VT Biker

I am not sure about best Tour ever (this tour is pretty old you know). But I do know that I am willing to bet that I may not see another tour like this. There have been so many variables that make this tour exciting, beginning with the fact that a few of the very top contenders were eliminated due to a doping scandal. Some may claim that actually hurt the tour because we did not get to see the greats. And I admit, that having Landis fight against Basso and Jan would have have perhaps added some intrigue.

But for my money, regardless if another tour comes along that is more exciting in totality, Landis's Stage 17 ride will go down in my mind as one of the Top 3 single athletic feats I have ever seen. It honestly gave me goose bumps. It was like watching a bad ESPN movie for christ sake. You could not beleive that it was happening. When he came across the second group in front, and you saw each of them turn their heads in disbeleif, it gave me chills. These are guys who are usually not phased by anything in cycling. Yet, everyone in that group was absolutely shocked at what Landis was doing.

I will also say that (and ESPN commented on this as well), that Landis is proving that France's anti-Lance attitude was never anti-American at all. It was because Lance was a boring rider, calculating and machine like, in addition to almost having an arrogant attitude about the French. Landis is a real man, and the French are embracing him for his riding technique. It is just sad that the rest of America is not really paying attention.

USAZorro

I think that the Tour this year has been so exciting because the Giro was so dreadfully boring, and the cycling gods wanted to even things out. Note that last year the Giro was exciting, and the Tour was considerably less so.

KevinF

I voted for "best ever" because this one had drama. The Lance years were executions. I'm not sure if the 1999 one was televised (I didn't have cable then); I remember there being some relatively extensive news coverage of "cancer survivor Lance" as he built his lead in that race.

I know the story of the 1989 race, or more exactly what happened on the last day of the 89 version. I wasn't a cyclist or a cycling fan then, so the coverage I read then just implied that some sort of impossible deficit was made up on the last day.

dentext

my ever, yes...ever ever...no.
best one till next year.

Keith99

When this tour gets looked at through the lens of history it will almost certianly fall out of the running. Oh the swin between stages 17 and 18 was huge and would be the stuff of legend, except one thing is missing.

Established great riders! An established rivalry.

Figneon vrs. Lemond vrs. Hinault.

Eddy vrs Pigneon, Poulidor and Gimondi.

Coppi vrs Bartoli.

Anquetil vrs Poulidor.

Even Lance vrs. Jan.

Perhaps the top 3 riders in this years Tour will establish themselves in hte next few years, but if this don't then this years tour will be forever missing that critical element.

OrionKhan

Actually, I think that what you point out is exactly why it will be remembered. You overlook the reason why the favorites weren't there. How many tours have there been where there weren't one or two top favorites to win. This tour was unique for that very reason. Everyone was chomping at the bit once Lance was out of the picture. Then boom! No Basso, no Ullrich, no Vino! The controvery of 9 riders pulled the right before the start. The story of the doping scandal. It was really wide open. It wasn't a two horse race. And what happened in stages 17 and 18 were what make legends. The story of Landis alone is now legend. The guy is getting a hip replacement in a couple of weeks for pete's sake. What he did alone goes beyond needing a rival.

Keith99

There have been 2 times before this where there were no returning TDF winners. Try to name one. There have been several other cases where favorites were missing. By and large those are also forgotten Tours. For that matter can you name the circumstance where Eddy refused to wear yellow and legend has it actually had was thinking of not starting the next day?

Tours are not remembered for who was missing, but rather who was there.

OrionKhan

There is a certain truth to that. Generally, you position holds true not only in cycling but in all major sports championships. But in the rare instance the event can make the star. Particularly considering the media exposure that's available today. I can't name that year about Eddy because I was an infant when it happened. I know that there is a long storied history to the tour, but the coverage today allows for memories to become more entrenched. I had never seen bike racing on tv until the late 80s. The first time I saw a lot of TdF stages were during the Indurain years.

Also, you ignore the fact that the reason there were no favorites this year is because of the scandal. They were ripped away right before the start. Was there a significant story as to why there were no favorites in the 2 tours you mentioned?

And are you forgetting that Floyd Landis was in this tour? I seriously doubt that he will fade away into oblivion.

Was one of those tours in the 90's?

mollusk

The first one.

Dead Extra #2

Keith99

Not counting the first one there are two times before this year with no previous winner of the Tour.

Keith99

Yes one was in the 90s. You may know which one. If others can't get it then I rest my case. (Of course if they can't at least make a decent guess I'd say I could rest a case that no one remembers anything about cycling. Surprisingly none of the previous winner free years were related to WW I or II.

mollusk

I know which one (I think). It is pretty easy to figure out with Lemond winning in 1990 and Indurain dominating the early part of the decade. Just think about the one year where some top riders were suspended.

And just like this year many people felt that the winner that year only won because of depleted field. We know how that turned out.

OrionKhan

I was thinking it was the one that Pantani won. Do I win?

mollusk

Ullrich won in 1997 and raced very well in 1998 (the year Pantani won).

Keith99

Except for one stage where he lost lots of time.

In a previous post mollusk all but gave the answer to which was the Tour in the 90s with no returning winner.

OrionKhan

Ahh, I had 'em backwards. For some reason, I was thinking that Ullrich won the year after Pantani. Oh well...


This year's tour may not have been the best. But after today's news, it may turn out to be the most infamous. There were no big rivalies, but the scandal alone will keep it in people's memories...

Keith99

The scandal of this years tour pales compared to some in the past. At least no one died. Also no knives leading to entire teams (including both the favorite and GC leader at the time) walking out.

But you may be right. I think a lot may depend on Basso and Ulrich. If they get cleared and Landis gets DQed the irony may keep this tour remembered.

OrionKhan

Now that would be a remarkable twist if those from Op. Puerto get cleared and Landis gets the boot. To be honet though, considering the other guys got pulled and they never even were tested, its hard for me to believe that Floyd is going to get out of this. Phonak has already suspended him and they're trying to recover from the Tyler Hamilton boot. Ullrich got canned for being linked to a scandal. Although I think T-Mobile were kinda looking for an excuse to drop him and move on. Its looking like this tour will be remembered for the doping scandal.

I wonder how the poll would turn out if I had started it today?

deltabear

The look on Jimmy Casper's face after he won the first stage is certainly memorable. And Kessler finishing the tour after that incredible crash and still wearing the t-shirt made for excellent entertainment. The McQwen (sp) Boonen rivalry, exciting! I think all the guys that finished ought to get their glory for a job well done !