back and finished about 10 sec. down. He collapsed through exhaustion and was taken to hospital. It wasn't a stage winning ride so people don't reference it much but he saved the tour that day and of course went on to do the triple.

I think his greatest day was '87 TDF up La Plangne. It was one of the most courages rides I've seen him do.
He was about 2.30 down on Delgado at the begining of the climb who needed time on Roche before the time trial. Roche slowly clawed his way back and finished about 10 sec. down. He collapsed through exhaustion and was taken to hospital. It wasn't a stage winning ride so people don't reference it much but he saved the tour that day and of course went on to do the triple.

In one paragraph I think you described just why I love this sport so much.

http://grahamwatson.com/dublin/misc/images/image35.jpg

Steven Rooks - Netherlands

1983 Liege-Bastogne-Liege - 1st place
1986 Amstel Gold - 1st place
1986 Tour of Luxembourg - 1st Place
1987 Tour of Switzerland - 1 stage
1988 Tour de France - 2nd place
1988 Tour de France - Mountains Jersey
1988 Championship of Zurich - 1st place
1988 Tour de France - 1 stage
1989 World Championship Road Race - 4th place
1989 Tour de France - 1 stage
1991 World Championship Road Race - 2nd place
1992 World Championship Road Race - 5th place

Dutch rider who rode for Ti-Raleigh- Campagnolo, SEM, Panasonic, PDM and Buckler. Shares one record with Greg LeMond, which can never be broken. Steven won the Présence (Performance Classification) jersey in the Tour de France 1988 and 1989. This jersey is for highest GC rider in the following competitions in the Tour de France: General, Points, Mountains and also (in the years 1984-1989) the Intermediate Sprints. Rooks was also this jersey's final winner.

http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Lab/Tour/breukink.jpg

Erik Breukink April 1, 1964 - Netherlands

1987 Giro d' Italia - 3rd place
1987 Tour de France - stage win
1988 Giro d' Italia - 2nd place
1988 Criterium International - 1st place
1988 Tour of basque Country - 1st place
1988 Giro d' Italia - stage win
1989 Tour of Romandie - 2 stage wins
1990 Tour de France - 2 stage wins
1990 Tour de France - 3rd place
1991 Tour de Pont
1992 Vuelta a Espana - stage win
1993 Criterium Internation - 1st place
1993 Tour of Netherlands - 1st place

Rode for ONCE, PDM, Panasonic and Rabobank. Best known to Americans for his narrow win over Atle Kvalsvoll in the 1991 Tour de Pont.

More on Roache at La Plangne.

He collapsed and lost consciousness at the finish, but when asked upon revivng if he was OK, he replied "Oui, mais pas de femme toute suite" (Yes, but I am not ready for a woman straightaway)


This is a great idea for a thread!!!!

Francesco Moser

Born 1951

1974 1st Paris-Tours
1974 2nd Paris-Roubaix
1975 Italian Road Race Champion
1975 2nd Milan San Remo
1976 2nd Paris-Roubaix
1976 Word Pursuit Chapion
1977 1st Fleche Wallonne
1977 World Road Race Champion
1977 2nd Giro d'Italia
1978 1st Paris-Roubaix
1978 1st Super Prestige Pernod
1978 3rd Giro d'Italia
1979 1st Paris-Roubaix
1979 1st Ghent-Wevelgem
1979 Italian Road Race Champion
1979 2nd Giro d'Italia
1980 1st Paris-Roubaix
1980 1st Tirreno-Adriatico
1981 Italian Road Race Champion
1981 1st Tirreno-Adriatico
1981 3rd Paris-Roubaix
1983 3rd Paris-Roubaix
1984 1st Milan San Remo
1984 1st Giro d'Italia
1984 World Hour Record
1985 2nd Giro d'Italia
1986 3rd Giro d'Italia

Always my favorite growing up.

http://www.nrc.nl/W2/Lab/Tour/breukink.jpg

Rode for ONCE, PDM, Panasonic and Rabobank. Best known to Americans for his narrow win over Atle Kvalsvoll in the 1991 Tour de Pont.

Currently DS at Rabobank.

More on Roache at La Plangne.

He collapsed and lost consciousness at the finish, but when asked upon revivng if he was OK, he replied "Oui, mais pas de femme toute suite" (Yes, but I am not ready for a woman straightaway)


This is a great idea for a thread!!!!
:D That's right.......... how did I forget that quote!!!

http://www.first-contact.demon.co.uk/portraits/bauer3.jpg

Steve Bauer June 12, 1959 - Canada

1984 - World Championship Road Race 3rd place
1988 - 1 stage, Tour de France
1988 - Grand Prix des Ameriques, Montreal
1988 - 1 stage, Tour of Switzerland
1989 - Championship of Zurich
1989 - 3rd Amstel Gold Race
1990 - Paris Roubaix 2nd place

Perhaps most famous for having lost the 1990 Paris Roubaix by 1cm to Eddy Planckaert. In '91, wore the TDF leaders jersey for 10 days. Won the silver medal in the '84 Olympic road race.

Want to follow the TDF with Steve? How about go for a ride with him? You can follow the Tour and learn about his touring and training rides at:

www.stevebauer.com

Steve Bauer June 12, 1959 - Canada
2003 World Championships - Course design

I might have missed Merckx and Jalabert in Hamilton, but I did get to meet Steve Bauer. Woop! I was a starstruck idiot with a big ol' crush, though - so all I could say was: Er... Fenwick Flyer! Sprint! Paris-Roubaix! Or something to that effect, anyway. Durrr.

Not really a classic story, is it? :rolleyes:

http://www.first-contact.demon.co.uk/cycling4/fondriest.jpg

Maurizio Fondriest 1/15/65 -Italy

1988
World Pro Road Race - 1st place
1 stage, Tour of Switzerland

1990 Giro di Lazio - 1st place

1991 World Cup Winner

1993
Milan - San Remo - 1st place
Flèche Wallone - 1st place
Championship of Zurich - 1st place
Giro dell'Emilia - 1st place
Tirreno - Adriatico - 1st place
GP du Midi Libre - 1st place
1 stage, Giro d'Italia
World Cup Winner
1994 Giro di Lazio - 1st place
1995 1 stage, Giro d'Italia

Rode for Lampre, Cofidis, Panasonic, Del Tongo and Legnano. Twice won the World Cup. Now has a line of damn nice road bikes.

Just for kicks.

http://www.cyclinghalloffame.com/riders/pics/Merckx%20podium.jpg

Eddy Merckx - The Greatest

1966
Milan - San Remo
Trofeo Angelo Baracchi, with Ferdi Bracke

1967
World Pro Road Race
Milan - San Remo
Flèche Wallone
Ghent - Wevelgem
Trofeo Angelo Baracchi, with Ferdi Bracke
2 stages, Giro d'Italia
Critérium des As

1968
Giro d'Italia
KoM, Giro d'Italia
Points Competition, Giro d'Italia
4 stages, Giro d'Italia
Tour of Catalonia
Tour of Romandy
Paris - Roubaix
Tre Valli Varesine

1969
Tour de France
KoM, Tour de France
Points Competition, Tour de France
5 stages, Tour de France
Paris - Luxembourg
Milan - San Remo
Tour of Flanders
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Paris - Nice
4 stages, Giro d'Italia
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1970
Tour de France
KoM, Tour de France
8 stages, Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
3 stages, Giro d'Italia
Paris - Nice
Tour of Belgium
Paris - Roubaix
Flèche Wallone
Ghent - Wevelgem
Critérium des As
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1971
Tour de France
Points Competition, Tour de France
4 stages, Tour de France
World Pro Road Race
Milan - San Remo
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Tour of Lombardy
Frankfurt Grand Prix
Omloop Het Volk
Paris - Nice
Dauphiné - Libéré
GP du Midi Libre
Tour of Belgium
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1972
Tour de France
Points Competition, Tour de France
6 stages, Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
4 stages, Giro d'Italia
Milan - San Remo
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Tour of Lombardy
Flèche Wallone
Giro dell'Emilia
Giro del Piemonte
GP de l'Escaut
Trofeo Angelo Baracchi, with Roger Swerts
Hour Record - 49.431km
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1973
Giro d'Italia
Points Competition, Giro d'Italia
6 stages, Giro d'Italia
Vuelta a España
Points Competition, Vuelta a España
6 stages, Vuelta a España
Paris - Roubaix
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Grand Prix des Nations
Amstel Gold Race
Ghent - Wevelgem
Omloop Het Volk
Paris - Brussels
GP Fourmies
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1974
Tour de France
8 stages, Tour de France
Giro d'Italia
2 stages, Giro d'Italia
World Pro Road Race
Tour of Switzerland
Points competition, Tour of Switzerland
KoM, Tour of Switzerland
3 stages, Tour of Switzerland
Critérium des As
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1975
Milan - San Remo
Tour of Flanders
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Amstel Gold Race
Catalan Week
2 stages, Tour de France
1 stage, Tour of Switzerland
Super Prestige Pernod Trophy

1976
Milan - San Remo
Catalan Week

1977
1 stage, Tour of Switzerland

I think this ride up Mt Ventoux in '87 TDF by Jean Francois Bernard was incredible. As Sean Yates would say "he has a full mask on" (mask of pain). It was a surprising victory because he's not noted as a pure climber. He beat the little Columbian climber, Luis Herrara not by seconds but by well over a minute and took the yellow jersey. He dug deep that day, but never saw this kind of a ride from him again.

Thanks, Devil. I didn't want to have to list Merckx's palmares. As many times as I've seen his list of victories, it never fails to leave me in awe.

I think this ride up Mt Ventoux in '87 TDF by Jean Francois Bernard was incredible. As Sean Yates would say "he has a full mask on" (mask of pain). It was a surprising victory because he's not noted as a pure climber. He beat the little Columbian climber, Luis Herrara not by seconds but by well over a minute and took the yellow jersey. He dug deep that day, but never saw this kind of a ride from him again.


I remember watching "Jeff" on TV that day. Amazing!

Rider of the day for 6/11/04:

http://www.douix.com/chiappucci/images/chiappucci.jpg

Claudio Chiappucci

1989
Giro del Piemonte
Coppa Placci

1990
KoM, Giro d'Italia

1991
Tour of the Basque Country
Milan - San Remo
KoM, Tour de France
1 stage, Tour de France
Points Competition, Giro d'Italia
1992 KoM, Tour de France
1 stage, Tour de France
KoM, Giro d'Italia

1993
Clasica San Sebastian
1 stage, Tour de France
KoM, Giro d'Italia
1 stage, Giro d'Italia
Japan Cup

1994
Tour of Catalonia
Tre Valli Varesine
Japan Cup

1995
Giro del Piemonte
Japan Cup

http://home.planet.nl/~heted/tgv_foto_pollentier.jpg

Michel Pollentier 2/13/51 - Belgium

1974 Tour de France - 1 stage
1975 Tour de France - 1 stage
1976 Tour of Belgium - 1st place
1976 Tour de France - 1 stage
1977 Champion of Belgium
1977 Giro d' Italia - 1st place
1977 Tour of Switzerland - 1st place
1978 Dauphine Libere - 1st place
1978 Champion of Belgium
1980 Tour of Flanders - 1st place
1982 Vuelta a Espana - 2nd place
1984 Vuelta a Espana - 1 stage

Graham Watson says Michel had the worst riding style of almost any rider he'd ever seen. 89 professional victories. Twice champion of Belgium. Along with Freddy Maertens and Marc Demeyer, one of the so called "Three Musketeers." Beat Merckx in a TDF time trial. In the '78 TDF, failed his post Alp d' Huez drug test. His urine was clean. It arrived however to drug control in the flask, via a glass rod and some tubing, from a rubber bulb concealed under his arm. Officials became suspicious when Pollentier began pumping his elbow in and out as if playing a set of bagpipes.

Does anyone read these?

I do, I love em! I was going to post Chiapucci, but you beat me to it

Actually, I beat you to it.

Interesting fact about that drug test, Laggard. I didn't know about that.

http://www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1056825399851_2003/07/01/spt_cycling030702.jpg

Phil Anderson - 3/20/58 Australia

1982 Tour de France - 1 stage
1983 Amstel Gold Race - 1st place
1984 Championship of Zurich - 1st place
1984 Frankfurt Grand Prix - 1st place
1984 Catalan Week
1985 Frankfurt Grand Prix - 1st place
1985 GP E3
1985 Dauphiné - Libéré - 1st place
1985 Tour of Switzerland - 1st place
1985 Points competition, Tour of Switzerland
1985 KoM, Tour of Switzerland
1985 Tour of Switzerland - 3 stages
1986 GP d'Automne (Creteil- Chaville)
1987 Milan - Turin - 1st place
1989 Tour of Romandy - 1st place
1989 Giro d'Italia - 1 stage
1991 Tour de France - 1 stage
1991 Tour of Switzerland - 1 stage

The first Australian cycling star, Phil rode for Peugeot, Panasonic, TVM and Motorola. A tough as nails rider, Anderson had 87 career wins. Finished in the top-10 in the Tour de France on 5 occasions and became the first Australian to wear the yellow jersey.

By the way, this (http://www.philoconnor.com/gallery/index.php?cat=6) is a great site filled with damn good cycling photos.

A long, long time ago, Phil showed up at the Red Zinger Stage race. He was in either his first or second year as a pro, and riding for Peugeot. I can't even remember the year. Anyway, I do remember that the Zinger ended in a criterium and Phil lapped the entire field...TWICE!. Very impressive.

http://www.grahamwatson.com/dublin/misc/images/image52.jpg

Charly Mottet - France

1983 Tour of Luxembourg - 1 stage
1984 Tour de l'Avenir - 1st place
1985 Grand Prix des Nations - 1st place
1986 World Championship Road Race - 2nd place
1987 Grand Prix des Nations - 1st place
1987 Dauphiné-Libéré - 1st place
1988 Tour of Lombardy - 1st place
1988 Grand Prix des Nations - 1st place
1989 Dauphiné-Libéré - 1st place
1990 Championship of Zurich - 1st place
1990 Giro d'Italia - 2nd place
1990 Tour de Romandie - 1st place
1991 Classique des Alpes - 1st place
1991 Tour de France - 2 stages
1992 Dauphiné-Libéré - 1st place
1994 Tour Méditerranéen - 1st place


67 pro victories. Rode for Renault, Systeme U, RMO and Novemail. UCI number 1 for 9 weeks in 1989.

Willy Voet said that Charly Mottet would refuse to dope, and becuase of that he never won the tour.