Many suspect that Indurain rode into the record books without sustained opposition.

Each victory came against a different runner-up - riders like Claudio Chiappucci, Gianni Bugno and Tony Rominger.

But the inescapable fact remains that Indurain recorded the greatest feat in the history of the Tour.

Armstrong has arguably faced better riders but records are records and the Spaniard has set the standard here.

Miguel Indurain - 10
Lance Armstrong - 8

Even during his post-cancer Tour-winning era he has posted two second places in Holland's tough one-day Amstel Gold Classic.

Meanwhile Indurain twice did the double of winning Tour de France and Giro d'Italia in the same year.

That represents six weeks of hard work and does not leave much time for Classics.

However he did become an Olympic champion in the 1996 time trial, and could have surely won elsewhere if he had not retired then.

Miguel Indurain - 8
Lance Armstrong - 8