Cycling Highlights: History was made at the 1989 Tour de France. At the end of the three-week tour, the first two were only separated by 8 seconds. The lucky one: Greg LeMond. All the French, on the other hand, were sad...
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LeMond was 50 seconds behind before the time trial
Laurent Fignon could have been the last French winner of the Tour de France to date. If, yes if 1989 had not missed 8 seconds. Everything looked like his third tour win. Before the final 24,5-kilometer time trial from Versailles to Paris, he actually had a comfortable lead of 50 seconds over his opponent Greg LeMond.
Fignon lost by 82,2 yards
Even though the American was the better time trialist, there was no reason to expect the yellow jersey to switch shoulders again. Because in the previous two time trials together, Fignon on LeMond lost only 103 seconds over 112 kilometers. The Frenchman should have easily survived the short time trial to the Champs-Élysées. But Laurent Fignon did not survive this time trial. His lead of 50 seconds should not be enough. He lost 58 seconds and the Tour de France because of 8 seconds. After 3.257 kilometers, this corresponds to a distance of 82,2 meters.
The French are still waiting today
Greg LeMond won the final battle against the clock, leaving the French fans in tears. The decisive factor was the equipment of the American. He was the first professional ever to compete with a teardrop helmet and triathlon handlebars. Fignon, on the other hand, was completely helmetless. A mistake that cost him the title. Years later, he was still being dubbed the man who lost the Tour de France by 8 seconds despite winning it twice before. He has not recovered from this defeat. It is said that he never set foot on the Champs-Élysées again, although he lived in Paris. The French fans also suffered a trauma. Because they are still waiting for the next French Tour winner since Bernard Hinault in 1985...