Total h/t to Mr. Rogers (ours, not Fred Rogers)...
Who would you like to see matched up in their prime? Like, suspend all time and have a race. 1972 Merckx vs 2011 Gilbert. Here's mine:
Paris-Roubaix, featuring 2005 Tom Boonen, 1974 Roger de Vlaeminck, 1962 Rik Van Looy, 1985 Marc Madiot, 1979 Francesco Moser, 1999 Andrea Tafi, 2006 Fabian Cancellara (scared that 2010 Fabu would ruin the fun), 1981 Bernard Hinault, 1984 Sean Kelly, 1950 Fausto Coppi, and what the hell, 1896 Josef Fischer. He can even have Zombie Maurice Garin as a domestique. The idea is a mix of talents and guys with unbelievable will. And for my money, Paris-Roubaix is one race that you don't win cheaply.
OK, play with that for a bit.