Cycling is not merely a leisure activity or a way to cut weight and advocate health. It is one of the most competitive sport practiced world over by many countries. Cycling is like running a marathon; it requires inner strength, agility, faith, and the belief that one can traverse everything and not just reach the finishing line, but win the race. That’s how people come atop peaks, right? They go beyond what their body thought was possible and transcended the realm of possibilities to achieve the impossible. Here’s to the legends who made it in the world of Competitive Cycling:
Eddy Merckx AKA The Cannibal Known for not letting anyone win, Eddy was nicknamed as “The Cannibal” by one of his teammate’s daughter. Eddy Merckx, or Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx is a Belgian former professional road and track bicycle racer who is renowned for being the most successful rider ever in the entire history of Competitive Cycling. A sport that already demands spearheaded strength, energy and synergy, Merckx has a bucket of victories in his indomitable eleven Grand Tours he is known for, comprising of five tours of France, five tours of Italy and a tour of Spain; including the tours of all the five Monuments of the Classic Cycle Races, three world Championships, the hour-record of the longest distance cycled and major one-day races. Fausto Coppi AKA Il Campionissimo Angelo Fausto Coppi was an Italian cyclist and one of the major international cyclists before and after the World War II. His nickname “Il Campionissimo” means Champion of Champions, and was an all-rounder in race cycling, excelling in climbing, time trailing and sprinting. He won many notable awards:
Bernard Hinault AKA The Badger A former French professional cyclist, he has a record of 147 victories (including 5 Tour de France), who began with a successful amateur career in cycling and went on to become one of the greatest cyclists in history. Till 2016, he gave representations at the organization of the Tour de France too. he earned his nickname “The Badger” owing to his association with the animal’s aggression, and also being the exercising authority over the races he participated in. Miguel Indurain AKA Big Mig Miguel Indurain Larraya, a Spanish road racing cyclist, also known as “Big Mig”, earned this nickname owing to his physical stature and ability. He is most famous for winning the Tour de France 5 consecutive times, from 1991-95, and the Giro d’Italia twice. He was also the youngest ever to win the Spanish amateur national road championship at the age of 18 years. He was 20 when he was the youngest to lead the Vuelta a Espana and at 20 only, won the Tour de I’Avenir. Greg LeMond Gregory James “Greg” LeMond is not just an American former professional road racing cyclist, but is also an entrepreneur and an “anti-doping advocate”, and considered as the greatest American cyclist. He won the Tour de France thrice as the first non-European to do so and the Road Race World Championship twice. He was the first cyclist to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, an American Sports Magazine with over 3 million subscribers today. He is also a vocal advocate of not using performance enhancing drugs used in cycling and other sports, and runs a nonprofit charity organization that assists male victims of child sexual abuse. Mario Cipollini AKA The Lion King A retired professional road cyclist, Mario Cipollini is Italian and known for his sprinting, with 170 professional wins. His is also known as Il Re Leone (The Lion King) and Super Mario, being respected as the best sprinter of his generation. His cycling abilities come from his father, Vivaldo, who was also a successful amateur racer; his brother Cesare was another professional along with his sister Tiziana as well. Lance Armstrong Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former road racing cyclist, who began as a triathlete competitor, was a national sprint- triathlon Champion. He won accolades in World Championship, Clasica de San Sebastian and Tour DuPoint. He is most (in) famous for being alleged of doping (drug use) since his Tour de France victory, post which he was stripped off all his achievements, ending his career. AVON Cycles has the best high end bicycle under its newest brand Cyclux, that are built with the vision of world class technology and quality which has been the signature of the brand since its inception in 1948. It believes in delivering cycles that go miles ahead in efficiency and satisfaction, giving complete experiences of adventure and passion.
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