Tour de France History: It has been 30 years since the Tour de France saw its closest decision in history. Greg LeMond finally unbuttoned the yellow jersey from Laurent Fignon on the Champs-Élysées – and by just eight seconds.
Greg LeMond had a serious hunting accident
The Tour de France 1989 started with a curious incident. Top favorite and defending champion Pedro Delgado missed his start at the prologue in Luxemburg. As a result, he lost more than two and a half minutes. After three weeks he was still in third place overall. But the history of this Tour of France wrote above all Greg Lemond. The American won the tour in 1986. After a hunting accident however, by April 1987 he was closer to death than another overall win. He was shot by his brother-in-law, sending dozens of buckshot through his body. There are still lead bullets in his heart and liver. However, that didn't stop him from returning to said 1989 Tour de France after a two-year recovery period. Also Laurent fignon had a difficult time, at least professionally. After his triumphs in 1983 and 1984, he continued to pursue his best form until he won the Giro d'Italia in 1989.
Laurent Fignon is 50 seconds ahead
Am July 23, 1989 were all ready for the big showdown. For the last time in the history of the Tour de France, the tour should not end with a comfortable sprint stage, but with one 24,5 km long time trial from Versailles to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. After Bernard Hinault was the last Frenchman to be successful in 1985 - by the way, until today - the local fans in Paris were now hoping Laurent Fignon. The 28-year-old was ahead of the final time trial 50 seconds in front of the American of the same age Greg Lemond. The two fought the entire Tour de France in a veritable head-to-head duel. Since the fifth stage, only the two have worn the yellow jersey several times. The gap between Fignon and LeMond was never more than 76 seconds in the 3.285th Tour de France over 53 kilometers.
Equipment decides the best Tour de France ever
As usual in time trials, Laurent Fignon started the race in the yellow jersey as the last starter. Although Greg LeMond has beaten him in the previous time trials, hardly anyone expected one anymore dramatic turn. After all, Fignon was also a capable time trialist. But the spectators witnessed the closest decision in Tour de France history. LeMond was the first professional ever to ride with a then new type of aerodynamic helmet and handlebars. his Drop helmet and triathlon handlebars he tested it in the wind tunnel beforehand. Experts now know that this equipment was crucial. Because Fignon, on the other hand, drove completely without a helmet – but with the usual long hair. With a Average speed of 54,545 km/h pulverized LeMond the best time. This was the fastest cut to date on a tour. Fignon couldn't do anything more to counter that. He lost 58 seconds - and with it 8 seconds the Tour de France. After 3.257 kilometers, this corresponds to the distance converted 82,2 meters.
The man who lost the Tour de France by 8 seconds
Greg LeMond made cycling history in more ways than one. The American became the first non-European winner of the Tour de France back in 1986. To this day, considering the disqualifications of Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis, he is the only overall winner from the USA. In 1989, after his victory in France, he was also crowned world champion. The following year he repeated his overall victory in the Tour de France. Laurent Fignon's career was very different. The Frenchman never recovered from this bitter defeat. Although he had previously won the Tour of France twice, he is now best known beyond the country's borders as "the man who lost the Tour de France by eight seconds". It is said that Fignon - who lived in Paris - wrote the Avenue des Never set foot on the Champs-Élysées again. On August 31, 2010, he died in his hometown of metastatic pancreatic cancer.