Proper racing... no radios, no DS controlling every aspect of the racer's day, when to eat, when to drink, exact wattage of X climb.. You read a race, look into the competition's eyes, raced on instinct and feel. Bicycle races were really cancelled either, rain, snow, mud, protests and strikes, you name it, the race went on . Andy Hampsten and Bernard Hinault showed the kind of real grit required, countless others too, all real hard men, you went out there and raced hard... Merckx was right, the new generation of racers could carry the suitcases
Some takeaways from this... 1. Bauer was a seriously kick-ass rider. His win tally doesn't tell the whole story.... 2. Bike racing was cooler then, less robotic, more believable. Pro racing today doesn't look real. Could be the engines in their bikes...I dunno 3. Nikki Ruttimann looked good on a bike. He knew how to race as well, see his attack that won him a stage in the 86 tour...perfection.
Helemaal mee eens. Dat Zoetemelk de best weg renner was, dat komt ook door zijn goede resultaten in de tour de France. Waaronder in keer het winnen van de tour. Maar de meest complete wielrenner was Adrie van der poel. Eigenlijk alles gewonnen wat er te winnen viel. Bijna wereldkampioen. Maar ook in het veldrijden was hij een topper. Dan te denken hoe goed hij wel niet was. En nu dan 1 zoon die nog beter is dan zijn vader. Ik geloof niet dat Adrie zelf ooit gedacht heeft dat zijn zoon nog beter zou worden dan hem zelf. (ADRIE VAN DER POEL. EEN GROOT SPORTMAN WAAR NEDERLAND TROST OP MAG ZIJN.)
Look at all the attacks in the last 15-10 kilometers. Now days it would be one or two teams massed at the front, hammering away, containing everything to the point of boredom! Races were much more interesting (for the most part) in previous eras.
I think Kelly forgot just how fast Adrie vdP could be, he wouldnt normally sprint from the front. I remember AvdP attacking in Paris Brussels in late 85, from group 3, past the 2nd group to the lead in one massive burst.
Kelly 2nd on this Ronde, on a Sunday in April. Next day, the Monday down to the Basque country to ride and win the 'Itzulia' over four days. Then back up to northern France, on the second Sunday, to win Paris-Roubaix The King.
If Kelly was at Panasonic he’d have won. He won Milan San Remo 2 weeks before this and Paris Roubaix 7 days after this. He was basically a 1 man KAS team. That’s what happens when your the No1 rider in the world you’re a marked man just like Sagan now days.
Bauer should have attacked when he swung out to the left at about 500-600 meters. There was a slight lull and Kelly had just looked ahead. Hindsight is 20/20 but he would have won.
![Ronde Van Vlaanderen 1986 [I/II] [BRT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KeGmp7d_XXc/mqdefault.jpg)
Proper racing... no radios, no DS controlling every aspect of the racer's day, when to eat, when to drink, exact wattage of X climb.. You read a race, look into the competition's eyes, raced on instinct and feel. Bicycle races were really cancelled either, rain, snow, mud, protests and strikes, you name it, the race went on . Andy Hampsten and Bernard Hinault showed the kind of real grit required, countless others too, all real hard men, you went out there and raced hard... Merckx was right, the new generation of racers could carry the suitcases
The radio communication has ruined cycling - no element of surprise
BRILLIANT upload, thanks!
Greg Lemond in de Ronde van Vlaanderen en in de kopgroep. Jemig! Ik herinner me het totaal niet. Te lang geleden.
Some takeaways from this...
1. Bauer was a seriously kick-ass rider. His win tally doesn't tell the whole story....
2. Bike racing was cooler then, less robotic, more believable. Pro racing today doesn't look real. Could be the engines in their bikes...I dunno
3. Nikki Ruttimann looked good on a bike. He knew how to race as well, see his attack that won him a stage in the 86 tour...perfection.
All cyclists now are doped up. Back then some riders did it.
Adrie klopt Kelly , Adrie was 1 van de beste klassieke renners die Nederland ooit had !
Als je Kelly kon kloppen moest je wel beresterk zijn.
Helemaal mee eens. Dat Zoetemelk de best weg renner was, dat komt ook door zijn goede resultaten in de tour de France. Waaronder in keer het winnen van de tour. Maar de meest complete wielrenner was Adrie van der poel. Eigenlijk alles gewonnen wat er te winnen viel. Bijna wereldkampioen. Maar ook in het veldrijden was hij een topper. Dan te denken hoe goed hij wel niet was. En nu dan 1 zoon die nog beter is dan zijn vader. Ik geloof niet dat Adrie zelf ooit gedacht heeft dat zijn zoon nog beter zou worden dan hem zelf. (ADRIE VAN DER POEL. EEN GROOT SPORTMAN WAAR NEDERLAND TROST OP MAG ZIJN.)
Always a pleasure to watch these men of and on steel.
Look at all the attacks in the last 15-10 kilometers. Now days it would be one or two teams massed at the front, hammering away, containing everything to the point of boredom! Races were much more interesting (for the most part) in previous eras.
Superb! Thank you!
Kelly took too much wind in the last 5km he's a madman
I think Kelly forgot just how fast Adrie vdP could be, he wouldnt normally sprint from the front. I remember AvdP attacking in Paris Brussels in late 85, from group 3, past the 2nd group to the lead in one massive burst.
Totally agree - Kelly went way too early and AVDP was so strong - I love these old races, all the favourites battling it out at the front
The one race that slipped away from Kelly to many times.
Amazing that Kelly, who could win ANYTHING,never succeeded here or at world champs.
Kelly 2nd on this Ronde, on a Sunday in April. Next day, the Monday down to the Basque country to ride and win the 'Itzulia' over four days. Then back up to northern France, on the second Sunday, to win Paris-Roubaix
The King.
If Kelly was at Panasonic he’d have won. He won Milan San Remo 2 weeks before this and Paris Roubaix 7 days after this. He was basically a 1 man KAS team. That’s what happens when your the No1 rider in the world you’re a marked man just like Sagan now days.
Bauer should have attacked when he swung out to the left at about 500-600 meters. There was a slight lull and Kelly had just looked ahead. Hindsight is 20/20 but he would have won.
amazing!
G joob
Back at a time before plastic and all that crap when it was real.....................