The vogue for ignoring results and asserting, without any supporting facts or suppositions, that competition levels are higher today- or that comparisons are odious and irrelevant- continues.

Armstrong's career record doesn't bear any comparison with Merckx's. I'm not sure how many informed commentators would put him in the top 10 all-time roadies.........

As regards levels of competition, some of you guys are misinformed if you think rivals like Beloki, Hamilton and their ilk are a tougher proposition than Zoetemelk, De Vlaeminck and Maertens.

Of course a rider can only beat the guys who turn up......Lance doesn't turn up often enough to be ranked anywhere near Eddy, using the most reliable formula of all- sheer weight of victories.