Robert Millar or Tom Simpson

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Nearly finished In Search Of Robert Millar. I really didn't follow his career until he was a part of Fagor and always thought of him as a one stage mtn specialist. I always liked him and loved seeing him interviewed but I'd failed completely to understand how successful and good a cyclist he was. Now I can't decide if him or Simpson was the greatest British rider. I'm tending towards Millar now, having read both biographies. What do you think?
 

Dave5N

Über Member
Millar
 

Bollo

Failed Tech Bro
Location
Winch
Chrisz said:
Can't be Simpson - how can a sport idolize someone who died whilst competing under the influence of drugs??
Oooooh, now that's a can of worms. I've just finished reading Paul Kimmage's 'Rough Ride'. It's not one for the cycling fan boys and he's someone who seems to have made a lot of enemies over the years. However, its difficult to read it and believe anyone was clean in either Millar's or Simpson's eras.
 
OP
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Crackle

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Bollo said:
Oooooh, now that's a can of worms. I've just finished reading Paul Kimmage's 'Rough Ride'. It's not one for the cycling fan boys and he's someone who seems to have made a lot of enemies over the years. However, its difficult to read it and believe anyone was clean in either Millar's or Simpson's eras.


There's more than a hint of bitternes in Kimmage. He couldn't quite believe that anyone could be better than him without drugs, plus a lot of the drugs were not on the level of EPO of latter years.

Despite Millar testing positive, I find it hard to believe he was a drug user, given his attitude to what he would and wouldn't eat but undoubtedly others were. It was a different era where the sport generally thought doping of some sort was necessary to compete through the season.
 

girofan

New Member
Dave5N said:
Actually, Sir Chris Hoy is the greatest British rider :smile:

Good joke!!!! :laugh:

You were joking, of course?:rolleyes:
 

steve23

New Member
Simpson by a mile IMO.
just something about him (yea yea he took drugs but everyone did in that era). he just looked classy. whereas Millar didnt, and is a woman now!!!!!! hehe!
 

yello

Guest
Tough tough call, different eras so difficult to compare. Simpson probably had the better palmarès (I'm pretty sure he did but stuck in a "probably" I case I was wrong!) but that's not all there is I guess.

So, on paper - Simpson. On all factors really - Simpson... by a nose (ho ho).

But, I dunno, there's just something about Millar that makes me really really want to say 'Robert Millar'!
 

Dave5N

Über Member
steve23 said:
Simpson by a mile IMO.
just something about him (yea yea he took drugs but everyone did in that era). he just looked classy. whereas Millar didnt, and is a woman now!!!!!! hehe!


Kimmage is an arse and Millar was very classy indeed.

Based on your post above, which are you?
 

mondobongo

Über Member
Millar for me, yes as Yello says Simpson had the better palmares but Millar was something else when you watch him just ride away.
 
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