A ringing endorsement based on a lack of direct experience that just had to be passed on since hearsay from those who most likely also never rode a 979 were overheard to give their "expert" opinion decades ago.

"Back when" Sean Kelly repeatedly won classic world tour races on a 979, including Paris Roubaix.
The Vitus was favored for several years in my club for it's light weight and pleasant ride on rough surfaces, mostly by lighter high cadence racers with calm confident bike handling skills. Mine is still in service many years after it's race days are over. Like any other machine a Vitus 979 isn't for everyone, only by actually putting seat-time on one can that be determined.

-Bandera