Kristin Armstrong & Jeannie Longo!!!

[Trek420]

I can certainly see where having the nerves and brain and guts of a 50 year-old would be of benefit over having the body of a 20 year-old.

I think the saying is "age and stealth will beat youth and beauty every time"

Even commentators said as we age we loose "explosive strength" and acceleration, but with her experience they said if she gets a good position look for her to get to the front.

I forget where I read her comment about the road race, she was at or near the front on one or more of the climbs. It sounds like she felt she'd rather push herself, push the speed, enjoy the race than simply hang out in the back.

And I read into her comment a not so subtle dig at other riders, let's ride!! It's a race, not a Sunday ride to coffee.

I was impressed with her comments and attitude on the TT. Sooooo close, she had a minor mechanical failure yet she didn't rant and rail at her mechanic or the conditions or ... it happens.

[OakLeaf]

I think the saying is "age and stealth will beat youth and beauty every time"

Actually, the saying is "age and treachery" (vs. youth and enthusiasm). And that's exactly why I asked my question about the TT times.

There's plenty of treachery to go around in a road race - arguably, treachery wins more road races than brute strength.

Not so much with a TT. That's all about (1) having your body at its absolute peak and (2) knowing exactly where that peak is at any particular time.

Certainly, the longer we've been in our bodies, the better we know them, and that's an advantage in TTs. But as we get older, not all the things we learn about our bodies are things we like, and that goes for all of us, from elite athletes to couch potatoes. That's why they have all those carefully calculated age-adjusted times for running events, after all.

Personally, I think the explanation is that Jeannie Longo is such an amazing phenomenon, that back in her physical prime she wasn't pushing herself to her peak either - simply because back in those days, there wasn't a lot of competition in women's cycling, and she did only what she needed to win.

But I'd still like to know how her '80s TT times compare to what she's posting today.