142 Lega>>>>cies # 5 0 : Fignon: Laurent Life of the man after he was a champion. champion. wasa he after man the of Life Words: Jean-François Quenet by many for aloss We rathermany successes. his than consider legacy the Frenchman. of this was able to save of of life the French the Tour the winner two- de who is remembered 31On Laurent August, Fignon from died at cancer age the of 50. Not even Armstrong Lance O his his and service military their during Fignon’s team-mate be to used He friends. of Fignon’s one closest was who Gallopin Alain sportif directeurs of Armstrong’s one – later, of gentlemen. made is winners of Tour France de circle small the that evening that discovered Armstrong dinner. for him invited and alone was he that heard Nathalie, time, at the wife his and Fignon US. the to returning before presentation team’s the following in anight spend to had he cancer, battling was he because race to unable but with contracted stage. final the in defeat after seconds eight by lost he which 1989 Tour the for France de famous remains he to 1993 – yet 1982 from –spanning career his during conquests many were American. another by defeated was Frenchman the avenue that famous this on was It one. dramatic most the or , in loss greatest the as remember many of what site the It’s also careers. cycling of their pinnacle the experienced have of them both where Champs-Elysées the to close ahotel in morning following the breakfast for Fignon Laurent with appointment an had also ‘brand’. Armstrong Livestrong the from others flag, national the from some of colours, amix in aTrek painted bike Republic French of the president the tooffer there were RadioShack from pair The Sarkozy. Nicolas with arendezvous for Bruyneel Johan with Paris to flew Armstrong –Lance of form lack and gastroenteritis to –due Remo of -San list start the from Initially, when it was detected in May 2009, doctors said it was it was said doctors 2009, May in detected it was when Initially, disappearing. cancer of his chance little was There colleagues. French their as treatments same the advised and diagnosis same the made doctors American the because dying to close was he that understood Fignon April, in to France returned he When US. the in specialists cancer best the with Fignon for n fighting Thirteen years – and seven wins plus an incredible comeback comeback incredible an plus wins seven –and years Thirteen 1997, was in he when that remembered always Armstrong There cycling. in enigma an and entertainer an was Fignon In the presence of Gallopin, Lance organised appointments appointments organised Lance of Gallopin, presence the In 22 M 22 soigneur to the end arch and effectively a personal coach later on. later coach apersonal effectively and

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Fignon Laurent PHOTO: Graham Watson Graham PHOTO: # 5 0 143 LGALLERYegacies s s e e ci ci >>>> ega ega L #47 L

wasn’t yet keen to sell her business. Therefore, Fignon set his Laurent Fignon was so proud of his achievements as a sight on fun rides, xpredominantly for wealthy cyclists. champion cyclist that he hardly accepted the idea that big He was full of ideas to develop cycling in general. He wasn’t companies wouldn’t necessarily adhere to his projects as a race short of cash but wouldn’t mind earning some extra money as organiser. When he had an appointment, he got pissed off if he he realised mass cycling could eventually be a lucrative had to wait. During his days of glory as a racer, he amazed the proposition. With Gallopin and a couple of associates, he people with his punctuality. While journalists, for example, placed barricades along roadsides and drew routes in the region normally had to wait for riders to have finished their dinner or of Ile-de-France, the department that has Paris at its core. But their massage, Fignon was always ready for the interview at the the double winner of the Tour de France was definitely not in exact time agreed. his normal universe with leisure cyclists. In public Fignon was often cranky, but in a small circle he “Me! To be insulted because I didn’t sweep the ground? No was talkative, creative, interesting and even friendly when he thanks,” he said when he gave up after two years of organising described his races and his cycling world. However, he remained these rides in prestigious venues. “I wasn’t gonna work all my puzzling because anyone who thought they had broken the ice life for guys who just don’t want to respect the highway codes with Fignon would discover a block of ice had reformed a day while riding their bikes!” later. His friends say that was a result of him being shy. Professional cyclists also didn’t respect all the codes as they “I’ve understood that looking for money wasn’t my forte, doped so much in the – the EPO years – so the timing but organising… I like that for sure,” he admitted after a couple wasn’t exactly the most favourable when Leulliot eventually of failures. But he always persisted. He was full of ideas. He accepted an offer for Paris-Nice. It was in 1999, just one year loved the roads of the Limousin region in the centre of France after the Affair struck – a time when sponsors were and launched a short stage race called Paris-Corrèze in 2001. reluctant to invest in cycling. To become a race organiser, That was during the time was the French Fignon was prepared to pay from his own pocket. “Do you president, when many decisions for the country were taken in know many cycling champions who invest the money they won the Corrèze province where he used to be elected by the on the bike to help make the next generation race?” farmers. It’s a very traditional, rural area and quite different It was typical Fignon: harsh, honest, and caustic with from Fignon’s Parisian origins. sarcasm. He added more insults with his appraisal. “There are In Corrèze, he teamed up with Max Mamers, a former race plenty of former riders who ask for a job as a chauffeur!” car driver, a record holder for a lap at the 24 Hours of Le Fignon organising the 57th edition of Paris-Nice in 2000 Mans, and now an organiser of different events. Had Fignon was like the rekindling of a tradition. As he commentated bike met Mamers earlier, he might not have failed in the organisation races for in the 1990s – something he’d do again for of Paris-Nice, but after only two editions of the week-long the Belgian broadcaster RTBF in 2004 and, eventually, for event contested in March each year, he was forced to sell the France Television from 2006 until a month before his death – race to ASO. He regretfully did this and cashed in 300,000 Able to conjure a smile… he conceived ‘the race to the sun’ so that it would be good to euros less than what he had paid for it but, in typical style, he Fignon insists that he never cried watch and talk about during the coverage on television. didn’t just do the business. He also threatened to not sell any about cycling until that moment on the Champs-Elysées in 1989. The legendary promoter and director of the Tour de France more and publicly accused ASO representatives of being Still, after the tears were shed, from 1936 to 1986, , designed his race routes dishonest, something he later apologised for after he eventually he joined LeMond and Pedro in order to make the race compelling and interesting enough to met Patrice Clerc, the ASO president at the time. Delgado on the Parisian podium write about in . Similarly, the current Tour director But in reality, he took some revenge as he had a personal (left) in relatively good spirits considering the situation. found that he used to get a little bored issue with Daniel Baal, the former president of the French His final years as a rider were doing his previous job, commentating on bike races for Cycling Federation. Baal was the director of cycling at ASO with the Gatorade team (above). television. He now looks for routes that are likely to create prior to being replaced by Prudhomme while general director of He won a stage of the Tour in movements in the race. ASO and now retired Jean-Marie Leblanc opted not to conduct 1992 after an epic escape and retired the following year. The 2000 Paris-Nice provided a relaunch of the career of any negotiation directly with Fignon. Both Baal and Prudhomme >> When he concluded his career at the end of 1993, he was after the Festina Affair. The Frenchman did not respect each other. The reason for this is complex but truth. At the end of one argument, Fignon took a final swipe: sick of cycling. Although he didn’t mind taking the available won the prologue and finished second overall behind a young some of it stemmed from Fignon’s time as a rider when Leblanc “I have won the Tour twice!” Jalabert couldn’t make such a drugs of his time in the , upon a time, as he explained revelation – and future runner-up to Armstrong at the Tour de – as a journalist – suggested in L’Equipe that the knee operation claim – he had worn the maillot jaune, but never won it – and The Moment of devastation… in his biography ‘We Were Young and Carefree’, he had refused France – Andreas Klöden. The course was full of subtleties, he needed was a consequence of doping substances he abused. somehow it meant that Fignon was right and Jalabert wasn’t. For all his conquests on the bike, the EPO he was offered at his Gatorade-sponsored team in the like the feedzone sometimes located at the bottom of a hill to The disputes of the two Laurents didn’t last, more for the it was the final minutes of the last two years of his career. During his time on the Italian give incentive to the riders eager to forsake their musette and Fignon never had a problem saying what he thought. It interest of everyone – especially their employer – but while also Tour de France that he lost for which Laurent Fignon is remem- squad he realised this sport was badly affected by a new form attack instead of opting to take on food. became a public affair when he joined France Television for the commentating on radio network , Fignon always bered most by many fans. His of cheating: . The atmostphere surrounding cycling was not one of live commentary of the Tour in 2006. He was in the studio at wanted to have the last word. Despite this, he had no problem lead over Greg LeMond at the He was sick of the narrow-minded members of the cycling enthusiasm after the Festina Affair. But Fignon gave the true the finishing line alongside Prudhomme’s replacement Thierry using bad judgement, in the event that he may not be able to start of the time trial on the last community as well. Recently retired, he decided to travel, to cycling lovers something to help them believe in their sport Adam while called in updates from the pillion prove what he was trying to explain. day of the 1989 edition seemed unassailable but the Frenchman take part in the adventure of the Raid Gauloises in South again. Unfortunately, the 2000 Paris-Nice was organised position of a motorbike on the course. Probably as a result of his illness – as he was aware that he faltered by just eight seconds America and he found a new passion: playing golf. Quickly, he without sponsors. And it was not only because cycling was not In the second Pyrenean stage, Jalabert said that the attitude would die soon – Fignon regularly criticised the actors of the (below). got bored of all that and wondered, “What could I do that attractive in the publicity stakes: Fignon’s personality was of the T-Mobile team was generous as they got the whole team . His favourite targets were always the would drive me with the same level of passion as competitive another reason why sponsors didn’t come on board. “Some including pacing at the front of the bunch. French riders, and in particular. When he cycling at the highest level?” He was not a man who would company directors accepted to meet me but although they Fignon was prompt to respond curtly, “It’s not generous, it’s saw the 39-year-old sprinting at the top of a mountain even accept invitations for being the guest of honour at cycling knew they’d never sponsor my race, they took the opportunity stupid! Klöden will remain isolated too early.” though there were no more points to collect for the climbing events, or gather with the old greats at banquets to remember to get to know me in person as a celebrity,” he realised. Fignon was right. That’s what happened. Had T-Mobile classification, Fignon’s appraisal made the veteran rider like the good old times. He was a man of action! A natural fighter, One of his apparent potential sponsors welcomed him raced smartly, not only on that occasion, Klöden would have an absolute idiot. Moreau responded in a post-race interview the he was destined to become an event organiser. He was never saying, “I recognised you! You’re the guy who lost the Tour de won the and the never-ending Floyd following day. He was careful, however, not to try and prove he afraid of handling responsibilities. France for eight seconds!” Landis saga might have never taken shape. was as smart as Caisse d’Epargne’s Yvon As early as in 1995, he had the idea to take over from Josette Fignon’s response was frosty. “You’re totally wrong. I’m the The Fignon-vs-Jalabert battle on the microphones became Ledanois who used to be Fignon’s training partner and Leulliot as the director of Paris-Nice. A fight against the guy who won it twice.” intriguing. Jalabert, who was never very popular in his racing team-mate at Castorama in 1990 and 1991. Ledanois told monopoly of the biggest promoter, ASO, was a natural fit for days, wanted to please the general public by being nice about Moreau to take it easy and understand that Fignon’s words were Fignon but the daughter of the founder of ‘the race to the sun’ ***** the cyclists. Fignon, on the other hand, always chose to say the so strong only because he was close to the end of his life. >> PHOTOS: Graham Watson

144 #50 #50 145 A18_Ride_03.pdf 1 10-09-17 4:38 PM s

e Fignon did not appreciate and being so polite to each other… After the microphones

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>> As a fighter himself, one who never exchanged any gift with or Greg LeMond, Fignon did not appreciate Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador being so polite to each other. He was terribly critical of Schleck when, as the wearer of C

the yellow jersey, he went back to his team car to collect bidons M for himself and his team-mates. Fignon was adamant that it was a loss of energy and he’d pay for it later. Others in the Y

convoy noted that the race was going very slow at that time, CM suggesting that it wouldn’t harm the race leader who had found a way to look friendly in doing what he did. He illustrated that MY

he never took the role of team captain too seriously. CY After the microphones were switched off, Thierry Adam told Fignon he was maybe a bit harsh with his criticisms. The CMY

A star Through the ages… former Tour de France champion answered him, “Oh Titi, it’s K Fignon was the best young rider and okay! Possibly in one month from now, I’ll be dead.” overall winner of his debut Tour. One month, that’s the remaining time he had to be alive Despite setbacks after his two wins, he would famously challenge for the after giving his final fight: the 2010 Tour de France. Laurent yellow jersey again in 1989 (right). Fignon knew the cancer was unlike any cycling champion he PHOTOS: Graham Watson rode against: it was unbeatable. n Jean-François Quenet Fignon’s racing record... Nine months after he broke a crank in front of a huge number still not enough for Fignon to be ranked among the favourites of television viewers in the finale of Blois-Chaville that he was of the Tour, for the team was considered the one to probably going to win in 1982, Laurent Fignon was not named beat. It had an Anglo-Saxon contingent made up of Phil as a favourite for the 1983 Tour de France despite the absence Anderson, Robert Millar, and but it of his team captain from -Elf, Bernard Hinault. was their French team-mate who took the yellow His debut as a pro was quite exceptional though, with a win jersey that he later had to surrender because of a broken at the National (now International) and a 15th place shoulder. This episode was an emotional one and in the eyes of overall plus second in stage three at the Giro d’Italia which he the public, Fignon ‘received’ his first yellow jersey rather than At rst glance, an Argon 18 is a striking sight for its unique, distinctive look. But an Argon 18 is more than weight rode at the service of Hinault. In 1983, he was again learning ‘earned’ it. However, he didn’t lose against the best climbers just another pretty bike; it’s also an exceptional example of current technologies, well-conceived and appropriately his job at Hinault’s side at the Vuelta a España – won for the and won the final TT in Dijon the day before celebrating his applied. These technological solutions are the end product of lengthy and involved thinking about the dynamic second time by ‘The Badger’. Fignon finished seventh overall in first Tour de France overall victory in Paris. properties most desirable in a bike. We have names for our exclusive design concepts and manufacturing methods: , won stage four and got two second and third places. In 1984, Fignon proved that he didn’t only win the Tour de AFS, HDS, S3, the 3D Headtube and ONEness Concept. Learning more about our technological innovations will give you a better understanding of why an Argon 18 oers a truly unique riding experience. Every Argon 18 model On the day of Fignon’s death, the first images that appeared France because Hinault wasn’t there. He should have won the rigidity comfort exhibits road manners found in no other bike and this, put simply, is the result of our ongoing quest for that elusive on Spanish television – without any commentary – were those Giro d’Italia that year but a combination of Italian forces made optimal balance. of the early days of his glory in Spain. It’s not only in that a winner. It was a fiasco with mountain he was remembered with respect although it’s in Italy that he stages being cancelled by race organiser Vincenzo Torriani optimal balance was first given the nickname Il Professore – The Professor. and a helicopter helping out the world hour record holder at Seventh in the Vuelta (contested in April at the time) was the time in the final time trial to Verona. It didn’t break >> FRF AUS 02 9559 9000 146 #50 FRF NZ 0800 373 769 www.argon18bike.com#50 147 s e ci >>>> ega L #47 THE 2011 F1... BUILT FROM THE INSIDE OUT

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Leaders of a generation… Fignon’s morale though as he dominated Hinault, who had had taken the advantage and enjoyed a lead of 50 seconds prior LeMond and Fignon were rivals become his adversary after joining the team. to the final time trial from Versailles to the Champs-Elysées throughout their careers. When The Badger reacted with pure pride and attacked at the that celebrated the 200 years of the French Revolution on a the Frenchman defended his Tour title in 1984 (above), the base of Alpe d’Huez. “He made me laugh,” Fignon stated right 24.5km course. As the Frenchman lost only 56 seconds to the American was third overall and after the stage, and that was the beginning of a misunderstanding American on the 73km course from Dinan to on stage won the white jersey as the best between the French public and him. He had tarnished the five, he thought he was fine… but he had a saddle sore aerobars young rider. image of the great Hinault and he would pay for the comment. was used by his rival. Eights seconds went missing and Fignon The Castorama years yielded some success for Fignon but he Never mind that Fignon beat Hinault in that Tour de France failed to win his third Tour de France. That made him more would never again find the sort by more than 10 minutes! It was absolute domination by the famous than anything else he did in his life. of winning form that he had when arrogant young Parisian. A blond with glasses who looked like Ironically, later that year, Fignon was denied the start at the he turned pro in 1982. an intellectual had dared to outclass the Breton farmer. GP because the aerobars he had subsequently Dark years followed Fignon’s glory. In 1985, he required adopted were declared illegal by the commissaires. surgery for an Achilles tendon before mounting a successful But it didn’t take him long to come back from his devastation comeback in 1986 by winning la Flèche Wallonne but pulled after losing the Tour. He went on training rides behind Alain out of the Tour that July in Pau, the same place where Hinault Gallopin’s scooter and was fit for the world championships in quit in 1980. In 1987, he finished third overall in Paris-Nice Chambéry which was contested one month after the Tour. He and the Vuelta a España and also won the stage to La Plagne at attacked in the Côte de la Montagnole although his compatriot the Tour. He was more remembered, however, for losing nine had a good chance to win had his lead minutes to Jean-François Bernard in the uphill TT to Mont group stayed away. Fignon, however, considered that he should Ventoux and he was passed in the GP des Nations time trial by not have to share the leadership with anybody else. Ah, then Introducing the world's most advanced road bike. It's 100 grams lighter and 40 % sti er than his team-mate at Système U, , who started eight LeMond came across and crucified Fignon once again! minutes behind and finished four minutes ahead! Fignon was never as competitive after that. In 1990, he the last generation F1--and that's just part of the story. We rewrote the rules of carbon ber In the mid-1980s, when cycling teams became more of a went to defend his Giro title but crashed in a tunnel and was engineering and designed the F1 from the inside out. The result is a bike that hungers for podi- business and Hinault was destined for La Vie Claire, set up by forced to pull out a few days later because of a micro-fracture ums. It also feasts on KOMs, sprints and breakaways--please feed daily. the adventurous French businessman , Fignon above his knee. The same problem made him abandon the became the first champ to own his own team, in conjunction Tour de France as well. The next year heralded his separation with directeur sportif . They sold space on the from Cyrille Guimard, who favoured another Castorama jerseys to Système U and Castorama but those sponsors didn’t rider, , at the Tour de France, where Fignon still For the complete story use your smartphone to scan this QR code or go to feltbicycles.com enjoy as much success as Fignon promised. finished sixth and proved that he wasn’t definitely done. Distributed in by Southcott Pty Ltd Freecall 1800 805 024 or 03 9580 7388 He won Milan-San Remo twice though (in 1988 and 1989), He secured his most lucrative contract with Gatorade as a and that second win signalled another restart for his career. team-mate of 1991 Tour de France runner-up . This was arguably his best year. He finally won the Giro and Fignon won stage 11 at the 1992 Tour de France for the Italian should have won the famous duel against his former team-mate squad but his good days were over and EPO made other riders Greg LeMond at the Tour de France. It was the battle of two stronger than him. He was sick of cycling when he retired at champions who had returned to peak condition and the yellow the GP Plouay in 1993 at the age of 33 after winning three jersey kept going from one to the other. In the , Fignon Grand Tours and Milan-San Remo twice. n Jean-François Quenet

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