Laurent Fignon
Encyclopedia
Laurent Patrick Fignon was a French
professional road bicycle racer. He won the Tour de France
in 1983 and in 1984. He missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by 8 seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the tour. He also won the Giro d'Italia
in 1989, after having been the runner-up in 1984, and the classic
race Milan – San Remo in 1988 and 1989. He died from cancer
on 31 August 2010.
, Paris
. His family moved to Tournan-en-Brie
in 1963, where he lived until he left for Paris at age 23.
His first sport was football and he got as far as playing for his département or area. Friends encouraged him into cycling and he rode his first official race in 1976, which he won. Fignon's parents did not want him to race, and he raced without them knowing. He won four more races in his first year, but only one in his second year. In this third year, he won 18 out of 36 races. Fignon's parents allowed him to race, but still thought that he should study. Fignon entered the University of Villetaneuse
, doing Structural and Materials Science. This study did not go too well, and he left soon. He joined the army, and was posted at the Bataille de Joinville, known for its sporting reputation. After this, Fignon was sure he wanted to pursue a professional career.
In 1981, Fignon rode the Tour of Corsica, where professional and amateur cyclists rode together. Fignon was able to hold the wheel of Bernard Hinault
, for most of the race. It was when he rode with the national 100 km time trial team that he caught the eye of the former rider and manager, Cyrille Guimard
, who gave him a place in his Renault-Elf-Gitane
professional team in 1982, when he was 21 years old.
. After Fignon broke away in the second stage, he became the leader of the race, and got to wear the pink jersey. He lost the lead in the next stage, but became Hinault's most trusted team mate in the mountains.
In Paris–Tours, Fignon had escaped and made a break of 40 seconds, when his crank broke.
During this first year as a professional, Fignon won the Critérium National
.
to win the 1983 Vuelta a España
. Guimard did not want to send Fignon to the Tour de France, because two grand tour
s could be too much for a 22-year old rider. When Hinault, winner of four of the five previous Tours, announced that he would not start due to injury, the Renault team was without a team captain. Fignon was added to the 1983 Tour de France
selection for the Renault team, and the team decided to go for stage wins, with hopes of having Fignon or Marc Madiot
compete for the best debutant category
. After stage nine, the first mountain stage, Fignon was in second place, behind Pascal Simon
, and he was allowed to be team leader. In the tenth stage, Simon crashed and broke his shoulder blade. Simon continued, and only lost little time the next stages. In the fifteenth stage, a mountain time trial, Fignon was able to win back so much time that he was within one minute of Simon.
In the seventeenth stage, Simon had to give up, and Fignon became the new leader. In the next stages, Fignon was able to answer all attacks from his opponents, and he even won the time trial in the 21st stage. At 22 years old, Fignon was the youngest man to win the Tour since 1933.
Fignon later said that he was lucky to have won the 1983 Tour: if Hinault had been present Fignon would have helped him, as Hinault was the team leader.
With his round glasses and air of debonnaire, Fignon was a contrast to Hinault's hard-knocks image. He earned the nickname "The Professor", not only because of these glasses, but also because he was one of the few cyclists who had passed his baccalaureat exams.
team, established by the French entrepreneur Bernard Tapie
and directed by Swiss trainer Paul Koechli. Fignon stayed with the Renault team, and became team leader.
In the 1984 Giro d'Italia
, Fignon was in leading position near the end of the race, with Italian Francesco Moser
in second place. The highest mountain stage, where Fignon could have extended his lead as the better climber, was cancelled due to bad weather. In the final stage, an individual time trial
, helicopters flew in front of Fignon, creating a headwind, and behind Moser, creating a tailwind. Moser won enough time to win the race, and Fignon ended in second place.
Fignon won the French National Road Race Championships.
The 1984 Tour de France
was a battle between Fignon and his former team captain Hinault. Hinault won the prologue, but Fignon won back time when his team won the team time trial
in stage three. After a large escape in the fifth stage, Fignon's team mate Vincent Barteau
was leading the race. In the seventh stage, Fignon won the time trial, beating Hinault by 49 seconds. Barteau was still leading the race, and remained the leader after the Pyrenées.
In the sixteenth stage, Fignon again beat Hinault in a time trial, this time winning 33 seconds. In the seventeenth stage, Hinault attacked five times on the penultimate climb, but every time Fignon was able to get back. Then, Fignon left Hinault behind, and won almost three more minutes on Hinault. Barteau was so far behind in this stage, that Fignon became the new leader. Fignon won three more stages, for a total of five that year, and won the Tour with a ten minute margin. With his air of indifference in interviews and his crushing dominance, he was hailed as France's newest superstar.
Fignon switched to the Système U cycling team in 1986. That year, Fignon won the 1986 La Flèche Wallonne
Fignon entered the 1986 Tour de France
, but could not compete for the victory retired on stage 12 to Pau.
, behind Luis Herrera
. After his retirement, Fignon wrote in his biography that Herrera's team manager bribed his team not to attack, which Herrera later denied.
Later that year, he finished 7th overall in the 1987 Tour de France
, taking another victory at La Plagne (stage 21).
In 1988, Fignon won Milan–Sanremo, but had to abandon the 1988 Tour.
as leader of the UCI Road World Rankings
. That season included a win at Milan – San Remo and the Giro d'Italia
.
In the 1989 Tour de France
, Fignon was one of the big favourites, together with Greg LeMond
and Pedro Delgado
. After Delgado was too late for the start and lost some minutes, it became a battle between LeMond and Fignon. LeMond won a minute in the time trial in stage five, using aerobars which enabled a new and more aerodynamic riding position, also known as tri-bars as they had previously only been used in triathlons), a new type of teardrop-shaped aerodynamic helmet in the time trials and a rear disc wheel, Fignon used normal road handlebars and a bicycle with both front and rear disc wheels, which left him more affected by cross winds. LeMond led the general classification after that stage by 5 seconds. In the tenth stage, Fignon beat LeMond by 12 seconds, and became the new leader, 7 seconds ahead of LeMond. In the time trial of stage 15, LeMond again won time on Fignon, and took back the leading position. Fignon came back by dropping Lemond on Alpe d'Huez, taking back the lead, and after he won alone at Villard de Lans the next day, the margin was 50 seconds.
Before the final stage, a short time trial of 24.5 km, the time difference between LeMond and Fignon was still 50 seconds, which seemed enough for the victory. French newspapers had prepared special editions with Fignon on the front page, preparing for his victory. Although it was considered unlikely that LeMond would be able to win back 50 seconds on the 24.5 km, LeMond gave his best, and rode the fastest time trial to date. Fignon had developed saddle sores
in stage 19, which gave him pain and made it impossible to sleep in the night before the time trial. Fignon, who rode after LeMond, lost 58 seconds during the stage, and although he became third in the stage, he lost the lead to LeMond.
It was calculated afterwards that if Fignon had cut off his ponytail
, he would have reduced his drag
that much that he would have won the Tour.
During that Tour, he was on bad terms with the journalists, and he was given the "Prix Citron" for least likable rider. That Tour has always been a sore point for Fignon since, and when he got the question "Aren't you the guy who lost the Tour by 8 seconds?" he answered "No, I'm the guy who won it twice."
. After a dramatic 1992 Giro d'Italia
, in which he was in heavy crisis during mountain stages, he rode the 1992 Tour de France
, finishing 23rd overall, taking his ninth and last stage win at Mulhouse
on stage 11. Fignon's last victory as professional cyclist was in the early-season Ruta Mexico in 1993, after a tight duel with Francisco Villalobos and surviving a massive collision that saw the group hit by a tow truck driven by a drunken man. Fignon retired as a professional cyclist late 1993.
, notably Paris–Nice, from 2000 until it was taken over by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organiser of Tour de France
, in 2002.
Fignon remained organiser for races such as Paris–Corrèze. He criticised French cycling, lamenting in L'Equipe that, "The sports directors don't do a good job any more. They lack competence and don't have authority over their riders. The non-results of French teams are not only the consequences of doping," alluding to the stringent French doping control.
On his relationships with Cyrille Guimard and Bernard Hinault, Fignon said that with Bernard Hinault, Guimard already found a champion, whereas with himself, Guimard made a champion. Therefore his bond with Guimard was stronger than Hinault's bond with Guimard.
Fignon wrote an autobiography
entitled Nous étions jeunes et insouciants ("We were young and carefree"), which was released in June 2009.
cancer. He also admitted to having used banned drugs amphetamine
s and cortisone
. Fignon's cancer was diagnosed in April 2009 after being found in his digestive system.
In January 2010, his doctors discovered that the cancer originated in his lungs
. He died of the disease at 12.30 pm local time on 31 August 2010, aged 50 at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
in Paris.
His funeral took place on 3 September 2010 at the Père Lachaise cemetery, Paris, where he was later cremated. His ashes were placed in the columbarium of the same cemetery almost nine months after his death. He is survived by both parents. He is also survived by his son and daughter from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 2000. He was married to his second wife from 2008 until his death.
1983 Renault-Elf-Gitane
1984 Renault (Gitane)
1986 Systeme U (Gitane)
1987 Systeme U (Gitane)
1988 Systeme U (Gitane)
1989 Super U (Raleigh)
1990 Castorama (Raleigh)
1991 Castorama (Raleigh)
1992 Gatorade (Bianchi)
1993 Gatorade (Bianchi)
WD = Withdrew
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
professional road bicycle racer. He won the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in 1983 and in 1984. He missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by 8 seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the tour. He also won the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
in 1989, after having been the runner-up in 1984, and the classic
Classic cycle races
The classic cycle races are one-day professional cycling road races in the international calendar. Most of the events, all run in western Europe, have been fixtures on the professional calendar for decades and the oldest ones date back to the 19th Century. They are normally held at roughly the same...
race Milan – San Remo in 1988 and 1989. He died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on 31 August 2010.
Early life and amateur career
Fignon was born in MontmartreMontmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. His family moved to Tournan-en-Brie
Tournan-en-Brie
Tournan-en-Brie, or simply Tournan, is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the Paris metropolitan area.-Transportation:Tournan is the terminus...
in 1963, where he lived until he left for Paris at age 23.
His first sport was football and he got as far as playing for his département or area. Friends encouraged him into cycling and he rode his first official race in 1976, which he won. Fignon's parents did not want him to race, and he raced without them knowing. He won four more races in his first year, but only one in his second year. In this third year, he won 18 out of 36 races. Fignon's parents allowed him to race, but still thought that he should study. Fignon entered the University of Villetaneuse
Paris 13 University
University of Paris 13 is one of the thirteen universities in Paris which replaced the University of Paris in 1970. It is also identified as University of Paris North .-External links:*...
, doing Structural and Materials Science. This study did not go too well, and he left soon. He joined the army, and was posted at the Bataille de Joinville, known for its sporting reputation. After this, Fignon was sure he wanted to pursue a professional career.
In 1981, Fignon rode the Tour of Corsica, where professional and amateur cyclists rode together. Fignon was able to hold the wheel of Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
, for most of the race. It was when he rode with the national 100 km time trial team that he caught the eye of the former rider and manager, Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard
Cyrille Guimard is a French former professional road racing cyclist who became a directeur sportif and then a television commentator...
, who gave him a place in his Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane
Renault-Elf-Gitane was a French professional cycling team that existed from 1978 to 1985 and which cycled on and promoted Gitane racing bikes.-History:...
professional team in 1982, when he was 21 years old.
1982: first professional season
In 1982, Fignon rode the 1982 Giro d'Italia1982 Giro d'Italia
The 1982 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 13 May to 6 June 1982, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Bernard Hinault.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:*Maglia ciclamino: Francesco Moser...
. After Fignon broke away in the second stage, he became the leader of the race, and got to wear the pink jersey. He lost the lead in the next stage, but became Hinault's most trusted team mate in the mountains.
In Paris–Tours, Fignon had escaped and made a break of 40 seconds, when his crank broke.
During this first year as a professional, Fignon won the Critérium National
Critérium International
The Critérium International is a two-day bicycle stage race held in France every spring. It was formerly known as the Critérium National de la Route, first run in 1932....
.
1983: first Tour victory
In 1983, Fignon was a part of the team that helped Bernard HinaultBernard Hinault
Bernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
to win the 1983 Vuelta a España
1983 Vuelta a España
The 38th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 19 to May 8, 1983...
. Guimard did not want to send Fignon to the Tour de France, because two grand tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
s could be too much for a 22-year old rider. When Hinault, winner of four of the five previous Tours, announced that he would not start due to injury, the Renault team was without a team captain. Fignon was added to the 1983 Tour de France
1983 Tour de France
The 1983 Tour de France was the 70th Tour de France, run from 1 to 22 July 1982 in 22 stages and a prologue, over a total distance of 3862 km., won by French rider Laurent Fignon. Sean Kelly of Ireland won the green jersey, and Lucien Van Impe of Belgium won the polka dot jersey...
selection for the Renault team, and the team decided to go for stage wins, with hopes of having Fignon or Marc Madiot
Marc Madiot
Marc Madiot is a French former professional road racing cyclist and double winner of Paris–Roubaix. Retired from racing in 1994, he is now best known as the directeur sportif of Française des Jeux, a UCI ProTour cycling team....
compete for the best debutant category
Young rider classification in the Tour de France
-History:From 1968 to 1975, there was a white jersey awarded in the Tour de France to the lead rider in the combination classification . In 1975, this classification was removed, and replaced by the Best Young Rider Classification...
. After stage nine, the first mountain stage, Fignon was in second place, behind Pascal Simon
Pascal Simon
Pascal Simon is a retired French road racing cyclist. A native of Mesnil St. Loup, he was a professional cyclist from 1979 to 1991. Pascal was the oldest of four brothers that all became professional cyclists: Régis, Jerôme and François.In 1983, Simon obtained the yellow jersey while riding for...
, and he was allowed to be team leader. In the tenth stage, Simon crashed and broke his shoulder blade. Simon continued, and only lost little time the next stages. In the fifteenth stage, a mountain time trial, Fignon was able to win back so much time that he was within one minute of Simon.
In the seventeenth stage, Simon had to give up, and Fignon became the new leader. In the next stages, Fignon was able to answer all attacks from his opponents, and he even won the time trial in the 21st stage. At 22 years old, Fignon was the youngest man to win the Tour since 1933.
Fignon later said that he was lucky to have won the 1983 Tour: if Hinault had been present Fignon would have helped him, as Hinault was the team leader.
With his round glasses and air of debonnaire, Fignon was a contrast to Hinault's hard-knocks image. He earned the nickname "The Professor", not only because of these glasses, but also because he was one of the few cyclists who had passed his baccalaureat exams.
1984: second Tour victory
In 1984, Hinault changed to the new La Vie ClaireLa Vie Claire
La Vie Claire was a professional road bicycle racing team named after its chief sponsor La vie Claire, a chain of health food stores.-History:The La Vie Claire team was created in 1984 by Bernard Tapie and directed by Paul Koechli...
team, established by the French entrepreneur Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
and directed by Swiss trainer Paul Koechli. Fignon stayed with the Renault team, and became team leader.
In the 1984 Giro d'Italia
1984 Giro d'Italia
The 1984 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 67th running or the race, was held from 17 May to 10 June 1984, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Francesco Moser, who took over the lead from Laurent Fignon in the final stage...
, Fignon was in leading position near the end of the race, with Italian Francesco Moser
Francesco Moser
Francesco Moser , nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" , is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, and won the 1984 Giro d'Italia, the 1977 world road racing championship and six victories in three of the five Monuments...
in second place. The highest mountain stage, where Fignon could have extended his lead as the better climber, was cancelled due to bad weather. In the final stage, an individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
, helicopters flew in front of Fignon, creating a headwind, and behind Moser, creating a tailwind. Moser won enough time to win the race, and Fignon ended in second place.
Fignon won the French National Road Race Championships.
The 1984 Tour de France
1984 Tour de France
The 1984 Tour de France was the 71st Tour de France, run over 4020.9 km in 23 stages and a prologue, from 29 June to 22 July 1984.French rider Laurent Fignon won his second consecutive Tour, beating former teammate Bernard Hinault by over 10 minutes. Hinault was pursuing his fifth Tour...
was a battle between Fignon and his former team captain Hinault. Hinault won the prologue, but Fignon won back time when his team won the team time trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...
in stage three. After a large escape in the fifth stage, Fignon's team mate Vincent Barteau
Vincent Barteau
Vincent Barteau is a former French road racing cyclist. He is best known for wearing the yellow jersey in the 1984 Tour de France and winning the stage on Bastille day in the 1989 Tour de France.- Palmarès :1984...
was leading the race. In the seventh stage, Fignon won the time trial, beating Hinault by 49 seconds. Barteau was still leading the race, and remained the leader after the Pyrenées.
In the sixteenth stage, Fignon again beat Hinault in a time trial, this time winning 33 seconds. In the seventeenth stage, Hinault attacked five times on the penultimate climb, but every time Fignon was able to get back. Then, Fignon left Hinault behind, and won almost three more minutes on Hinault. Barteau was so far behind in this stage, that Fignon became the new leader. Fignon won three more stages, for a total of five that year, and won the Tour with a ten minute margin. With his air of indifference in interviews and his crushing dominance, he was hailed as France's newest superstar.
1985 and 1986: injury years
The next two years Fignon had injury problems. Even though Fignon felt stronger than ever in early 1985, a knee injury meant that Fignon missed the 1985 Tour.Fignon switched to the Système U cycling team in 1986. That year, Fignon won the 1986 La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
Fignon entered the 1986 Tour de France
1986 Tour de France
The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour...
, but could not compete for the victory retired on stage 12 to Pau.
1987 and 1988: return to the top
Fignon returned to his full strengths in 1987, when he finished third in the 1987 Vuelta a España1987 Vuelta a España
The 42nd Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 23 to May 15, 1987. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,921 km, and was won by Luis Herrera of the Café de Colombia cycling team...
, behind Luis Herrera
Luis Herrera
Luis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera known as "el jardinerito" is a retired Colombian road racing cyclist...
. After his retirement, Fignon wrote in his biography that Herrera's team manager bribed his team not to attack, which Herrera later denied.
Later that year, he finished 7th overall in the 1987 Tour de France
1987 Tour de France
The 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
, taking another victory at La Plagne (stage 21).
In 1988, Fignon won Milan–Sanremo, but had to abandon the 1988 Tour.
1989: losing by 8 seconds
In 1989, Fignon overtook Sean KellySeán Kelly (cyclist)
John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...
as leader of the UCI Road World Rankings
UCI Road World Rankings
The UCI Road World Rankings was a system of ranking road bicycle racers based upon the results in all UCI-sanctioned races over a twelve month period. The world rankings were first instituted by the UCI in 1984....
. That season included a win at Milan – San Remo and the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
.
In the 1989 Tour de France
1989 Tour de France
The 1989 Tour de France was the 76th Tour de France, a race of 21 stages and a prologue, over 3285 km in total. In the closest tour in history, Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds at the start of the final stage, a time trial into Paris. LeMond rode for an average speed of 54.55 km/h ,...
, Fignon was one of the big favourites, together with Greg LeMond
Greg LeMond
Gregory James LeMond is a former professional road bicycle racer from the United States and a three-time winner of the Tour de France. He was born in Lakewood, California and raised in Reno, Nevada....
and Pedro Delgado
Pedro Delgado
Pedro Delgado Robledo , also known as Perico, is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer. He won the 1988 Tour de France, as well as the Vuelta a España in 1985 and 1989....
. After Delgado was too late for the start and lost some minutes, it became a battle between LeMond and Fignon. LeMond won a minute in the time trial in stage five, using aerobars which enabled a new and more aerodynamic riding position, also known as tri-bars as they had previously only been used in triathlons), a new type of teardrop-shaped aerodynamic helmet in the time trials and a rear disc wheel, Fignon used normal road handlebars and a bicycle with both front and rear disc wheels, which left him more affected by cross winds. LeMond led the general classification after that stage by 5 seconds. In the tenth stage, Fignon beat LeMond by 12 seconds, and became the new leader, 7 seconds ahead of LeMond. In the time trial of stage 15, LeMond again won time on Fignon, and took back the leading position. Fignon came back by dropping Lemond on Alpe d'Huez, taking back the lead, and after he won alone at Villard de Lans the next day, the margin was 50 seconds.
Before the final stage, a short time trial of 24.5 km, the time difference between LeMond and Fignon was still 50 seconds, which seemed enough for the victory. French newspapers had prepared special editions with Fignon on the front page, preparing for his victory. Although it was considered unlikely that LeMond would be able to win back 50 seconds on the 24.5 km, LeMond gave his best, and rode the fastest time trial to date. Fignon had developed saddle sores
Saddle sores
A saddle sore in humans is a skin ailment on the buttocks due to, or exacerbated by, cycling on a bicycle saddle or horse riding. It often develops in three stages: skin abrasion, folliculitis , and finally abscess....
in stage 19, which gave him pain and made it impossible to sleep in the night before the time trial. Fignon, who rode after LeMond, lost 58 seconds during the stage, and although he became third in the stage, he lost the lead to LeMond.
It was calculated afterwards that if Fignon had cut off his ponytail
Ponytail
A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. It gets its name from its resemblance to the undocked tail of a...
, he would have reduced his drag
Drag (physics)
In fluid dynamics, drag refers to forces which act on a solid object in the direction of the relative fluid flow velocity...
that much that he would have won the Tour.
During that Tour, he was on bad terms with the journalists, and he was given the "Prix Citron" for least likable rider. That Tour has always been a sore point for Fignon since, and when he got the question "Aren't you the guy who lost the Tour by 8 seconds?" he answered "No, I'm the guy who won it twice."
1990–1993: later years
Fignon withdrew from the 1990 Tour, but finished 6th in 1991. He then stopped being team captain, and transferred to the Italian Gatorade team, to become a domestique for Gianni BugnoGianni Bugno
Gianni Bugno is a former Italian professional road racing cyclist.-Biography:Bugno was a versatile rider, able to do well in different types of races. He won numerous stages in the Tour de France, and the Milan – San Remo classic in 1990...
. After a dramatic 1992 Giro d'Italia
1992 Giro d'Italia
The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h...
, in which he was in heavy crisis during mountain stages, he rode the 1992 Tour de France
1992 Tour de France
The 1992 Tour de France was the 79th Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 26, 1992. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3983 km, with riders averaging 39.504 km/h...
, finishing 23rd overall, taking his ninth and last stage win at Mulhouse
Mulhouse
Mulhouse |mill]] hamlet) is a city and commune in eastern France, close to the Swiss and German borders. With a population of 110,514 and 278,206 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2006, it is the largest city in the Haut-Rhin département, and the second largest in the Alsace region after...
on stage 11. Fignon's last victory as professional cyclist was in the early-season Ruta Mexico in 1993, after a tight duel with Francisco Villalobos and surviving a massive collision that saw the group hit by a tow truck driven by a drunken man. Fignon retired as a professional cyclist late 1993.
After retirement
In 1995, Fignon founded the "Laurent Fignon organisation", to organize racesBicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
, notably Paris–Nice, from 2000 until it was taken over by Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the organiser of Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, in 2002.
Fignon remained organiser for races such as Paris–Corrèze. He criticised French cycling, lamenting in L'Equipe that, "The sports directors don't do a good job any more. They lack competence and don't have authority over their riders. The non-results of French teams are not only the consequences of doping," alluding to the stringent French doping control.
On his relationships with Cyrille Guimard and Bernard Hinault, Fignon said that with Bernard Hinault, Guimard already found a champion, whereas with himself, Guimard made a champion. Therefore his bond with Guimard was stronger than Hinault's bond with Guimard.
Fignon wrote an autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
entitled Nous étions jeunes et insouciants ("We were young and carefree"), which was released in June 2009.
Death
In June 2009, Fignon revealed that he was undergoing chemotherapy for metastaticMetastasis
Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...
cancer. He also admitted to having used banned drugs amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
s and cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
. Fignon's cancer was diagnosed in April 2009 after being found in his digestive system.
In January 2010, his doctors discovered that the cancer originated in his lungs
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
. He died of the disease at 12.30 pm local time on 31 August 2010, aged 50 at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital
The Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital is a teaching hospital located in Paris, France. Part of the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, it is one of Europe's largest hospitals...
in Paris.
His funeral took place on 3 September 2010 at the Père Lachaise cemetery, Paris, where he was later cremated. His ashes were placed in the columbarium of the same cemetery almost nine months after his death. He is survived by both parents. He is also survived by his son and daughter from his first marriage, which ended in divorce in 2000. He was married to his second wife from 2008 until his death.
Significant victories by year
1982 Renault-Elf-Gitane- 1st, Critérium NationalCritérium InternationalThe Critérium International is a two-day bicycle stage race held in France every spring. It was formerly known as the Critérium National de la Route, first run in 1932....
- 1st, Flèche Azuréene
- 1st, Garancières-en-BeauceGarancières-en-BeauceGarancières-en-Beauce is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
- 1st, GP de Cannes
- 1st, Stage 1 TTT Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
1983 Renault-Elf-Gitane
-
1st Overall, Tour de France1983 Tour de FranceThe 1983 Tour de France was the 70th Tour de France, run from 1 to 22 July 1982 in 22 stages and a prologue, over a total distance of 3862 km., won by French rider Laurent Fignon. Sean Kelly of Ireland won the green jersey, and Lucien Van Impe of Belgium won the polka dot jersey...
(and stage 21 win) - 1st, Grand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-MorbihanGrand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in May around Plumelec, in the region of Brittany, France. Since 2005, the race is organized as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, also being part of the Coupe de France de cyclisme sur route.-Name of the race:-...
- Stage, Tirreno–Adriatico
- Stage, Critérium International
- Stage, Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
1984 Renault (Gitane)
- 1st Overall, Tour de France1984 Tour de FranceThe 1984 Tour de France was the 71st Tour de France, run over 4020.9 km in 23 stages and a prologue, from 29 June to 22 July 1984.French rider Laurent Fignon won his second consecutive Tour, beating former teammate Bernard Hinault by over 10 minutes. Hinault was pursuing his fifth Tour...
(and stage 7, 16, 18, 20 and 22 wins) - 1st mountains classificationKing of the MountainsThe King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...
, 2nd Overall, Giro d'Italia1984 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1984 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 67th running or the race, was held from 17 May to 10 June 1984, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Francesco Moser, who took over the lead from Laurent Fignon in the final stage...
(and stage 20 win) - French National Road Race Championships
1986 Systeme U (Gitane)
- 1st, La Flèche WallonneLa Flèche WallonneLa Flèche Wallonne is a major men's professional cycle road race held in April each year in Belgium.The first of two Belgian Ardennes classics, La Flèche Wallonne is today normally held mid-week between the Amstel Gold Race and Liège–Bastogne–Liège...
- Stage, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré
1987 Systeme U (Gitane)
- Two stages, Paris–Nice
- 3rd Overall, Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
(and stage) - 7th Overall, Tour de France1987 Tour de FranceThe 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h...
(and stage 21 win)
1988 Systeme U (Gitane)
- 1st, Milan – San Remo
- Stage, Critérium International
- 1st, Paris–Camembert
1989 Super U (Raleigh)
-
1st Overall, Giro d'Italia1989 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :...
(and stage 20 win) - 1st, Milan – San Remo
- 2nd Overall, Tour de France1989 Tour de FranceThe 1989 Tour de France was the 76th Tour de France, a race of 21 stages and a prologue, over 3285 km in total. In the closest tour in history, Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds at the start of the final stage, a time trial into Paris. LeMond rode for an average speed of 54.55 km/h ,...
(Combativity awardCombativity awardThe combativity award, , is a prize given in the Tour de France. It favours constant attackers and since 1981 the winner of the award has not won the whole Tour.- History :...
and stage 18 win) - 1st Overall, Ronde van NederlandRonde van NederlandThe Ronde van Nederland is a road bicycle racing stage-race in the Netherlands, founded in 1948. It's an annual race since 1975. Because of the start of the UCI ProTour in 2005 the tour was replaced by the Eneco Tour of Benelux....
- 1st, Grand Prix des NationsGrand Prix des NationsThe Grand Prix des Nations was an individual time trial for professional racing cyclists. Held annually in France, it was instituted in 1932 and often regarded as the unofficial time trial championship of the world and as a Classic cycle race. The race was the idea of a Parisian newspaper editor...
- 1st, Trofeo BaracchiTrofeo BaracchiThe Trofeo Baracchi was a major Italian cycling race that ran for 50 years. It was created by Mino Baracchi, in memory of his father Angelo who was a great cycle racing fan. Originally an amateur individual time trial, from 1944 it was open to professionals and became a major event on the...
(with Thierry MarieThierry MarieThierry Marie is a former French cyclist. Marie had a very good prologue: he won the Tour de France prologue three times in his career, and because of that he wore the yellow jersey in those three years, for seven days in total.- Major victories :1985198719881989- Tour de France :*1985 - 67th*1986...
)
1990 Castorama (Raleigh)
- 1st, Critérium International
1991 Castorama (Raleigh)
- 6th Overall, Tour de France1991 Tour de FranceThe 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *...
1992 Gatorade (Bianchi)
- 23rd Overall, Tour de France1992 Tour de FranceThe 1992 Tour de France was the 79th Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 26, 1992. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3983 km, with riders averaging 39.504 km/h...
(and stage 11 win)
1993 Gatorade (Bianchi)
- 1st Overall, Ruta Mexico
Grand Tours overall classification results timeline
| Grand Tour | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vuelta a España The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages... |
- 1982 Vuelta a España The 37th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 20 to May 9, 1982. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3456 km, and was won by Marino Lejarreta of the Teka cycling team.The Reynolds team controlled the race after team... |
7 1983 Vuelta a España The 38th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 19 to May 8, 1983... |
- 1984 Vuelta a España The 39th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 17 to May 6, 1984. It consisted of 19 stages covering a total of 3,593 km, and was won by Éric Caritoux of the Skil-Sem cycling team... |
- 1985 Vuelta a España The 40th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from 23 April to 12 May 1985... |
7 1986 Vuelta a España The 41st Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 22 to May 13, 1986. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3,666 km, and was won by Álvaro Pino of the Zor cycling team.... |
3 1987 Vuelta a España The 42nd Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 23 to May 15, 1987. It consisted of 22 stages covering a total of 3,921 km, and was won by Luis Herrera of the Café de Colombia cycling team... |
- 1988 Vuelta a España The 1988 Vuelta a España was the 43rd Vuelta a España, taking place from April 25 to May 15, 1988. It consisted of 20 stages over 3425 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.506 km/h... |
- 1989 Vuelta a España The 44th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 24 to May 15, 1989. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3656 km, and was won by Pedro Delgado of the Reynolds cycling team.Pedro Delgado had won the previous Tour de France... |
- 1990 Vuelta a España The 45th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 24 to May 15, 1990. It consisted of 21 stages covering a total of 3711 km, and was won by Marco Giovannetti of the Seur cycling team.Defending champion Pedro Delgado was the... |
- 1991 Vuelta a España The 46th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 29 to May 19, 1991. It consisted of 20 stages covering a total of 3215 km, and was won by Melchor Mauri of the ONCE cycling team.Miguel Induráin, Laudelino Cubino and Anselmo Fuerte... |
- 1992 Vuelta a España The 47th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 27 to May 17, 1992... |
- 1993 Vuelta a España The 48th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 26 to May 15, 1993. It consisted of 20 stages covering a total of 3605 km, and was won by Tony Rominger of the Clas-Cajastur cycling team.Tony Rominger, winner of the previous... |
Giro d'Italia The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar... |
15 1982 Giro d'Italia The 1982 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 13 May to 6 June 1982, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Bernard Hinault.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:*Maglia ciclamino: Francesco Moser... |
- 1983 Giro d'Italia The 1983 Giro d'Italia was held from 12 May to 5 June 1983. It was won by the Giuseppe Saronni.This 66th edition covered 3,916 km, for a total of 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 38.9 km/h.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :... |
2 1984 Giro d'Italia The 1984 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 67th running or the race, was held from 17 May to 10 June 1984, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Francesco Moser, who took over the lead from Laurent Fignon in the final stage... |
- 1985 Giro d'Italia The 1985 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 9 June 1985, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 3,998 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.89 km/h... |
- 1986 Giro d'Italia The 1986 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 69th edition of the race, was held from 12 May to 2 June 1986. It covered a total of 3,858 km at an average speed of 37.615 km/h, in 22 stages... |
- 1987 Giro d'Italia The 1987 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 70th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 13 June 1987, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Stephen Roche.The defending champion Roberto Visentini returned with a strong team to win his second Giro... |
- 1988 Giro d'Italia The 1988 Giro d'Italia was the 71st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours.The Giro started off in Urbino on 23 May. The route included notable climbs such as the Passo di Gavia, the Campitello Matese, the Chiesa in Valmalenco, and the Passo san Marco... |
1 1989 Giro d'Italia The 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :... |
WD 1990 Giro d'Italia The 1990 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 73rd running of the race, was held from 18 May to 6 June 1990. It covered 3,450 km, for a total of 21 stages, and was completed at an average speed of 37.609 km/h.... |
WD 1991 Giro d'Italia The 1991 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 74th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 26 May to 16 June 1991. It covered 3,715 km completed at an average speed of 37.03 km/h, for a total of 21 stages... |
37 1992 Giro d'Italia The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h... |
- 1993 Giro d'Italia The 1993 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 76th edition of the race, was held from 23 May to 13 June 1993, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,703 km, completed at an average speed of 37.723 km/h... |
Tour de France The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The... |
- 1982 Tour de France The 1982 Tour de France was the 69th Tour de France, taking place July 2 to July 25, 1982. The total race distance was 22 stages over 2179 miles , with riders averaging 23.649 mph... |
1 1983 Tour de France The 1983 Tour de France was the 70th Tour de France, run from 1 to 22 July 1982 in 22 stages and a prologue, over a total distance of 3862 km., won by French rider Laurent Fignon. Sean Kelly of Ireland won the green jersey, and Lucien Van Impe of Belgium won the polka dot jersey... |
1 1984 Tour de France The 1984 Tour de France was the 71st Tour de France, run over 4020.9 km in 23 stages and a prologue, from 29 June to 22 July 1984.French rider Laurent Fignon won his second consecutive Tour, beating former teammate Bernard Hinault by over 10 minutes. Hinault was pursuing his fifth Tour... |
- 1985 Tour de France The 1985 Tour de France was the 72nd Tour de France, taking place June 28 to July 21, 1985, over 4109 km in 22 stages and a prologue.Bernard Hinault would attempt to equal the records of Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx who had each won the Tour de France five times. Hinault was unable to... |
WD 1986 Tour de France The 1986 Tour de France was the 73rd Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 27, 1986. The total race distance was 4094 km, distributed over 23 stages and a prologue. It was won by Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour... |
7 1987 Tour de France The 1987 Tour de France was the 74th Tour de France, taking place from July 1 to July 26, 1987. It consisted of 25 stages over 4231 km, ridden at an average speed of 36.645 km/h... |
WD 1988 Tour de France The 1988 Tour de France was the 75th Tour de France, taking place from July 4 to July 24, 1988. It consisted of 22 stages over 3281 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.909 km/h... |
2 1989 Tour de France The 1989 Tour de France was the 76th Tour de France, a race of 21 stages and a prologue, over 3285 km in total. In the closest tour in history, Greg LeMond was behind by 50 seconds at the start of the final stage, a time trial into Paris. LeMond rode for an average speed of 54.55 km/h ,... |
WD 1990 Tour de France The 1990 Tour de France was the 77th Tour de France, taking place June 30 to July 22, 1990. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3504 km, with riders averaging 38.62 km/h... |
6 1991 Tour de France The 1991 Tour de France was the 78th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 28, 1991. The total race distance was 22 stages over 3914 km, with riders averaging 38.747 km/h.-Stages:-General classification:-External links:* *... |
23 1992 Tour de France The 1992 Tour de France was the 79th Tour de France, taking place July 4 to July 26, 1992. The total race distance was 21 stages over 3983 km, with riders averaging 39.504 km/h... |
WD 1993 Tour de France The 1993 Tour de France was the 80th Tour de France, taking place July 3 to July 25, 1993. It consisted of 20 stages, over 3714.3 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.709 km/h.... |
WD = Withdrew