Benjamin Weiner wrote:

Lemond's moral victories don't count. Counterfactuals are
hypothetical: we don't know if his condition in 1990 would have been
the same had he ridden 87 and 88. Merckx got punched, Hinault had an
injury, Bartali or Coppi are the best counter examples IMO. However,
several people _could_ have done it, but for a variety of reasons -
bad luck, injury, wars, age creeping up on them, nobody _has_ done it.

What is amazing about winning the Tour 5 times is the number
of things stacked against you. Fitness and preparation is
not enough. You have to avoid crashes, illness, bad luck,
etc. Look at how many riders have had to drop out so far
due to illness or injury. To win 5 times without any of
those things happening to you is tough.

Todd Kuzma