"Soccer" is an English term!

[BoldHighlander]

Just as an aside, when I was a school we had to do some research on the who the fittest athletes were and guess who came out on top, Soccer players

Yeah, I've heard that too, however I've had my doubts when compared to a Tour de France cyclist in the Pyrenees Mountain stage (ala Lance Armstrong in peak condition)

[Downunder Kilt]

Yeah, I've heard that too, however I've had my doubts when compared to a Tour de France cyclist in the Pyrenees Mountain stage (ala Lance Armstrong in peak condition)

I must admit BoldHighlander my study of Athletes fitness was a couple of decades ago and it was only done through books and papers available at the time. Well before the advent of PC's and the Web. And yes, watching those guys on the tour, shows whatever sport you do, at that level, you have to be superbly fit

[BoldHighlander]

I must admit BoldHighlander my study of Athletes fitness was a couple of decades ago and it was only done through books and papers available at the time. Well before the advent of PC's and the Web. And yes, watching those guys on the tour, shows whatever sport you do, at that level, you have to be superbly fit

Indeed!

[BoldHighlander]

Yeah, I've heard that too, however I've had my doubts when compared to a Tour de France cyclist in the Pyrenees Mountain stage (ala Lance Armstrong in peak condition)

I must admit BoldHighlander my study of Athletes fitness was a couple of decades ago and it was only done through books and papers available at the time. Well before the advent of PC's and the Web. And yes, watching those guys on the tour, shows whatever sport you do, at that level, you have to be superbly fit

An interesting article that I just ran across that looks at this aspect of the discussion

Tour de France riders need 'mutant' bodies:
Athletes need super-human stamina for grueling event, experts say

"There is no other sport in the world that continues for 21 days, day in and day out, over mountains, in the rain and heat, over rough terrain," said Hunter Allen, an elite cycling coach and co-author of "Training and Racing with a Power Meter." "These guys are the creme of the creme of the creme of the top."

[Downunder Kilt]

I have been watching the TOUR and have been amazed at how some of those guys who have crashed and sustained injury have continued to ride day in, day out.

Last nights stage in the mountains, the last one, kept me absolutely enthralled at the strength, fitness and stamina those guys have.