Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Laurent Fignon RIP
Today is a sad day for us old school cyclists. The professor succumbed to cancer at age 50. To Bernard Hinault, Andy Hampsten, Eric Heiden, Davis Phinny and Greg Lemond - All the cyclists who kindled my cycling fire - one of you, Laurent Fignon, is gone now, and I am saddened by it.
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...from CyclingNews
ReplyDelete"Laurent Fignon stood out in the peloton during his 12-year career because of his distinctive round glasses, long ponytail and impulsive character.
He was nick-named the professor but was one of the classiest riders in the sport and one of the true greats of French cycling. He raced with panache, often throwing caution to the wind and making surprise, audacious attacks. However he had the ability to back up his aggression and won both Grand Tours and major classics.
Fignon turned pro in 1982 with the Renault-Elf-Gitane team after being spotted by former rider and legendary team manager, Cyrille Guimard. He won the Criterium International in his debut season and then stunned the cycling world by winning the Tour de France in 1983. It was his first ever Tour de France and he was just 22.
He then repeated the victory in 1984, winning five stages along the way. In 1984 he also finished second overall in the Giro d'Italia, winning one stage and the mountains jersey. He also won the French national title that year. He also won Milan-San Remo in 1988 and 1989 and Fleche-Wallonne in 1986.
The 1989 Tour de France
Of course, Fignon will always be remembered for how he dramatically lost the 1989 Tour de France to Greg LeMond in the final time trial stage to Paris.
He started the stage with a 50 second lead but LeMond won the time trial by 58 seconds to snatch his second of three career Tour wins."
...click on CyclingNews in LINKS and the lead story has a great set of photos highlighting The Professor's career...
as an aside, and not to denigrate the passing ot Fignon, but, interstingly enough, a great F1 driver, also a Frenchman and great rival to Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, was also known as The Professor....
...i watched the 1989 Tour finale on ABC Wide World of Sports, if I recall correctly...
ReplyDeletein any case, the ITT finish was compelling...
...don't know if it was Phil and Paul commentating...but, it was great...I started road riding the same year...in the fall