Saturday 12 July 2014

5 Iconic Climbs - Curmudgeonly Grumbling

Cyclosport have put out a perfectly cheery article about the Top 5 Iconic European Climbs. There are some nifty facts and cool photos and the whole thing is just fine. But I felt irritated by it, and had to spend a couple of moments thinking why. The selection is to behonest fair enough given that they are 'iconic, not 'greatest'. Alp d'Huez, check, Tourmalet, check, Ventoux, check. Whst about the a Giro? Oh go on Stelvio, check. A small voice for the corner of the room, 'What about the Vuelta?' Eyes roll, go on then stick in L'Angrilu to keep them quiet. My gripe is that like coming up with a list of 'most influential rock groups of all time' however you game it they always come up with the same answers. Normally these answers are based on a narrow time frame, and become true by repetition. Who is the greatest Opera singer? Maria Callas. Why? Because everyone says so.

The inclusion of Tourmalet and Ventoux are justifiable by their place in Tour history, and Alp d'Huez by its sheer ubiquitousness. Side note, leave the history to one side Alp d'Huez is not in the same league as Ventoux or Tourmalet. But why trot out the same old names again.  It is like having a literary blog telling us that Shakespeare was a great playwrite. Why not a list that can embrace climbs where the iconography comes from the era of the black and white photo? How about the Col'd Izoard there Coppi and Bartalli shared a brief truce and a bottle of water, or Puy de Dome where Anquetil and Poulidour fought, (almost literally) shoulder to shoulder. This Could throw up some unexpected new ideas for us amateurs, rather than another run through the already familiar.

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