In keeping with the trend around here, what is the hardest single sporting event in the world. The Tour de France is really more like 20 something individual events back to back but its got to be up there. How about the 24 hour World Solo mountain bike race. Maybe the World Ironman Championship although after seeing 70 year old people finish it, could it really be THAT hard!

incorrect.

I must ask what s the longest stage race you have participated in?
My longest is a 3 day and I have to tell that after only 3 days it was a chore just to look at the bike much less get on the damn thing at 7:00am to battle again. I can only imagine what the TDF riders feel like after 21 days in the saddle.

So I guess the reason they give a prize to each daily winner of a stage and they also count any win of a stage as a race win doesnt count. Sounds alot like each is thought of as an individual event that the person who does the best in all of them combined then becomes the overall winner.

Well, it is all relative to what one trains for really. Lance said his first NYC marathon was the hardest thing he ever did but that was only because he didn't prepare well for it. The 70 year old can finish Ironman as long as he or she stays within their abilities as far as intensity. A time trial at full speed over 15 miles can possibly be the "hardest" single event for that matter.

I would say that the Ironman is an exceptional event though. I would actually like to see where Lance would finish if fully trained. Steve Larson made that transition a ways back and won an Ironman. Some of those Eco challenge events can be brutal too. Ultramarathoners are exceptional as well but it is more about endurance and staying within the limits rather than all out athleticism. That is where the Tour De France can be seen as one of the most difficult because of the endurance and intensity that is needed to compete. I have had this argument with friends who think cycling is easy and bikes do most of the work. LOL. Until I take them out on the road and have them try and keep pace.

would you like me to spoon feed it to you?

No one remembers who won the individual stages, though.

No, that's the decathalon.

In the TDF, the person who is ahead after 2000+ miles of racing is the winner.

Ninja warrior!

Iditarod.

WWF cagematch.

jamaican bobsledding

Probably curling. That's a rough sport.

Dodgeball.

Az

I agree A WWF Cagematch was the toughest thing I ever had to stomach.


I think I lost 1,000,0000 brain cells watching it.

Merckx said that setting the hour record was the hardest thing he ever did... the TdF certainly stands as one of the most intense and gruelling sporting events ever.

Paris - Brest - Paris ?

FTW

doubles tennis at 3am after 9 pints of Racer 5 is pretty hard.

Playing pool in a very smoke filled room and you a health conscious organic bike weenie.

Losing the coin toss at a highland games competition, and having to catch the caber.

Long distance marathon speed skating is pretty damn tough. Most skaters don't use brakes and do some pretty fast descents. Unlike cycling with gears you are only as good as your form. Its a shame there is no money or promotion of in-line speed skating like cycling has got.

The feeling of sprint on a pair of skates at 25MPH on a flat road is an entirely different feeling than hammering up to speed on a bicycle. There is a real sense of freedom that you don't get on a saddle.

Most inline frames are made of aluminum...Talk about road buzz! Imagine doing 50-80 miles with aluminum strapped to the feet. No carbon boot can soak up the harsh roads.

Pro Bass Fishing

RAAM is pretty brutal. 3,000 mile cycling race, more or less non-stop, so you're looking at 8-9 days of racing with minimal sleep.

Badwater sounds grueling as well. Death Valley, 135 mile foot race, 8000 feet of elevation, 120º F in the shade. 20-40% DNF's. 20-30 hours or more of running.

Deca-Ironman

38 km swimming, immediately followed by an 1800 km bicycle ride and a 420 km run...NO REST!!!!!!!!! You just keep going until you finish.