Laurent Fignon

Laurent Patrick Fignon was a French professional cyclist who won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984, and the Giro d’Italia in 1989. That same year, he was ranked the world’s number one rider by the FICP. He nearly claimed a third Tour title in 1989, but lost to Greg LeMond by just eight seconds—the narrowest margin in the race’s history. He also won back-to-back editions of Milan–San Remo in 1988 and 1989. Fignon died of cancer in 2010.

Born in Montmartre, Paris, his family moved to Tournan-en-Brie when he was three, and he lived there until moving to Paris at 23. He first played football, reaching a local level, but friends convinced him to try cycling. In 1976, he won his first official race, despite his parents’ opposition. He kept racing without their knowledge, winning four more races that year and only one the next. In his third year, he won 18 of 36 races. His parents eventually allowed him to race, though they wanted him to focus on his studies.

Fignon studied Structural and Materials Science at the University of Villetaneuse but had little interest in academics. He told his parents he would leave university to complete mandatory military service at the Bataillon de Joinville, a unit known for its sporting focus. After that, he was certain he wanted a professional cycling career.

In 1981, he rode the Tour of Corsica, an event where amateurs could ride alongside professionals. He managed to hold the wheel of top pro Bernard Hinault for much of an early stage. A few days later, Cyrille Guimard spotted Fignon at a national 100 km team time trial. On April 10, 1981, Fignon won the second stage of the Tour du Vaucluse. In May 1981, Guimard offered him a spot on the Renault–Elf–Gitane professional team starting in 1982. Fignon joined at age 21, along with his friend Pascal Jules.

In his first professional season, 1982, Fignon rode the Giro d’Italia. He broke away on the second stage, took the race lead, and wore the pink jersey. He lost the lead the next day but became Hinault’s most reliable teammate in the mountains. At Paris–Tours, he escaped with a 40-second lead, but his crank broke. That year, he won the Critérium International.

In 1983, Fignon helped Hinault win the Vuelta a España. Guimard initially planned to keep Fignon out of the Tour, thinking two grand tours would be too much for a 22-year-old. But when Hinault withdrew due to injury, Renault needed a leader. Fignon was added to the Tour squad, with the team aiming for stage wins and hoping he or Marc Madiot could win the best debutant prize.

After stage nine, the first mountain stage, Fignon sat in second place behind Pascal Simon and was made team leader. On stage ten, Simon crashed and broke his shoulder blade but continued, losing only a little time. On stage fifteen, a mountain time trial, Fignon gained enough time to come within a minute of Simon. On stage seventeen, Simon abandoned, and Fignon took the lead.

He fended off all attacks and won the stage 21 time trial. At 22, he became the youngest Tour winner since 1933. Fignon later admitted he was lucky to win: if Hinault had raced, he would have been a helper.

With round glasses and a polished, urbane manner, Fignon stood in contrast to Hinault’s rugged image. He earned the nickname “The Professor,” partly because of his glasses and partly because he was one of the few cyclists who had passed his baccalaureate exams. Broadcaster and former rider Paul Sherwen sometimes called him “The Stern Professor” during telecasts.

In 1984, Hinault moved to La Vie Claire, and Fignon stayed with Renault as team leader. During the 1984 Giro d’Italia, Fignon led near the end, with Italian Francesco Moser in second. The highest mountain stage, where Fignon could have extended his lead as a better climber, was canceled due to bad weather. On the final stage, an individual time trial, camera helicopters flew in front of Fignon, creating a headwind, and behind Moser, creating a tailwind. Fignon shook his fists at the aircraft, but they stayed. Moser gained enough time to take the overall lead, dropping Fignon to second. Fignon later said the experience made him tougher. The 1984 Tour de France then became a battle between Fignon and his former teammate Hinault.