Michele Bartoli, possibly the pioneer of the small frame and slammed stem.
The difference between Style and Fashion is that Fashion changes, but style is something that persists through the ages. You can’t buy it, and you either have it or you don’t. In other words, you can get all the best and expensive kit and still look complete crap if you don’t have Style. Conversely, you can wear the most crap kit possible and make it look good if you have the gift. That is why photos of Anquetil, the Prophet and Roger de Vlaeminck still blow our minds even though they are wearing completely outdated kit. This is also why Pantani could wear lycra jeans and Cipollini could wear a Zebra suit and make us contemplate trying our hands at it. (We should not.)
If there was an upside to the EPO era, it meant that a number of riders who had immaculate style may never have risen to the top of the fish bowl if it weren’t for EPO. Allegedly. Michele Bartoli was a prime example of a rider who was so doped up that he had plenty of bandwidth left for a complete and total commitment to Looking Fantastic at All Times. Allegedly. Let’s face facts (allegedly): the Mapei kit would have been lining the rubbish bin if it weren’t for riders like Bartoli and Frank Vandenbroucke. And Michele pioneered the mini-frame with long, slammed stem and a meter of seatpin.
I think we all agree that doping is wrong, but it doesn’t feel so wrong when they looked so good. We owe him a weighty debt for his contribution.
Shameless Plug: come down to the Rouleur Classic this week to listen to me cover this topic in greater detail. And then head to the pub with me afterward to hear me do it louder. My speaking schedule is as follows:
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@chuckp
Sorry to be pedantic, but Aqua e Sapone was 2002, not 90's.
I rmemeber seeing the mockups and thinking it was the most hideous kit ever, then seeing Mario rock it on the bike and it totally worked.
That is style.
@frank
Saw Mario at the Rouleur Classic event last night and he's even more gorgeous in real life. And taller.
@frank
What type of lid is it? Let me look at some other pictures and see if I want to revise my opinion.
I'm sure I'd look like a tool wearing it.
@RobSandy
That's a Briko Twinner. http://www.briko.com/en/iconic_products
@chris
For a velominatus dutchetatus living abroad, a visit to London is not easy to organise at short notice, and then even have to pay up to GBP 200 to hear Frank explain the 3-point system? Incl travel and hotel, I should be able to get a good 2nd hand Cyclocross. But agreed, quite some important and interesting people attending that event (besides Frank of course). Would have been great to shake his hand, do we have a special handshake...?
@KogaLover
It was a great evening, the trade stands were laden with all sorts of drool worthy bike porn but main highlight was the banter between Ned Boulting and the stars (Bertie did come across a bit Manuel from Fawlty Towers). Eddy was superb, his delivery and enthusiasm didn't betray the fact that he's probably answered those questions a million times.
I'd have been shitting myself if I'd been in Franks shoes following on from the likes of Millar and Merckx but he's Dutch and guess it's never entered his head that people won't be interested in his message. He even managed to divert one of Ned Boulting's questions in my direction which I wasn't entirely prepared for.
If there is a handshake, it must be for some inner circle that I'm not aware of. I do recall pictures of the Keepers doing some sort of Spocklike V hand signal.
@frank
Yes, Briko is trying to get back into the cycling market, but just don't capture the style like the old days:
http://www.briko.com/en/news/real_freefighter_sonny_colbrelli_conquers_the_tour_du_limousin/53
@chris
This is all I could think of:
And I did have a chat with Frank about Dutch courage before, so he must have had quite a bit of it yesterday then. Any recordings btw?
I keep wondering what that red thing coming of the fork is. Im referring to the title picture.
@RedRanger
one of the original timing chips.