Originally Posted by Hugo Drax
If the tour, or any world class race for that matter, had been won on a paramount there would be endless bragging.
The TdF was essentially a European race until Greg LeMond won it in 1986. Prior to 1986, all of the TdF winners and the vast majority of participants were Europeans who had little or no awareness of the Schwinn Paramount. To most Europeans, Schwinn was an American company building mass produced carbon steel bikes. European riders were mostly sponsored by European bicycle manufacturers who provided their rides.
TdF winners win because of the engine they're using (their own blood, sweat, and muscles - with maybe a little help from EPO, HGH, and steroids), not the bike they're riding.