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Laurent Fignon dead at age 50 after battle with cancer

From VeloNews

Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon has died at the age of 50 following a battle with cancer, the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris confirmed on Tuesday.

“Valerie Fignon, his wife, is sad to announce the death of Laurent Fignon today,” the hospital said in a statement.

The French rider won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984, and was runner-up in 1989 when he lost by just eight seconds, the smallest margin in the history of the race, to American Greg LeMond.

Fignon achieved 76 victories during his career, which was later overshadowed by positive tests for illegal substances twice in the late 1980s.

In his book about his career, ‘We Were Young and Unconcerned’, Fignon admitted taking amphetamines and cortisone during his career. Read more..


Greg LeMond remembers Laurent Fignon

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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.
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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