Zoetemelk was excellent, but I never liked Indurain's style. In one of Merckx's books, he criticizes those who "calculate the course to the centimeter" and win without style or soul or risk. I always thought he was talking about Indurain. I don't think Indurain is in the league with the other five time winners or even with Coppi, Bartali, and Bobet.
Tim & Jen wrote:
> I don't think you can mention great riders in the tour without adding
> Indurain and Joop Zoetemelk. Zoetemelk rode 16 tours ('70-'86) and finished
> everyone. His lowest place was 30th ('84) and in his first 12 Tours he never
> finished lower then 8th. He only managed 1 win ('80) but also had 6-2nd
> places (2 against Merckx and 3 against Hinault). He also collected 10 stage
> wins. All in all one of the tour greats.
>
> Of course Merckx gets my vote for best Tour rider, besides the five overall
> wins, 34 stage wins: 8 in '70 and '74 and 6 in '69 and '72. The only man to
> win Yellow, Green and Polka Dot in the same year('69).
>
> Tim (I'd rather be riding then moving) Carter
> Amherst (soon to be Belchertown) MA
>
> PS Merckx and Zoetelmelk rode classic lightweights!
>
> > And Gino Bartali won in 1938 and 1948, his prime years stolen by WWII.
> I've
> > often thought that if not for the war, Bartali would have won 5 or 6 times
> and
> > would be ranked up there with Merckx, Coppi, Anquetil, and Hinault, where
> he
> > belongs. I thought it was outrageous the low ranking Cycle Sport gave
> Bartali
> > a while back in their "all-time greats" issue.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Jerry Moos