Crankster: I agree that the sport of professional cycling seems to be leaning more toward specialization and event "cherry picking" by the riders who have some clout to dictate their schedules, but I also think it's fair criticism to suggest that a rider like Armstrong, who really does not attempt to compete in top form in any event except one, will always have a bit of an asterisk by his name in any discussion of the best ever.
Grand Tours are but one cycling discipline: no doubt it is the most grueling, and the TdF is exponentially more prestigious than any other single cycling event in the world, but there are nonetheless dozens of other notable competitions in which Lance has never tested himself. And in those few pre-Tour events he does choose to ride, he never shows up attempting to be in top form, or contesting to win. If he wins, it's gravy. If not, it was just a glorified training ride.
I scoff at those who suggest Armstrong isn't the greatest TdF rider ever, on the basis that others have more stage wins, or spent more time in yellow, or won multiple jerseys. The ultimate cycling achievement is a GC win in the TdF. Days in yellow, and individual stage wins, are significant achievements, but are in essence merely building blocks to the ultimate goal. If that goal is not achieved by a man who covets it, he may have competed gallantly, but he has failed. If a cyclist were to win the first 20 stages and spend each day in yellow, then lose the GC on the last day, the headline would read: "So and so loses", and all the success of the previous 3 weeks would be seen as the means for setting up a spectacular fall.
Armstrong isn't the greatest cyclist ever, and I suspect that if he rode the schedule of Eddy Merckx as hard as Eddy did, Armstrong may not have a single TdF win to his name, because he'd be completely gassed by July. On the other hand, Eddy Merckx at his best would have a tough time competing with Lance Armstrong in this event, because IMO no one has ever been more proficient at preparing for a single event, focusing his talents, and using the team around him, as Lance Armstrong.
