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.
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@frank And, again, you've twisted my words - I didn't say he hoped to just improve on 36th in the Tour, I said he believed (and those around him believed) that he was capable of at least a podium, perhaps more. When I can be arsed I will scan the interview he gave after the '95 Tour where he says that just making it through the race was the plan, with a view to the future of more clear performance goals once he knew how it was to finish a three week GT. You have to remember he was still very young at that point (24 in '95) too. Like him or don't like him, but he was always a prodigious power, in much the same way as LeMond was when he was young.
Lemond was the first cyclist I "remember" - I read about his and Kelly's tour exploits in the Daily Mail growing up in the UK, I remember reading about the hunting accident and the comeback and just being amazed. To be honest, personalities apart, all of these greats actually move me to tears with their efforts - even guys like Cadel or Cavendish who it seems it's unfashionable to admire. As a mid 40s social cyclist, I have my own goals and things I'd like to achieve on the bike - most of which centre around finishing in one piece (an even more that I will probably never manage) - I can only imagine the pain and the torture these guys put themselves through to achieve, and I think most of them to have every right to be a little self focussed and pumped - I think any athlete at the top of the game must be absolutely convinced that they are going to fulfil their goal every day they go out there - there is no room for self doubt, they just won't make it if that's the case.
I love the Hinault P-R clip posted above, never seen that, just totally inspiring, and in the same vein I loved Armstrong going across the paddock in the Tour, Cavendish and Renshaw's efforts on the Champs-Elysee, Cadel's TT at the end of last year's tour. These things blow me away. Over and over again - and what's best is they make me want to run out jump on the bike and ride.
Am totally feeling the warm and fuzzies at the moment. Just thought I'd say it.
@936adl
Nice photo.Thanks for sharing.
@Giles Glad you did.
@Giles
It is always fashionable to admire riders you like around here. People may not admire the same ones and we all have to be prepared to catch a little but I don't think anybody takes this seriously enough to make it personal. At least where riders are concerned. But you're wrong. Cadel and Cavendish are fashionable - Cadel always has been and Cav is really coming into his own this and last year. So there.
Great comment.
When Sean Kelly speaks of hard men, he always starts with Steve Bauer....
@marko
Wut? Cuddles pre-Tour win was painted as the biggest weirdo ever. Sure, he was probably frustrated as all get out by the situation with his team pre-BMC, but there wasn't a lot of love for Cuddles outside Aus. Anyone else here think Cuddles was a wheelsucker before he won the tour?
Is that a fact: did Kelly only ride those 979 frames once before swapping them out?
@minion
Can you stop posting common sense? I feel dirty when I agree with you.
Every non-Australian (and quite a few Aussies - like Brett) used to bag the shit out of Evans. But you are wrong on the timing - his Worlds win was the point when he started to turn people's opinion - then we saw him win Fleche, the muddy Giro stage win, etc etc.
Even as a one-eyed Cadel fan, I still didn't think he was a chance going into last year's Tour. I was one of those armchair experts opining that he should target the Vuelta and one week stage races...
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-fe79ZuDKfk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
I didn't say he's NOT a creepy little weirdo...