JONGish riders weight note

[MtnX191]

I had assumed a lot of these relatively heavier riders on the tour (like Lance, at about 160-ish) were at least 10 pounds lighter. I know 160 isn't considered "big," especially in today's 'roided out world of pro sports, but given how lean these guys are, I'd guess they're up near the top where strength-to-weight ratio is concerned.

Also, along the same line, I heard a commentator on today's race remark that today's riders train so much more "all-around," like "track and field athletes," than riders from back in the day (i guess), who used racing to train.

I would be interested in anyone's personal experience with adding or increasing weight training to their riding regimen.

[Viva]

Before cancer therapy, Armstrong raced at about 175-180 lbs and was strictly a classics rider. Absolutely no stage race promise. He's now racing at about 160 and pedaling much, much more efficiently.

Weight kills. Period. There's absolutely no reason for a cyclist or runner to carry excess upper body poundage. Unless you're a sprinter or trackster, having huge legs is an additional burden, contrary to popular belief.

Edit- I need to qualify that first assertion as Armstrong did have success in stage racing (e.g., Tour de Pont), but never in any of the grand tours.

[Oarhead]

This is from the newsflashes from todays tour stage. Holeee shit. I don't weigh 98 kg and I am 6'6".

16 H 47 - The Heaviest Rider Is In Today's Escape
The heaviest rider at the start of the Tour de France was Magnus Backstedt who pushed the scales to 98kg at the pre-race medical in Liege. "It's like riding behind a truck," said the Swede's former team-mate, Stuart O'Grady several years ago when they raced together at Credit Agricole.