RIP Fig Newton!
August 31, 2010
The great French cycling champion Laurent Fignon has died at the age of 50 from cancer.
As Velonews notes, he was French National Champion in 1984, took the Milan-SanRemo in 1988 and 1989 and Fleche Wallonne in 1986.
Fignon won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984 and the Giro de Italia in 1989.
Great rider, very classy.
He also had the honor of participating in one of the very best moments in sport, ever. The final day of the 1989 TdF found Fignon ahead of Greg Lemond by 50 seconds. That year the final day was a 25 km time trial- single riders against the clock, no drafting involved. Watching that stage coverage was certainly the greatest moment in sports that I have ever watched. Lemond beat Fignon by 58 seconds to win the 1989 Tour, as it happens, but Fignon was visibly battling the whole way. It was epic.
DrugMonkey 
August 31, 2010 at 5:29 pm
“It was epic.”
Yes it was, and even though he wasn’t the greatest teammate to LeMond, he was a fantastic competitor. It is a said day.
LikeLike
August 31, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I don’t think Fignon was ever on the same team as LeMond?
Perhaps you are confusing him with Hinault and the 1985/1986 Tours.
LikeLike
September 1, 2010 at 8:06 am
do’h! sorry – yes, I did. The rest of my post still stands. now to slink off and hope to have a more accurate day.
LikeLike