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I think he would. What do you think?
Are there any other riders out there that would tear the legs off the current world leaders in XC racing?
Michael Rasmussen perhaps.
Hard to say - I suspect that the specific requirements of mtbing compared to road might mean that he wouldn't make a winning transition immediately - Although it was clearly not his main goal, a while back Lance did a round of the XC world cup and finished 6th IIRC - said it was rather hard afterwards..
Aye, but remember Cadel Evans has been at that level in mtb before, Lance never was.
In a longer race..... isn't Lance the current record holder for the Leadville 100?
No, he wouldn't.
What makes you think road racers are that much fitter than MTBers? It's been a long time since Cadel was up there anyway.
I'd say he'd have a good chance in stage-races like the Cape Epic, but I'd be stunned if he could win a 2hr XC race.
Lance did a round of the NORBAs, did he do a World Cup race?
GIven the right chemist he could win anything, he was a whinger when he raced off road too as I remember, probably less mind games thdb road racing so he'd fair better
I'm sure he'd have a good winge about it if he didn't
No hijacks thanks. I am talking about the multilap couple of hour long races here.
It could have been a NORBA though I did think it was a World Cup
EDIT - it was a NORBA:
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&q=lance+armstrong+norba+1999&fp=615f82516a75afc5
Yep, sure he's never done a world cup. He's done rather well at the Leadville 100 mind, but again, that's more akin to a road race in terms of duration.
Cadel wouldn't win the World Champs, I strongly suspect even if he converted back to the dirt full time he wouldn't win it either.
Not sure sure about that njee - he seems to be on pretty good attacking form these days which should transition well to the dirt again.
Anyway, I think he's been there, done that. Can't see him going back until post road retirement.
Marathon World Champs I reckon he would have a good chance at. Sustained effort for hours on end is probably more akin to road racing but not a direct comparison.
That said all of the top guys in either sport are amazing athletes and could swap between and do very well. The top of road cycling is a lot denser than MTBing though
he seems to be on pretty good attacking form these days
So what? I have to say I think that's nuts to think that he could beat people who train for a discipline when he doesn't! He did well in the world champs, but it's a totally different kettle of fish. Full stop.
Read my first post Nick - I did say he'd probably not win straight away...
Bit like asking what would happen if Lionel Messi took the field for Accrington Stanley - would he be any good? In principle he should clean house, but he plays at such a refined, rarefied level that he might struggle to adapt.
Toadface is not Messi, but he is the current road race world champ. Might not be able to mix it on the mountain bike circuit after so many years at the elite level on the road.
Road and mtb Are totally different though, one is a team sport and the other is For riders who aren't good enough to get in a road team
I'm not sure he would directly, just look how dominant Sven Nyes has been in cyclo-cross and he came in around 40th in last last weekends World Cup, granted he maybe in an off session period, but still.
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Cadel wasn't the best off road but he is certainly better than Martinez was on the road. They are just different.
Lance has never done a World Cup. I suspect he would get a major beating if he did try one, at any point in his career. WC is a huge step up from even a NORBA (or whatever those whining americans are calling them now).
Cadel would probably get a kicking as well, would probably take six months or so of dedicated training to make the transition. Possibly one of the top five XC racers ever though, he was pretty dominant as a U23.
Nys was top ten at the Olympics, a great result for a guy who did his first ever XC race a few months before. He'd have to ditch the 'cross to become a true podium condender though.
I'd +1 to everything Dougal said frankly, he just said it far more elegantly than I'd manage!
He'd be well up for the shorter duration, because he's an excellent time trial rider. But he's never struck me as the most elegant bike handler and it is difficult to imagine him being sufficiently deft to keep the hammer down when the going is technical. Long tough climbs though - any of the top pro road riders would be extremely competitive. They have gravitated to where the big money is because they are the strongest - no doubt with a few exceptions.
Leadville isn't really mountain biking judging by the footage / videos I've seen of it.
Glen, you do realise that Cadel is an ex-mtber don't you? He seemed to manage the technical stuff just fine back then...
See i reckon he'd do pretty pretty good. The cream will always rise to the top, and he was pretty pretty good when he left MTBing for the road.
Wasn't Dario Cioni also a MTBer?