Most Unlucky Pro Cyclist of All Time?
06-01-07, 08:23 AM
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Most Unlucky Pro Cyclist of All Time?
I vote for Luis Ocana.
1969
- A fall on Ballon d'Alsace ended his TDF
- He could have won the Vuelta but his team apparently had infighting that cost him the victory
1970
- Finally won the Vuelta and was looking strong when he became very ill just as the TDF started
1971
- Was beating Merckx (and Merckx claimed he thought Ocana would likely beat him) when a storm on Col de Mente caused him to crash and Zoetemelk slammed into him ending his tour
1972
- In rematch with Merckx, he went around a turn and slammed into a line of non-moving cars. He finished the stage but developed a lung infection from it and had to abandon
1973
- Slammed into a dog on the course, but somehow, without Merckx as an opponent still won the TDF
1974
- Didn't even get to ride in the TDF at all because his employer/sponsor was arguing with him over pay, etc
Am I missing any?
1969
- A fall on Ballon d'Alsace ended his TDF
- He could have won the Vuelta but his team apparently had infighting that cost him the victory
1970
- Finally won the Vuelta and was looking strong when he became very ill just as the TDF started
1971
- Was beating Merckx (and Merckx claimed he thought Ocana would likely beat him) when a storm on Col de Mente caused him to crash and Zoetemelk slammed into him ending his tour
1972
- In rematch with Merckx, he went around a turn and slammed into a line of non-moving cars. He finished the stage but developed a lung infection from it and had to abandon
1973
- Slammed into a dog on the course, but somehow, without Merckx as an opponent still won the TDF
1974
- Didn't even get to ride in the TDF at all because his employer/sponsor was arguing with him over pay, etc
Am I missing any?
06-01-07, 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by donrhummy
I vote for Luis Ocana.
...
...
Casartelli on the other hand, as Olympic champion with so much potential, truly didn't get a real chance to show his talent in the Pro peloton.
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06-01-07, 09:26 AM
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aside from Casartelli....
and on a more humor note, Michael Rasmussen anytime he clips into his TT bike. Was it the 2004 TDF that he crashed like nine times over 30 miles or something? Thats without a doubt the most unlucky hour anyones had on a bike, he was like a fish out of water.
and on a more humor note, Michael Rasmussen anytime he clips into his TT bike. Was it the 2004 TDF that he crashed like nine times over 30 miles or something? Thats without a doubt the most unlucky hour anyones had on a bike, he was like a fish out of water.
06-01-07, 09:29 AM
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Aside from Casartelli? Then I gotta go with Botto's choice of Clark Sheehan.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/teamprofi...heehan99.shtml
https://www.cyclingnews.com/teamprofi...heehan99.shtml
06-01-07, 09:29 AM
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Everytime I rerun that through my mind, I just shake my head and smile.
06-01-07, 09:33 AM
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Well both Coppi and Bartali lost a lot of wins because of WW II. Coppi also had broken bones numbering in the high 20s or low 30s. I'd say that counts for a bit.
One could say Tommy Simpson, just to be born English. If he had a team he might not have turned elsewhere.
One could say Tommy Simpson, just to be born English. If he had a team he might not have turned elsewhere.
06-01-07, 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by classic1
Fabio Casartelli. Thread over.
Then on the same note, what about Andre Kivelev? So much potential and just a freak accident.
06-01-07, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by bodaciousguy
who's clark sheehan?
06-01-07, 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by botto
because of his crash, getting implicated in OP, or being born with a face made for radio?
Yes.
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06-01-07, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by jfmckenna
Eugene Christophe
One of the legends of cycling,
Eugene Christophe was the first to
wear the coveted yellow jersey
signifying the race's leader. One of
the sport's most oft told stories
involves Christophe breaking his
forks on a mountain descent during
the 1913 edition. He walked 14 km
to a village forge to repair his
forks, and under the watchful eye
of Desgrange proceeded with the
repairs. Christophe asked a young
boy to operate the bellows, for
which Desgrange penalized
Christophe ten minutes for
receiving outside assistance, a
rules violation., in addition to the 4
hours Christophe lost while
repairing his forks.The race was
eventually won by Phillipe Thys. In
the 1919 Tour, Christophe once
again broke his forks while wearing
the new maillot jaune, with another
long walk to a forge and another
catastrophic drop in standings.
Last edited by adamastor; 06-01-07 at 01:48 PM.
06-01-07, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by adamastor
you mean the 1913 story in Tour de France?
06-01-07, 01:53 PM
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Being a big fan of the Tour de France, I'd say Raymond Poulidor was really unlucky. Can't remember how many times he finished second, he didn't even wear the yellow jersey for one single day !
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
06-01-07, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by adamastor
Being a big fan of the Tour de France, I'd say Raymond Poulidor was really unlucky. Can't remember how many times he finished second, he didn't even wear the yellow jersey for one single day !
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
06-01-07, 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by adamastor
Being a big fan of the Tour de France, I'd say Raymond Poulidor was really unlucky. Can't remember how many times he finished second, he didn't even wear the yellow jersey for one single day !
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
"Poupou" is today as popular in France as Bernard Hinault.
06-01-07, 08:05 PM
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Originally Posted by botto
precisely because he never won, or wore yellow.
06-02-07, 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted by dan.lavelle
and on a more humor note, Michael Rasmussen anytime he clips into his TT bike. Was it the 2004 TDF that he crashed like nine times over 30 miles or something? Thats without a doubt the most unlucky hour anyones had on a bike, he was like a fish out of water.