Supposedly, Laurent Fignon was once asked: “Aren’t you the guy who lost the Tour de France by 8 seconds?” “No,” Fignon answered, “I’m the guy who won it twice.”
Indeed, his first Tour de France victory in 1983 was, incredibly, his first attempt at the famous race – and in only his second year as a pro.
At just 22 Fignon became the youngest Tour winner since 1933, announcing himself as a racer of style, audacity and insouciance. He won again in 1984.
But “The Professor” (so nicknamed because of his preference to race wearing spectacles) will forever be remembered for losing the 1989 Tour, arguably the event’s greatest ever race.
Fignon held a 50 second lead over his rival, Greg LeMond, going into the final stage. Riding after LeMond, Fignon contrived to lose 58 seconds and, amid scenes of unprecedented drama, lost by 8 seconds – still the narrowest margin in Tour history.
Until that moment Fignon had always backed up his arrogant and outspoken manner with success on the podium, but after that defeat he was never quite the same racer again.
Sadly Fignon died last summer after suffering with cancer. Poignantly, in an interview in Paris-Match magazine, Fignon said: “I don’t want to die at 50 but if my cancer is incurable, what can I do? I love life, I love a good laugh, travel, books, good food. I’m a typical Frenchman. I’m not afraid of death, I just don’t want to die.”
History, it’s said, only remembers the winners. Yet the heart always remembers its favourites and here at Albam fond memories of this great – and successful – racer are still very much alive.
Posted by Alex at 8:45am