Well, The Tour De France......
Or "Tour De Lance" , as you guys will soon be calling it , is getting near.

It starts on July 5th and if Lance Armstrong can manage a 5th consecutive win he will join the elite of the world's cycling (And Sporting) greats.

(Since I consider the cyclists who take part as the greatest all round athletes of any sport).

He will join the formidable list of

Jacques Anquetil (My personal hero)
Eddy Merckx
Bernard Hinault
and Miguel (Big Mig) Indurain.

I ought to be supporting our own guy, David Millar, and although I will be rooting for him for a stage win, it would be nice to see Lance get a fifth straight overall win.

 

 

I thought Jeff Gordon won it! At least that's the way they show it in the MonteCarlo commercial.

 

I agree with the title "Greatest all round athletes, but I would have to include soccer players in that group. Both sports demand the peak of physical fitness just to be a professional.

In the quest for five, you overlooked some very formidable riders that didn't score five, Greg Lemond, Sean Kelly, Fasto Coppi. But I can see if you continued, you may fill a page or two. I could certainly agree that Lance is close to joining those four. Oh, how I love OLN, especially in July.

 

Speaking of gay.

 

Serotta.....

"In the quest for five, you overlooked some very formidable riders that didn't score five, Greg Lemond, Sean Kelly, Fasto Coppi. But I can see if you continued, you may fill a page or two. "

I didn't overlook them....the ones I mentioned have actually already won 5 Tours in a row !

 

CoachP and MROLDV8....

I don't understand your replies regarding the Tour De France.

Please clarify.

 

You are correct, those you listed have won five each. But, not in a row, only Indurain did, in 91,92,93,94,and 95. The remainder all had a year or more break in their runs to five.
Anquetil: 57,61,62,63, and 64
Merckx: 69,70,71,72, and 73
Hinault: 78,79,81,82, and 85

Not that I'm **** about the Tour or anything like that, just happen to be a big fan of cycling in general. Of course any "old fart" that can name the years guys won the tour certainly can't be considered ****, .... uhhh, urgh, can I? Maybe I need to get a life? Whoa, I've got a life, this '02 SCrew is my life.

Yeah, CoachP and MroldV8, you guys need to clarify your statements!

 

serotta....

Yes...you are right about the fact the others were not sequential, and I did know that.
Just having a bit of a senior moment.

Trying to cram too much sport into a few short weeks.
Wimbledon starts here today and by next weekend with the Tour and the open Golf on as well I won't know which way to turn !

By the way....I don't agree with your comment about soccer stars being great athletes. (Though some undoubtedly are)

No one has been a greater supporter of soccer than me over the years.

I live close to Wolverhampton to the south of us and have supported Wolves since the late 40's.

Then just to the north is Manchester United, and though I am not a great supporter of Beckham and the like, happen to know quite a lot about them.
I buy my Bentleys and Aston Martins from the same dealership that they go to.

Ok...Beckham is not a big drinker....but some of the others know how to put it away.....and you can't do that if you are a top flight athlete!!!

 

I'm not a big soccer fan, other than watching a few high school and college games, and the odd soccer match that will show on ESPN in the wee hours of the morning here in the states. (I believe from the English Premier league.) I just always thought with all the running, change of directions and 100 percent efforts involved in a long break that those guys must have to be in excellent shape to rise to the pro level. BUT, that said, I will defer to your assessment of the sports finest and their fitness levels.

Hey, watchu got against few drinks and a rather sporting belly on a top flight athlete?

 

You wanna see beer bellies on athletes !!!

Look at some of our world championship darts players who seem to think they are athletes !!!

Seriously I know that soccer stars are really very fit but nevertheless I defy anyone to match the physical prowess of some of those guys climbing the mountain stages of the Tour De France.

I guess I am fortunate that having been retired for some years and getting full live Eurosport TV coverage every day for the full 3 weeks we really get to see it in all it's glory.....plus I have been lucky enough to see it for real.

Some of the mountain stages those cyclists tackle, I think twice about.......IN MY CAR !!!!

 

I love a good laugh on a Monday morning

 

And some of us are still no wiser !

 

Huh??

 

I believe Libom was referring to a good Ole' boy named Gordon, isn't he a bigtime demolition derby driver?