1,020 victories

timoid.
timoid. Posts: 3,133
edited May 2008 in Pro race
That's twice as many as Merckx. Is she ever gonna retire?

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... 6103?img=1
It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.

Comments

  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    I think she'd love to retire but just can't help herself. At 50, I doubt she could ever adapt to a "normal" life. One of the local riders here celebrated his 70th birthday by riding a stage race last weekend - I think if he stops racing he'll peg it within a month.

    BTW, Jeannie would appear to have borrowed Tom Boonens arms:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gallery/articl ... 6103?img=1
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,573
    I find it curious how she is universally loathed by her rivals and, in my experience at least, the French public. Is it because she is too successful?
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    I believe she's a very "focussed" individual, for which you can read cranky, self-centered and bitter. Comparisons with Hinault and Armstrong spring to mind. If she wasn't so good, she'd have been dumped years ago. In addition, the womens pro cycling scene is even cattier than the mens.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • deltadawn
    deltadawn Posts: 168
    Jeannie is nothing short of amazing!
  • OffTheBackAdam
    OffTheBackAdam Posts: 1,869
    I believe she's very keen to have her "team-mates" work for her, but not necessarilly so keen to work for them.
    In other words, she's a winner.
    It does, however, show the lack of competition within women's racing, the oldest Pro winning at top level I can think of is Joop Zoetemelk, he won the Amstel aged 41 and World Champion aged 39 (Dusted over Kelly & Lemond, IIRC, jumped away with about 1km to go, whilst they watched each other).
    At UK level, Malc Elliott must be the oldest riding at top level.
    Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.
  • deltadawn
    deltadawn Posts: 168
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    I believe she's very keen to have her "team-mates" work for her, but not necessarilly so keen to work for them.
    In other words, she's a winner.
    It does, however, show the lack of competition within women's racing, the oldest Pro winning at top level I can think of is Joop Zoetemelk, he won the Amstel aged 41 and World Champion aged 39 (Dusted over Kelly & Lemond, IIRC, jumped away with about 1km to go, whilst they watched each other).
    At UK level, Malc Elliott must be the oldest riding at top level.

    That makes me wonder why most (both male and female) leave the sport at a younger age. Is it just that they phyically are not able to ride at the top level anymore? Or is it that they have too many injuries, aches and pains from the years competing (or just age related)? Or is it that they are just tired of all the stresses, time away from family, etc and want a "normal" life?

    If any or all of the above is true, what makes someone like Jeannie different?
  • LangerDan
    LangerDan Posts: 6,132
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    IIt does, however, show the lack of competition within women's racing, .

    Jeannie is not the only "mature" rider in the womens peleton - Kathy Watt was riding as a pro last year at 43 and I'm fairly sure she's not the only one.
    'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'
  • deltadawn
    deltadawn Posts: 168
    LangerDan wrote:
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    IIt does, however, show the lack of competition within women's racing, .

    Jeannie is not the only "mature" rider in the womens peleton - Kathy Watt was riding as a pro last year at 43 and I'm fairly sure she's not the only one.

    That's interesting, Dan. You'd think that women would be more likely to leave the sport younger to have children, care for their families, etc.

    More power to them!

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