So you are implying Indurain (2nd) & Ludwig (3rd) both have no credibility because Armstrong finished in front?

Worlds courses vary each year, some good & some bad...the interesting part is to see who adapts to the conditions best.

_________________
"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

This was on top of the pile of old Winning magazines I have in the garage...

_________________
"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

Finally managed to get my scanner to cooperate.

Found this article from the 1992 Classics Edition which I found very revealing.


Hopefully the picture quality is OK.

That was probably the last year the likes of genuine TdF contenders would get their shorts dirty in a race like PR. 1992, apres moi the flood; Coincidentally that was the year Sean Kelly, the last year round all races contender, retired. The age of specialisation was upon us, the children sobbed, the sun drew behind it's curtain; Part time Pro cycling was born in a fetid stinking cave.

No, he retired in 1994 having ridden out the season with Catavana together with Madiot.

Very true, but his last big victory was the MSR in 92.

Yes but don't try to link Kelly's retirement to the specialisation or other factors from the early 90's. Age and a 16 year career were the reasons, plain & simple.

I agree with you that it was sad to see the exodus of GT contenders from the spring & autumn classics. With McQuaid's Mondialisation of Cycling it isn't likely to be reversed any time soon.

I'll never decry SK, he's me all time fave.

I was given these last night...

_________________
"It never gets easier, you just go faster..." - Greg Lemond

"Because technology alone is a poor substitute for experience." - Richard Sachs

Nothing beats a stash of old bike mags.

It is not so much the articles but it is a real snapshot of the bike scene at that moment in time. Particularly like the ads for bikes, clothing etc as you can see what was the 'must have' stuff at that time and how much cheaper it was!

John Wilcockson (JW) is defintely my fave reporter. I have Sporting Cyclist which was prduced in the 50's and 60's. The main writer was JB Wadley and the young JW in the later years.

In 1968, International Cycle Sport came into being headed up by Wadley again, but JW played a much larger role and did some classic articles (Tour of Lombardy 1968 and the Tour De L'Avenir in 1969). Add that to comprehensive TdF reports, it was a wonderful magazine and luckily I have almost a full set of the magazine, so can look back again at the career of Merckx in awe.

JW then went off to the States, so I've not read much of his writing since, but have very fond memories.