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Permalink Reply by Tim Bergsten on August 31, 2010 at 8:02am

I guess I knew that Fignon was battling cancer, but this is shocking. This is the death of one of my cycling heroes.
Like many, I followed the 1989 Tour de France as Fignon and Greg LeMond waged war across the French countryside. That was the last great Tour de France. Of course, LeMond won it all by only eight seconds with a brilliant ride in the famous time trial on the final day.
Fignon held a 50-second lead going into the time trial. It's the story of how he built that lead that is amazing.
LeMond held a slight lead heading into Stage 17, L'Alpe d'Huez. But Fignon attacked the brutal climb and captured the yellow jersey by a slim margin.
And on the following stage, a rolling but difficult romp to Vilard-de-Lans, Fignon made a bold statement. On a day when many pro cyclists - and especially the tour leaders - would sit in the pack and rest their legs - Fignon attacked and won the stage. There are no - and have been no - pro cyclists who ride with that kind of panache since then. Fignon's acceleration away from the pack on Stage 18 - the day after that was freaking crazy. I became a Fignon fan at that moment.
Many cycling fans only know him as the guy LeMond tracked down and beat by eight seconds. These days the Versus broadcasts show only Laurent Fignon crossing the finish line in the time trial and crumbling to the ground, exhausted...the French hero, defeated on a day that should have been his. But that's not the Laurent Fignon I remember.

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Permalink Reply by Richard E Keeffe on September 9, 2010 at 9:36am

There have been many great stages in the Tour de France. The time trail in 1989 when LeMond beat Fignon for the overall wim had to be the greatest, The fact the Lemond was coming back from a hunting accident which almost killed him, and Fignon had been relatively inactive for a few years just added to the drama. Somethings you never forget.
Dick

Tim Bergsten said:

I guess I knew that Fignon was battling cancer, but this is shocking. This is the death of one of my cycling heroes.
Like many, I followed the 1989 Tour de France as Fignon and Greg LeMond waged war across the French countryside. That was the last great Tour de France. Of course, LeMond won it all by only eight seconds with a brilliant ride in the famous time trial on the final day.
Fignon held a 50-second lead going into the time trial. It's the story of how he built that lead that is amazing.
LeMond held a slight lead heading into Stage 17, L'Alpe d'Huez. But Fignon attacked the brutal climb and captured the yellow jersey by a slim margin.
And on the following stage, a rolling but difficult romp to Vilard-de-Lans, Fignon made a bold statement. On a day when many pro cyclists - and especially the tour leaders - would sit in the pack and rest their legs - Fignon attacked and won the stage. There are no - and have been no - pro cyclists who ride with that kind of panache since then. Fignon's acceleration away from the pack on Stage 18 - the day after that was freaking crazy. I became a Fignon fan at that moment.
Many cycling fans only know him as the guy LeMond tracked down and beat by eight seconds. These days the Versus broadcasts show only Laurent Fignon crossing the finish line in the time trial and crumbling to the ground, exhausted...the French hero, defeated on a day that should have been his. But that's not the Laurent Fignon I remember.

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