They really have. I was kidding w/ leilani after she said that no one could win the Tour on their own (in re: Contador, mostly) and suggested some possibles (OK, I suggested da Bearsss, but only if Ditka was driving :). I forgot to mention Eddy Merckx, who probably DID win it on his own given that they didn't use teamwork like they do now.
Lance may not have invented it, but his teams from 1999 on raised the teamwork factor to a fine art if not a science. Technology probably had a lot to do with that.
The stage wins could be approached by someone like Cav
At first I thought 'no way', MB, but he may well have a good chance. 10 stage wins in 2 completed Tours, and 2 more thus far in 2010. He's young, strong, and quick.
I haven't been able to find a full list of riders by stage wins, but this is what Cav is looking at. Cav's disadvantage is that he'll only win flat sprint stages - Merckx' and Armstrong's stage wins included a number of mountain & TT stages. Still, if he keeps up his pace, he could pass LA in 3-4 years, and Merckx in a coupla more.
Six riders have won 20 or more stages:
Eddy Merckx (BEL) – 34
Bernard Hinault (FRA) – 28
André Leducq (FRA) – 25 (including half-stages)
Nicolas Frantz (LUX) – 25
Lance Armstrong (USA) – 25
André Darrigade (FRA) – 22
Ack! Thor lost the green?
Cavendish again!!
Renshaw is doing great work as his lead-out man. Herculean.