Why Merckx is the greatest

[pattaya127]

Sorry, in french, but i think it barely needs translation:

 

 

 

Championnat du monde route 3 (1967, 1971, 1974)

 

Tour d'Italie 5 (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974)

 

Tour d'Espagne 1 (1973)

 

Tour de France 5 (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)

 

Gand-Wevelgem 3 (1967, 1970, 1973)

 

Amstel Gold Race 2 (1973, 1975)

 

GP des Nations 1 (1973)

 

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 5 (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)

 

Milan-San Remo 7 (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976)

 

Paris-Bruxelles 1 (1973)

 

Paris-Roubaix 3 (1968, 1970, 1973)

 

Tour des Flandres 2 (1969, 1975)

 

Tour de Lombardie 2 (1971, 1972)

 

Flèche Wallonne 3 (1967, 1970, 1972)

 

Tour de Catalogne 1 (1968)

 

Dauphiné Libéré 1 (1971)

 

GP du Midi Libre 1 (1971)

 

Paris-Nice 3 (1969, 1970, 1971)

 

Tour de Romandie 1 (1968)

 

Tour de Suisse 1 (1974)

 

Critérium des As 3 (1967, 1970, 1974)

 

Championnat de Belgique 1 (1970)

 

GP de l'Escaut-Schoten 1 (1972)

 

Flèche Brabançonne 1 (1972)

 

GP de Fourmies 1 (1973)

 

GP de Francfort 1 (1971)

 

Het Volk 2 (1971, 1973)

 

Montjuich 6 (1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975)

 

GP de Lugano 1 (1968)

 

Paris-Luxembourg 1 (1969)

 

Semaine Catalane 2 (1975, 1976)

 

Tour de Belgique 2 (1970, 1971)

 

Tour d'Emilie 1 (1972)

 

Tour du Piémont 1 (1972)

 

Tour Méditerranéen 1 (1977)

 

Trois Vallées Varésines 1 (1968)

 

 

 

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[pattaya127]

And Armstrong is far behind:

 

 

Championnat du monde route 1 (1993)

 

Tour de France 5 (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)

 

Clasica San Sebastian 1 (1995)

 

GP des Nations 1 (2000)

 

Fleche Wallonne 1 (1996)

 

Dauphine Libere 2 (2002, 2003)

 

GP du Midi Libre 1 (2002)

 

Tour de Suisse 1 (2001)

 

GP d'Atlanta 1 (1992)

 

Championnat des Etats-Unis 1 (1993)

 

GP Eddy Merckx 1 (2000)

 

Tour du Luxembourg

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Note that the 2 racers who won the tour 5 times in a row are the ones who dedicated their whole career to it. Awesome talents, but IMO, Anquetil, Hinault and Merckx are in another league. They did not try to save themselves for the tour only, they participated and ran thru the whole season, pocketed more than a few CLASSICS (One day race), all -around cyclists that they were. All i am saying is that neither Indurain or Armstromg could have done what they did, if having to show their mettle during the whole season. Again, does not take anything away from them, but gives some perspective to their wins.

[sayjann]

they are all amazing sportsmen in my eyes.

cycling is a very hard sport and whatever the competition,you have to go through personal hell to achieve a finishing place.

they earn peanuts compared to other sportsmen and work a lot harder.

[limbo]

Hi Palot,

 

totally agree on Mercks being the best!

 

No doubt.