Your Top 10 Must See Races (historical)
 

I got into cycling only recently and there is a very long history to catch up on. In order to really get a sense of the best, what races (year, name, stage (if applicable)) would you suggest?

What I'd like to see are some of the more iconic rides of people like Hinault (when did he beat a demonstrator?), Merckx, Cipollini, Ullrich, Indurain, Lemond, etc. Thanks.

Fignon losing the ITT into Paris and losing the Tour by 8 seconds in '89... that was awesome and something that everyone still talks about frequently.

Liège - Bastogne - Liège, 1980

Often referred to as Hinault vrs the blizzard.

Milan - San Remo, 1946 Where Coppi emerges after WW II

The 1969 TDF especially stage 17. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSNAlJAO3Ow

It is likely the longest solo breakaway by a contender since WW II and perhaps since the idea of a break from the peloton started to mean anything.

The 1968 TDF might be good to bring the contrast into Focus. In 1968 there were 5 riders contending for the podium going into the final time trial and no spot was safe. There were significant changes the final day.

Is there any video of the race in the blizzard where Magni has the broken collar bone and the innertube in his teeth wrapped around the handlebars? I've only seen photos.

Some YouTube favorites of mine:

My favorite TDFs are '86, '87 and '89
This guy has them in English including Hinault's win in '85:

Chickasmith Cycling


You like Eddie Merckx?

Eddie Merckx: Stars and Water Carriers

Eddie Merckx

Great Moments in Cycling

DiabloScott has some cool stuff posted too :)

Here's a favorite of mine from the American scene of the '70s and '80s. An 8 hour compilation on 3 disks.

Red zinger/Coors classic where it all began

Hinault, Lemond, Hampsten, Davis Phinney, etc. and all the way back to George Mount and the Stetinas therein.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I tried checking cyclingtorrents for that video but no luck. Actually having a hard time finding any of these except snippets on YouTube.

Check out the links zinger provided. The One title Eddy Merckx does include at least most of the significant stages from the 1969 TDF, including stage 17.

Tafi keeps attacking...

There are plenty of good races or sprints to watch from the tour de france, such as stage 1 in the 2007 TDF. But short of time I have picked out this 7 minute video on Jacques Anquetil's "The Double"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4yqv7s6nbY

Its crazy what he did,

Read the book about Gino Bartali I suggested in this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t-cycling-book

Absolutely ! It's also in this vid bio at about 42 minutes:

Jacques Anquetil - The Man, Mystery, Legend

Also wish I could find Andy Hampsten's Giro d'Italia Stage 14(Gavia) ride, where he took the leaders jersey, in English but so far I'm only finding that in Italian. That was snowy, cold and brutal. He came in second on the stage but that won him the race.

The final stage of the '87 TDF is one I like because I like the winner of that stage.

I also liked the 1989 World Cycling Championship and the 1981 Morgul Bismark stage of the Coors Classic finishes.

Great thread. Keep those videos coming. :thumb:

TdF 1999-2005, 2009-2010.

Thanks for the continued suggestions. If anyone knows any good sources of good video of Coppi that would be great. I did find a documentary (haven't watch yet) but any good race footage from that time would be great.

Awesome racer video. hope see more such fierce competition.

Well OK it's kinda slow in here right now so here's a little more.
Maybe some of you guys are too young to have remembered the '84 Olympics. Neither Bauer or Grewal had turned pro yet (as pros didn't race in the Olympics yet) but they sure had a great finish to this one.

1984 Olympics Men's Road Race

Connie Carpenter (aka Connie Carpenter Phinney) and Rebecca Twigg were awesome U.S. cyclists in the day.

1984 Olympics Women's Road Race

The races were tainted by the transfusions by some of the US team that year (not illegal at the time) but neither of the road race gold medalists were said to be on the list of those taking part.

Alan Mccormack's Coors Classic Rides part 2 of 2

And to keep on topic, another blast from the past was pro Irishman Alan McCormack who was a popular rider in the Coors Classics of the '80s. This is one of my 3 uploads and I hope I don't get a copywrite bite on it.

Thank you for this thread. It would be great to make a compilation and sticky it.

1989 Tour Final TT - a Classic race..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyfb3H7LEg

Any muddy Roubaix gives great entertainment value.

Tchmil '94
Hincapie getting Domo'ed in '01
etc...

My favorite race in my time has got to be '98 Flanders.
Tactically brilliant, unbelievably (ha) powerful.

+1

Just now came across this interesting personal account of this one by Alexi himself:

http://www.velominati.com/racing/ale...pic-road-race/

How about the 1987 Tour of Flanders with Jesper Skibby in the lead on the Koppenberg?

Part I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8C94PBTbTQ (Skibby @ 2:33)

Part II http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV_WU8DvAtQ

Part III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pepnaf78xJ0

"A Sunday In Hell"

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v20924403z...sunday+in+hell

hey thanks for the great thread - very informative
Best
GBIA