It’s a classic tactic. The day’s break is caught and before anyone has time to decide what to do about it, you counter-attack. Already tired from chasing the break, maybe – just maybe – the suckers you tricked into pulling for you will let you get away.
That was Beccia’s plan in the 1986 Milan-San Remo. He attacked right as the break was caught on the Poggio and Greg LeMond – America’s greatest-ever cyclist – went with him. The Poggio’s big-ring gradient must have suited LeMond’s powerful style perfectly and riding with the weaker Beccia, he must have felt almost assured of notching what would be the first American win in a monument.
A quick check over the shoulder to make sure no man is bridging up. Sure enough; no man is coming, but that doesn’t mean you’re not being overtaken. That’s Sean Kelly – half man, half bear, and half pig – doing his best to crack his bottom bracket on his one-race-per-frame Vitus.
That’s three big rings and three hard men, but only one has managed to scare the mud off his forehead. Spoiler alert: the finish line photo shows Kelly with spotlessly clean face.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Nate
Totally. LeMond was going on to win the Tour that year. For a guy who reputedly invented specializing on the Tour (which he didn't, Anquetil did), that's a pretty diverse set of races to be awesome at.
Here's Fignon in '88
And here he is for a back-to-back win in '89
@Gianni
He looks like Syndrome in that picture.
@wiscot
No worries; I've had my fair share of those!
@frank
It worries me when grow adults without kids can reference cartoon movies.
Bit of trivia relevant here. One of the mos notable things about the Kelly pic is his stupendous hair. Mario Beccia was very jealous of such hirsute men. Consequently he took care of his balding pate with one of the worst rugs ever worn by a professional athlete. Wouldn't a proper cycling cap have been easier and more dignified?
@wiscot I believe I just got smarter simply as a result of the use of the word, "hirsute."
@wiscot
Oh, wow. I had no idea.
He must have gotten some practice wearing the ol' cap, though - as his style seems pretty spot on.
@frank
Yeah, in his racing days it was a bit "fluffier" than that one. Nice that one can change "hairstyles" so easily. As always, your interwebs picture sourcing skillz make my point wonderfully. I wonder if the hair thing was as a result of him being what's called in Scotland, a "wee man." Little big of compensation for being vertically challenged, non?
Fucc it just be bald amirite?
Sean Kelly is about as hard as they come, but I have never cared for LeMond. You may not like him, but it's hard to argue that Armstrong (Lance, not Kristin) is America's best all-time cyclist. There, I said it, let the thrashing begin ; )