N
Nick Burns
Guest
"Kurgan Gringioni" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "benjo maso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "onefred" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > > Frankly, I think you hit the nail on the head, curt. Merckx is a
> > self-centered arrogant
> > > has-been that doesn't like the spot light being stolen from him.
> >
> > That's utter nonsense. Merckx is never arrogant, but also extremely courtuous and full of praise
> > of all the "greats" who have succeeded him: Hinault, Fignon, Indurain, and also Armstrong.
> > Merckx ' place in cycling history is secure, and he has nothing to fear. Certainly not
> > Armstrong,
a
> > great rider but not quite on the same level as his.
> >
> > > If he wants to comment on Lance, then he should say a few positive words or nothing at all
> > because Lance has done
> > > nothing wrong with his career.
> >
> > As I said, Merckx has expressed his admiration for Armstrong many many times. However, Merckx is
> > - rightly - concerned of the consequences of
> the
> > way Armstrong's is building his career. The truth is that many other
races
> > are getting more and more into trouble. For instance, the Société du
Tour
> de
> > France is organizing 20 races, but only the Tour and Paris-Roubaix are making money. All the
> > others, even Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Paris-Tours,
> are
> > showing a deficit. Of course, this rather dangerous situation isn't
helped
> > much when the best rider of these years is deciding to focus his whole season on the Tour. It
> > might be good for Amstrong, but it certainly
isn't
> > good for bicycle racing and Merckx should certainly be allowed to
express
> > his concern.
>
>
> That has more to do with the press than any one rider. Lemond, Indurain, Riis and Armstrong have
> focused their energies on the TdF because it is
the
> race which garners the most press.
>
> I agree, it's not healthy for the sport overall, but unless the UCI can figure out a way to change
> the press situation, that's the way it's going
to
> be. The fact that the TdF coincides with the European summer holidays is a tidal force not easily
> overcome by artifice.
>
>
I think Eddy correctly can see that only the biggest stars carry enough influence to have any
positive effect on this trend and he was just as critical of Lemond and Indurain during each of
their reigns. Riis certainly tried to win other races and it may have cost him as least one Tour,
but that is beside the point.
news:[email protected]...
>
> "benjo maso" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "onefred" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > > Frankly, I think you hit the nail on the head, curt. Merckx is a
> > self-centered arrogant
> > > has-been that doesn't like the spot light being stolen from him.
> >
> > That's utter nonsense. Merckx is never arrogant, but also extremely courtuous and full of praise
> > of all the "greats" who have succeeded him: Hinault, Fignon, Indurain, and also Armstrong.
> > Merckx ' place in cycling history is secure, and he has nothing to fear. Certainly not
> > Armstrong,
a
> > great rider but not quite on the same level as his.
> >
> > > If he wants to comment on Lance, then he should say a few positive words or nothing at all
> > because Lance has done
> > > nothing wrong with his career.
> >
> > As I said, Merckx has expressed his admiration for Armstrong many many times. However, Merckx is
> > - rightly - concerned of the consequences of
> the
> > way Armstrong's is building his career. The truth is that many other
races
> > are getting more and more into trouble. For instance, the Société du
Tour
> de
> > France is organizing 20 races, but only the Tour and Paris-Roubaix are making money. All the
> > others, even Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Paris-Tours,
> are
> > showing a deficit. Of course, this rather dangerous situation isn't
helped
> > much when the best rider of these years is deciding to focus his whole season on the Tour. It
> > might be good for Amstrong, but it certainly
isn't
> > good for bicycle racing and Merckx should certainly be allowed to
express
> > his concern.
>
>
> That has more to do with the press than any one rider. Lemond, Indurain, Riis and Armstrong have
> focused their energies on the TdF because it is
the
> race which garners the most press.
>
> I agree, it's not healthy for the sport overall, but unless the UCI can figure out a way to change
> the press situation, that's the way it's going
to
> be. The fact that the TdF coincides with the European summer holidays is a tidal force not easily
> overcome by artifice.
>
>
I think Eddy correctly can see that only the biggest stars carry enough influence to have any
positive effect on this trend and he was just as critical of Lemond and Indurain during each of
their reigns. Riis certainly tried to win other races and it may have cost him as least one Tour,
but that is beside the point.