charge the paddles
My first cycling hero was Miguel Indurain. Actually, he had already retired before I even knew bike racing existed ... but, when i started riding ~ somebody had a copy of the 1995 Tour de France and he entered my life.
That Tour ... I've no idea how many times it ran through the VCR.
Ligget's commentary was a nightly lullabye. Big Mig's seated engine grinding everyone off his wheel on the climbs. Pantani's ears. Jalabert's tactics. Zulle's fragility. Armstrong's perfectly timed attack on stage 18 and his emotional win.
But it was Indurain who i loved ~ the quiet giant, the class, the legend ... the stoic, beautiful champion.
controlled, volcanic passion.
he is why i cycle still today.
8 comments:
What about Jalabert? Cheeky movers, all of them. I have the 1994 tour video if you want to borrow it. I have the 1993 Giro as well. People get tired of these things and leave them on my doorstep. These videos have gotten me through countless winter roller sessions.....that's why I ride in a straight line, albeit not all that fast. At least I don't know you over on Tuesday, ya sure.
I meant to say " knock you over...."
Ah, I love watching Indurain race. The dude was just a powerhouse.....but he didn't look like he was trying that hard - just looked effortless with that seated spinning on the climbs. I remember seeing him win his first stage in the Tour when he was riding support for Pedro Delgado on the Reynolds team. It was a mountain stage, and everyone was like.....how in the world did that big guy just drop everyone???? The guy's an animal. Quiet, humble.....but brutal.
i think that was the first year i watched. the first year i met my cycling crazed husband.
jalabert was so smart & amazing. and indurain and that young kid armstrong. and i remember pantani being the little monkey who could.
remember Indurain's selfless team riding in the 1995 World RR, he so wanted to win, but just sat patiently as Olano rode up the road to win the rainbow jersey...of course when the time came, he hopped on Pantani and evenutally Indurain sprinted for 2nd...
pantani's wheel...
last Tuesday seemed hard.
and put some new tread on.
-
Chico - Delgado ... what a different type of Spaniard, eh?
-
"little monkey who could"
... bwwahahahahaahaaa
-
ippoc I LOVED that '95 Worlds. The way Indurain just threatened any of that chase group to attack. He delivered that jersey to Olano.
... and Olano riding the rear flat into the finishing straight?
oh, divine.
Indurain was the best.
Didn't Indurain have resting heart rate of like 27? Something just crazy.
Post a Comment