Fixie Bikes – Retro Cycling Vintage

Greg Lemond

Posted October 4, 2009 by admin in professional cyclists, Road | No comments yet

Greg LeMond was one of the first ever global superstars of cycling. An English speaking rider who transcended the cycling world and drifted into popular culture. He won the 1983 world championship on the road, having won the silver medal the previous year making him one of the youngest winners ever of the event.

Lemondgot third in the Tour de France of 1984, he was second in the Tour in 1985 where he saved the yellow jersey of the leader Bernard Hinault (troubled following his fall at Saint-Etienne), even to sacrifice his personal ambitions. It is the first non-European and the first American winner of the Tour de France in 1986 after a fratricidal duel with the ambiguous and tough Bernard Hinault.

In spring 1987, a hunting accident where he was accidentally shot by his brother-in-law nearly ended his life and kept him away from cycling for two years,leaving him with 37 pellets in his body for the rest of his life.

After 2 years of mixed performance in 1989, he again won the Tour de France by taking the advantage in extremis Laurent Fignon: both men were virtually tied in time for most of the race, the yellow jersey alternately passing on the shoulders of one then the other. Before the last stage, one runs against the clock to only 24.5 km, LeMond has fifty seconds behind the Frenchman Fignon. He came in ahead by the famous 8 seconds, which is still the smallest gap ever recorded in a large tour between the winner and the second placed rider.
The same year he again won the world championship road in Chambery, after a decisive attack against ... Laurent Fignon.

The following year, LeMond won again in the Tour de France by beating Claudio Chiappucci of Italy by 2'16, taking the yellow jersey at the last time trial against the clock. This victory caused controversy since LeMond won by elimination, not by domination (all the favorites collapse) and the American., too busy to catch up on opportunistic Chiapucci (10 minutes gleaned from the 1st stage) did not actually win any stages.

In 1991, he finished over 13 minutes behind Miguel Indurain. He later said to have had the feeling of not being able to express himself fully on the end of his career because of competition from riders doped with EPO product which then made its appearance in the peloton . He is the sole winner of the Tour since 1947 to have never been involved in a doping case.

Greg LeMond also brought some of the innovations most used today: he introduced thetriathlete handlebar and aero helmet and he popularized sunglasses designed specifically for cycling.

Unlike previous winners of the Tour de France, LeMond was the first to base its season just around this event. He was followed later by the eventual winners of the Tour, such as Miguel Indurain, Jan Ullrich and Lance Armstrong. However, relativisons noting that it proceeded in this manner until 1990 following his success in the Tour de France 1989 Giro after a mediocre (39th).

Greg LeMond has a good popularity among the French public despite his victories over Bernard Hinault and Laurent Fignon, the last two French winners of the Tour de France. His naivety in the race and his outspokenness may be the cause of his strained relationship with Jonathan Boyer, Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon, Claudio Chiappucci or recently Lance Armstrong, with whom he distanced himself after the publication of the book LA Confidential . About His criticism of the seven-time Tour de France lead the company that sells Trek bikes bearing his name to file a court application to terminate the commercial contract between them which was a great pity as Lemond bikes were very highly, much like Greg was as a rider.

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