R.I.P. Laurent Fignon

[Roman]

Just heard the news that two time TdF winner Laurent Fignon has finally lost his battle with cancer:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycli...

As well as being one of the most aggressive riders he was also one of the coolest. I remember a photo of him after one particularly arduous stage decadently cooling his feet with a couple of bottles of chilled, sparkling Perrier water!

R.I.P. Laurent.

Edited by Roman on Wednesday 1st September 10:03

[Steve_F]

Hadn't heard about this yet. He looked like he was doing ok when they spoke to him on the Tour.

R.I.P and thoughts with his family.

[Busamav]

thats very sad news , only 50 too


I remember seeing a bike shop in Oxford close its doors on a Saturday night some years ago , the shop window was dressed in Fignon clothing and matching bike .....
with the title " this is what won this years tour " only for Lemond to snatch victory the very next day .

RIP

[CVP]

Sad news. I still remember vividly the battle between him and Greg Lemond for the Tour. It is one of those moments of sporting history that transcends the bounds of being relevant only to the followers fo that particlaur sport and becomes the embodiment of the sport to a much wider outside viewership. There it was mano a mano, 3 weeks of head to head and 8 seconds was the gap at the end. Great days

[itsnotarace]

Saddened to hear this, I didn't even realise he was ill

[Get Karter]

CVP said:

Sad news. I still remember vividly the battle between him and Greg Lemond for the Tour. It is one of those moments of sporting history that transcends the bounds of being relevant only to the followers fo that particlaur sport and becomes the embodiment of the sport to a much wider outside viewership. There it was mano a mano, 3 weeks of head to head and 8 seconds was the gap at the end. Great days

I agree, and further to that, I reckon LeMond's success with tri-bars and aero helmet in that final 1989 stage was the catalyst for the massive modernisation in bikes and equipment that has occurred since.

And yes, terrible news that such a great sportsman has died so young.

[CVP]

Get Karter said:

snip
I reckon LeMond's success with tri-bars and aero helmet in that final 1989 stage was the catalyst for the massive modernisation in bikes and equipment that has occurred since.

snip

Agreed, at the time no one thought tri-bars would give Lemond an advantage and then after that suddenly they are everywhere. Aero bars got modified to the little Spinachi's (?sp) which then got banned from mass start racing and the constant evolution of kit since then.

[funkyrobot]

I can't believe that i've only just found out about this. Terrible news. I knew had was ill with cancer but didn't realise he passed away the other day.

I have just read that he discussed a possible link between his doping and the cancer in his later life. I wonder if any other dopers will be a little worried now.

RIP Laurent - the man who lost the Tour by 8 seconds!

[mcelliott]

Sad news indeed. Was working for French TV on this year's Tour - a very gritty character. Always rode the bike with great penache, duking out with Hinault and Lemond. Who could forget the '89 Tour. As regards to the final Champs Elysee time trial, although Lemond was probably the strongest rider (and having the tri-bars), Fignon was nursing a really bad saddle sore which did compromise his position on the bike. So who know what the result would have been if he had been fit. But he did look like a broken man on the podium. After that, he was never a major force.

RIP The Professor

[Get Karter]

Worth a read.

Short piece by Robert Miller on Laurent Fignon:-


http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/robert-millar-reme...

[sillyPLASTICcar]

RIP Laurent.

Tragic at any age...but 50!!!