Randall Shimizu
2014-08-17 16:08:36 UTC
Greg maintains that he was the team leader in 86. Greg was asked in Bicycle Guide who will lead the team in the 86 TDF. Greg answered: Who ever is strongest shall lead the team. After Hinault won the TT and put 5 minutes on the field in the opening Mt stage he proved that he was strongest at that point. So in fact Greg negated the promise that Hinault made in the prior year.
The odd thing is why Hinault chose to attack on the 2nd Mtn stage. Hinault had enough of a lead that he could have rode defensively to win the rest of the TDF.. If Greg is the great rider that he always talks about then he should have won more of the classics or other grand tours. In my mind Greg was the one rider who started this trend towards specializing in certain races. This trend has become much more pronounced in recent years. We have basically seen the outcome of all of this in this years TDF where weather was wetter than in recent years. The number of crashes are a direct result of riders that are not complete. Both Froomes and Contadors crashes are a prime example of this. I have always maintained that a TDF winner has the responsibility to lead in a manner that reflects well and as role modle to other riders
The odd thing is why Hinault chose to attack on the 2nd Mtn stage. Hinault had enough of a lead that he could have rode defensively to win the rest of the TDF.. If Greg is the great rider that he always talks about then he should have won more of the classics or other grand tours. In my mind Greg was the one rider who started this trend towards specializing in certain races. This trend has become much more pronounced in recent years. We have basically seen the outcome of all of this in this years TDF where weather was wetter than in recent years. The number of crashes are a direct result of riders that are not complete. Both Froomes and Contadors crashes are a prime example of this. I have always maintained that a TDF winner has the responsibility to lead in a manner that reflects well and as role modle to other riders