You can say that again. ! Greg at his most best coming back from an insane shooting accident which really put things into perspective considering the fight - back that he made on a physical and psychological level that shows his credible endeavour and fight back not seen before in the history of cycling...!
I remember this well too, I was also an amateur competitive cyclist. Actually Greg averaged 34.6 mph which is amazing. I had heard that Laurent had congratulated Greg BEFORE the race on his SECOND place finish! Lesson here...don't count your chickens before the eggs are hatched.
One of the most memorable moments in sports history I've ever seen. The back and forth with the yellow jersey over the previous 2 weeks really set the stage for this moment.
Yeah, true - "the back and forth of the yellow jersey" And you know, as a side note, I almost also have this sense of gratitude to ADR, for giving Le Mond the chance. And as we're at it, to the TDF organisers who also allowed the wild card entry. Well, I think it was a wild card entry for ADR as they hadn't enough FICP points at the time, didn't they? Anyway...it was great to see the amount of publicity they did because they gave Le Mond the chance. It was a nice jersey too, even when not in yellow!!
One of the most important events in sports, not just because he prevails but also because Greg Lemond ushers in the modern era of cycling to the world!
This was the best. Fignon ,now deceased, lost the race but lost nothing in the hearts of millions. Greg introduced America to the Tour de France. I was in Paris on the final day of the 1981 tour and had no idea what was going on. I haven't missed a moment of coverage since Greg and Bernard Hinault raced. The Tour is the greatest event in sports.
Not only that, disc wheels are very hard to go through corners if the course is very technical. (That is why most riders now prefer a spoked deep carbon wheel in the front and a disc in the rear) Disc wheels are also known to be slightly heavier and chattery than spoked wheels.
I was in Paris last month. Finely, I undestand that the last miles of this time trial is the same of the circuit of the last stages of the last 15 year's tour de france
Shortly after this race, Bicycling Magazine did a story on it, and they determined somehow that if Fignon had cut his ponytail he would have saved 12 seconds and won the Tour. Amazing. This will always be the most iconic showdown in the history of cycling.
That was such an awesome moment. Probably the best ever for American cycling. I remember I was working at a bike shop on this day and some turkey (co-worker) came in and told us all who won, and we were all planning on watching it later on. But either way it's still so amazing. I still got tense watching it even though I knew the outcome.
I agree with pete. It is a shame one of them had to lose. This has to be the most exciting TDF ever. It wasn't decided until the last day of the tour. Well done by both bikers. So close.
socalrider909, thanks for this video. I still remember 21 years ago. A day before the race Fignon said to Greg "It was a good race Greg, good race, better luck next year. c'mon 50 seconds 25 km. c'mon. good race Greg, good race" smiling
I was there during that final time trial to Paris. I remember reading in a newspaper that the aero bars were allowed, but the aero helmet was not allowed because it was too long, hence the ADR team hacked off the tail end.
LeMond actually went back to the wind tunnel in San Diego many years later out of curiosity. They actually determined the aero helmet that Greg had on SLOWED him down by 6 seconds because it was like a parachute when he looked down. But the aerobars gave him about 8 secons faster. He would have practically broke even with no helmet and no aero bars.
Just found out the Fignon had died. Watching this live in 89 was a privilage and you understand without villians, you do't have heroes and Fignon was always cast as the villian. Lemond with Fignon was like apple pie without cream and although I was a big fan of Lemond, it's sad to see Fignon pass away at a young age..The dude abides.
Lemond changed the game forever. He got very scientific with physiology and equipment (certainly influenced by the US vs USSR olympic programs of the day) and those who didn't get on board got left behind. This race was example no. 1 and from then on any rider aspiring to win the TdF must base their whole season on that one race. Lance took LeMond's legacy and built on it. Wouldn't it be nice though, if there were another Merckx or Hinault who were competitive all season long...
what are you talking about he rode a faster time trial and fignon was ahead for the jersey when they started but lemond rode fast enough to make up that time.
EPO makes a 20% increase in sustainable power output and a 50% increase in submaximal ride to exhaustion tests. I think LeMond not using r-EPO probably had a factor. LeMond started the 1991 Tour de France at 150 pounds, 2 pounds over his 148 lb race weight. I doubt he backpedaled to 7th that year after winning with a lower sustainable power output the year before. Certainly he could have ridden better in 1992-94'.
My favourite TDF moment ever, remember it like it was yesterday. The old days where greatest. I agree with the comments about putting aside all arguments about bars, hair helmet etc, Lemond was just a better more powerful time trialist. Great video.
Thank you for this video. Fignon (RIP) was an arrogant prick throughout the race. And the French press were even more arrogant. And LeMond took him (and them) apart at the final run. I watched it in Italy. People there were going NUTS the whole final run. They really understand cycling. The best sports memory I have. No doping, no payoffs. Just skill and guts.
Don't forget--LeMond's team was so weak, they only got into the Tour because LeMond was a former winner. Fignon gained something like 50+ seconds in the team time trial. He had teammates with him through the whole race. I think Fignon lost one teammate and LeMond lost five. The bars had been used for months before this race. 7-Eleven had been using them. They were legal. To lose because of bad equipment choices is still fair and square.
People can speculate all they want. The bottom line is Lemond made up the time and won. He averaged over 34 mph for that time trail. A record that stood for many years. You can see that Fignon was struggling throughout the TT. He constantly stood up and never really had a good rhythm. It was one of the greatest moments in cycling.
Amazing stage, i was there at the finish line after following the race on my bike that year. I felt so sorry for Fignon at the time as I thought Lemond was arrogant after he said he would have won the 1987 tour if he had not missed it due to the shooting accident I have since looked back on this and respect Lemond for what was an incredible time trial.
Laurent was the "Bad Guy" back then to us Americans,, we held Greg leaving Guimard against him, Laurent was all Ego in '89 and on and on and on,,,,, BUT, what a wonderful rider. I hope to read his book. Cycling lost a good one in Mr. Fignon. Greg, Me hero forever from that day to this.
Fignon did not lose because of the handlebars. Had he worn his aero helmet, it would have made the difference in time. He also used two disc wheels to LeMond's one, which gained him time. If aerodynamics were so important, he would've worn that helmet. He knew the windtunnel tests showed an advantage, but he decided against it. It's history--LeMond won, Fignon, a great champion, but on this day, was beaten. I have great respect for both men.
Fignon had an excruciatingly painful saddle sore which made it hard for him even to sit - look at the way he keeps shifting in his saddle. But that, along with tri-bars, helmets and a million other things, is part of the Tour; you race fate, the course and yourself just as much as you do your competitors. 1989 was also the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. The French would have loved to have had a French winner that year. At least they got one with a French surname....
Hmm.... I said LeMond was the last great champion of Cycling; I didnt say Everyone who is faster than me dopes.... There's a difference there. LeMond's carreer was ended by racing too often and overtraining; not under-conditioning. Thats a common misconception. Its subject to opinion, but when someone goes down thats usually not arguable.
You right, it was a Laser. It was sent to Ten speed Drive Imports in Florida where it was re-rebadged it as a TVT Carbon LeMond for the WOrld Championships. LOL, its whatever Greg wanted it to be. This guy Bill Bove? Rode it around in the parking lot that year, 56 tooth chainring with the cracked disk wheel from LeMond's garage door. LOL. He said the bike was super-fast. Looks like ancient technology now but not really.... Thinks have not really changed.
He could have been but it's highly unlikely as he was one of the few riders who actually called for more testing and he had to end his career early because he refused to take anything for his injuries.
hey i talked with him last night at the el tour de tucson expo last week i was run over by a truck during a ride and he was honestly concerned a very nice man.
He was probably moving his head because being in the aero bars required him to be looking directly down at his front wheel. But yeah, it probably lost him half as much time as it gained him.
@JTN358AT Handlebars or not Greg Lemond rode at 54 km/h average speed, still the fastest time ever in a Tour de France TT. I think the defining thing was his superhuman fitness which no rider has surpassed even with all the technology improvements since. But it was surpising that Fignon chose to ride without an aero helmet too, never mind the bars. I can accept he would not want to change his riding position suddenly as a risky move, but the helmet/hair was not wise.
@baroh2413 The bars were not banned, the officials had a choice to allow or not allow the bars, they chose to let lemond use them.. Laurent even tried a similar bar prior to the final TT and he chose not to use them..
we have full versions on dvd of most Tour de France, Paris Roubaix and World championships from the mid 80's to early 1990's. I have already edited out all commercials. You can PM me for more info..
thats hard to say thats all to do with pedal power wich wasnt being measured. it also has to do with wieght and fignon is heavier the lemond but who knows how that would have gone.
LeMond raced clean the whole way though except for some anti-inflamitory prescriptions to treat a knee injury. Corticoids. LeMond's ability was steady start to finish. He was elite Mens World Champion before the first recorded Blood doping in 1984. Also, the Pro Cycling world lagged when it came to doping and EPO use didnt start until 1991.
Does anyone know where one can get a decent copy of the 1989 race, and I don't mean the boring version put out by Famous Cyling videos. I purchased that as soon as it hit the market in 1990 and immediately went back to watching the faded, static-ridden tapes I'd had from the television broadcast.
LeMond was a total saint when it came to drugs and he even left PDM when one of the riders was busted for testosterone. EPO gives a 20% power increase in almost everyone, so a clean super-freak like LeMond has no chance in hell against a marginally talented rider doped on EPO. It was the end of an era and a very sad end to a genetic freak's career.
I dont care about Armstrong he has nothing to do with this video. Yeah so is Indurain but people have there suspicions about him. I'm not arguing that LeMond wasn't a great cyclist because he was, and his physical attributes are impressive, I'm just saying, knowing all we know about the 90's and 00's with wide spread doping and improved technology/nutrition/training, that for this to still be the fastest ITT in my view makes him suspicious.
I can understand having that opinion. The thing I keep thinking about though is that Im watching a presumably clean (hes tested SO much) Lance Armstrong, at 37 years of age, with not even a years worth of training, still sitting 3rd in the overall to a guy that might be the most talented cyclist ever, whos in the prime of his career. I think theres a reasonable possibility that Lance just had more heart than anyone else in those 7 Tours.
