10 sats \ 2 replies \ @Satosora 8 Apr \ on: Comparing athletes across generations mostly_harmless
I have this arguement with my family, too.
My family is big on the cycling world, and cycling tech has really boomed since the 70s.
Can you imagine someone like Lance Armstrong with the bikes they are using now?
Not saying he is the greatest, just a name everyone would recognize.
If everyone in cycling was giving the same bike, would the greatest still be the greatest?
Cycling is a team sport, it really depends how the team plays.
Its not like swimming where it depends only on yourself.
Lots of things to think about, how teamwork really make the player.
Would any of these basketball players be the "greatest" without their team members or their foils?
Cycling is super interesting because of the science that has gone into it. Nutrition on the bike being one that comes to mind. Some riders eat like 140mg of sugar per hour. That is insane to me. The ubiquity of power meters has changed the game as well. I think they are one of the main reasons why we see younger racers winning grand tours more frequently. Back in the day you'd have to pace yourself through RPE. If you have never done a 21 day stage race before the odds of getting your pacing right is low. Now you can just read your power meter (for the most part).