99.9% of the people complaining about the "laid back days of old" don't understand how big competitive cycling and racing were in the early 20th century.
Cycling pro's were gods and every kid wanted to be like Cioppi or Bartalli.
If anything, the 1960's to the 1980's were a lull and cycling is still laid back compared to the racing craze of the early years.
-Tim-