It is one of those points that will always be debated. Perhaps the Speedwell was a bit less stable. Probably Merckx was a bit more skilled, and almost certainly he was more focused and determined to win - they didn't call him "the Cannibal" for nothing. BTW, was this crash in a Tour after Ocana had won the Tour, or did he come back from the crash to win the Tour afterwards?
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Chuck Schmidt wrote:
> Moos, Jerry wrote:
> >
> (snip)
> > It is interesting, though, that Merckx,
> > descending at an equal pace in the same torrential conditions, managed to
> > avoid a crash.
>
> Your point is that Merckx was a better rider or that the Speedwell
> didn't handle? I would question that things are ever equal or the same
> for two riders. Luck of the draw. From what I have read, Ocana was the
> equal of Merckx at this point. Wasn't Ocana on his way to winning the
> Tour. Isn't this the episode where Merckx visited Ocana in the hospital
> and presented him with the yellow jersey? Anyone remember?
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, California
> looks like rain and it is in the mid-50s