Monday, March 27, 2006
Basso's Double
So Basso’s going for the Double. Sure much has been made of the storied Giro-Tour Double, an accomplishment pulled-out for the last time in 1998 by Marco Pantani. Of course, the circumstances surrounding that Tour and even Pantani’s later life (curiously, related “circumstances”) tarnishes that accomplishment a bit. Fortunately, Miguel Indurain – cycling’s equivalent of “Mr. Clean” – pulled off a Double Double, winning the four contests in 1992-93. The impressive pedigree of the Giro-Tour Double reads like a veritable member roll of the cycling Hall of Fame: Coppi, Anquetil, Merckx. Somehow even Stephen Roche snuck in there.
But Basso is going for an even more exclusive or elusive Double, as winner of both Le Tour, and the mini-Tour as the Criterium International is ridiculously termed. Last rider to take both the miniature and the larger-than-life versions of cycling’s premier event? The Badger himself, Bernard Hinault, pulled off the feat in 1981.
Assuming any of your drinking buddies like cycling, you can maybe win a free round.
But Basso is going for an even more exclusive or elusive Double, as winner of both Le Tour, and the mini-Tour as the Criterium International is ridiculously termed. Last rider to take both the miniature and the larger-than-life versions of cycling’s premier event? The Badger himself, Bernard Hinault, pulled off the feat in 1981.
Assuming any of your drinking buddies like cycling, you can maybe win a free round.
