Laurent Fignon RIP

iainf72

Fignon's wife was interview today

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5520/ ... -rest.aspx

RichN95.

knedlicky wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

knedlicky wrote:

His flair included a Ferrari and an Audi 200 Quattro, but his joie de vivre didn't include alcohol or meat, apart from occasionally ham. Probably no red wine or red meat was one of the reasons he had to take iron tablets, to help the blood carry more oxygen, like all anemic people (so not doping).

That's not what he says in his book. A few stories of all-night sessions in there.

I haven't read his book, but Fignon said in an interview about 1987-1988 that he never touched alcohol because he didn't like the taste of either beer or wine. Maybe his tastes changed later?

The stories seemed to be from before then - one of them being an all-nighter with Hinault as a neo-pro during a minor stage race. Maybe he'd gone teetotal by 87.

frenchfighter

I think he will be buried in thge famous Parisian Cemetery Pere Lechaise

http://www.grassyknolltv.com/2010/vuelt ... R2HVOO.jpg

Edit:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/fignon- ... s-cemetery

frenchfighter

Great collection of photos:
http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/08/ ... 989-fignon

frenchfighter

“Ah, I remember you, you’re the guy who lost the Tour by eight seconds.”
Fignon : “No monsieur, I’m the guy who won it twice.

Tusher

So sad to see the early passing of such a hero.

Richrd2205

Dave_1 wrote:

interesting Iain....when will we see the money earners who spend half the year on holiday do a Fignon and make a serious challenge for the Paris Roubaix and Milan San Remo titles in the same season they go to win the Giro and TDF..cycle racing died a death when Fignon left the sport...the end of that era completely, of complete riders...then again dodging blood tests that come with races probably encouraged that sort of prep. Contador's DNF of the 2nd half this season is an absolute disgrace, Armstrong a disgrace too for same attitude...take the money and walk. Evans could win Paris Roubaix, hope he goes for it out of respect to Fignon...not many serious crashes happen at PR so these fragile primadonas should be obliged to do full seasons

I don't often agree with your posts, Dave, but I think that this really sums up a lot of how I have felt since learning of Fignon's death. Thank you. You sum it up really well.
I was on holiday when he died & read of it in the papers. The Guardian carried some really well written pieces (well, apart from the factual errors): Wliiliam Fotheringham's is really quite fitting; & the initial piece in the sports pages was quite touching.

RIP, Laurent. & best wishes to your friends & family.

(from the linked articles)

William Fotheringham wrote:

Fignon's main premise was that cycling was "a living, breathing art", a world that created "complete men rather than just sportsmen"

Nicolas Sarkozy wrote:

During the last Tour de France, which he covered with total passion and beyond human endurance, Fignon showed he was a man who knew how to face his last battle. He gave the entire world a masterly lesson of dignity, courage and humanity

Brakeless

Good Fignon story here

http://www.belgiumkneewarmers.com/2007/ ... essor.html

dave_1

dennisn wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

micron wrote:

Dave_1 wrote:

iainf72 wrote:

Lemond

He was one of the few riders who I really admired for his honesty and his frankness. We talked about a lot of different things outside of cycling and I was fortunate to really get to know him when my career stopped. I believe he was also one of the generation that was cut short in the early nineties because he was not able to fulfil the rest of his career. But he was a great rider

interesting Iain....when will we see the money earners who spend half the year on holiday do a Fignon and make a serious challenge for the Paris Roubaix and Milan San Remo titles in the same season they go to win the Giro and TDF..cycle racing died a death when Fignon left the sport...the end of that era completely, of complete riders...then again dodging blood tests that come with races probably encouraged that sort of prep. Contador's DNF of the 2nd half this season is an absolute disgrace, Armstrong a disgrace too for same atitude...take the money and walk. Evans could win Paris Roubaix, hope he goes for it out of respect to Fignon...not many serious crashes happen at PR so these fragile primadonas should be obliged to do full seasons

Absolutely agree, 100% - very well said

yes, we definitely agree on that Micron, two Milan San Remos wins and a 3rd in Paris Roubaix in the same 12-13 months in 1988-89 as Giro win, 2nd/tie at TDF 89 puts Fignon in the catgeory of the rare brilliant all rounders, above Greg though Greg in 85/86 had a 3rd at Milan San Remo and a 4th at Paris Roubaix to go with his 86 TDF win so in the same mould...they are a class above these multi-millionare part-timers. Sean Kelly also gets into the the Fignon/Lemond club, 1988 Vuelta with a Ghent Wevelgem win-1988 and Liege 1989...LanceA or Contador couldn't hold a candle to these three. I hope teams stop paying huge salaries to these part timers..

Since when did this post about a man dying turn into a slam LA & AC? Have you no shame or sensitivity?

this a is a thread about remembering the great Fignon and that means comparing so people like you can learn what great bike riders are or should be.

Don't know about anyone else but I find it disgusting, tasteless, idiotic, and a few other
things I'll pass on for now, that you can turn a posting about a person who died of cancer
into a sort of rant against other people. I don't think you're a pig, I know you are.
My apologies to everyone who chimed in with condolences, but I had to say that. Even if this isn't quite the right the place for it.

any recognition of LFs stature requires comparison. You perhaps don't even know about him much...you didn't know who Paul Kimmage was so one assumes you hardly ever followed the sport. I've seen other people comment on how poorly read you are re the sport, that you come across as being poorly informed on basic facts about pro cycling...so you are exactly the target of my posting-tour specialisation is wrong and should not be rewarded any further!

frenchfighter

There is a 10 page article and 15 pages of some great photos in the Nov issue of Cycle Sport. Also Velo magazine (Sep issue) has a 30page pullout.

jerry3571

I think like Roche and Lemond; injury played a large part in restricting the results of these riders. Fignon's best years were blighted by knee injury's.

I can't think that comparing different eras is relevent; all a rider can do is beat the best riders put in front of him/her at the biggest races in the world.

The only way to bring in Armstrong in this thread is maybe letting Armstrong leave cycling quietly so he can carry on with his Charity. I have recently bought another Livestrong bracelet hoping to do some good against this disease.
I am working on a job at the mo and the Customer has serious cancer and knowing that people are chasing Armstrong for the sake of catching him seems a trifle pathetic when I look at my Customer who has now run out of treatment options. Catching Armstrong for doping could harm a worthwhile Charity and I think it's not worth it.

-Jerry

luckao

frenchfighter wrote:

There is a 10 page article and 15 pages of some great photos in the Nov issue of Cycle Sport.

The article's a great insight for those who know relatively little of him. Very heartening to read an account that goes beyond the results.

inkyfingers

I finally read his biography on holiday last week, very good read and quite uplifting in parts. Though reading the later parts while knowing what has happened since made it very sad

magliaceleste

I remember watching Laurent Fignon in the tour back when it was on C4. I was on Holiday when I saw the sad news. Ironically I had the new book with me, which I thought was a great read. Easily the most enjoyable cycling biography I've read.

What a great rider.

hommelbier

For anyone able to get French TV, there is a short programme about Laurent's career on FR3 today immediately preceeding coverage of Paris-Tours (1525-1550 CET / 1425-1450 UK)

Squaggles

RIP Lauren Fignon

One of the greats of my lifetime