I'm a pretty consistent top 10 amateur cyclist in Colorado. Some really get wrapped up in it and let it get to their head. The reality though is most people don't ride or race, of those who even race many are there just to participate, now of those who are there to race my percentile has dropped. On the flip side, the truly great riders are overseas and even of them there are just a handful of riders anyone will ever know by name and who are making any money.
Even within bike racing, defining 99% is tricky. The sport generally punishes all-arounders. In road racing, most winners either have great sprints with just enough aerobic capacity to hang on til the finish or have massive aerobic capacity and anemic sprints. I no longer follow the sport, but riders like Peter Sagan and Julian Alaphilippe were more impressive to me than, say, Chris Froome.
Tadej has entered the chat. That guy might be the best all-rounder in several generations. Tour wins and strong in the Classics? That doesn't happen any more.
