Laurent Fignon

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Lore & Background

Laurent Fignon's path to the Tour de France began in Nogent-sur-Marne, where he was born on 12 August 1960. His family moved to Tournan-en-Brie in 1963. Fignon's first sport was football, reaching the level of playing for his département, but friends persuaded him to try cycling. In 1976, he won his first official race. Despite his parents' opposition, he continued to compete without their knowledge, winning four more races in his first year. In his third year, he won 18 out of 36 races. Eventually, his parents allowed him to race, though they still believed he should prioritize his studies. Fignon studied at the University of Villetaneuse but was an indifferent student. He left university to join the army for mandatory military service, posted at the Bataillon de Joinville. In 1981, Cyrille Guimard observed Fignon at the national 100 km team time trial and offered him a place on his Renault–Elf–Gitane professional team from the following year. Fignon joined in 1982 at age 21. With his round glasses and sophisticated, urbane demeanour, Fignon earned the nickname "The Professor", not only because of his glasses but also because he was one of the few cyclists who had passed his baccalaureate exams. Broadcaster Paul Sherwen referred to him as 'The Stern Professor' in English.

In Their Own Story

The 1989 Tour de France came down to the final stage, a short time trial of 24.5 km. The time difference between Greg LeMond and Fignon was 50 seconds, a seemingly insurmountable amount. French newspapers prepared special editions with Fignon's picture on the front page in preparation for his victory. It was considered unlikely that LeMond would be able to win back 50 seconds on the 24.5 km, but he rode the fastest time trial until 2015. Fignon had developed epididymitis in stage 19, which gave him pain and made it impossible to sleep the night before the time trial. Fignon, who rode after LeMond, lost 58 seconds during the stage. Fignon rode a very fast time trial and came in third for the stage, but LeMond defeated him by eight seconds, the closest margin ever to decide the Tour.

Reader's Guide

Fignon's first Tour victory came in 1983. Team director Guimard did not want to send Fignon to the Tour, thinking two grand tours could be too much for a 22-year-old. When Bernard Hinault announced he would not start due to injury, Fignon was added to the selection. After stage nine, the first mountain stage, Fignon was in second place behind Pascal Simon. On stage ten, Simon crashed and broke his shoulder blade but continued. On stage fifteen, a mountain time trial, Fignon won back so much time that he was within one minute of Simon. On stage seventeen, Simon had to give up, and Fignon became the new leader. He won the time trial on stage 21. At 22 years old, Fignon was the youngest man to win the Tour since 1933. In 1984, Fignon stayed with the Renault team and became team leader. The Tour was a battle between Fignon and his former team leader Hinault. Fignon won the time trial in stage seven, beating Hinault by 49 seconds. In stage sixteen, Fignon again beat Hinault in a time trial, winning by 33 seconds. In stage seventeen, Hinault attacked five times on the penultimate climb, but every time Fignon was able to get back. Then Fignon left Hinault behind and won almost three more minutes. Fignon won three more stages, for a total of five that year, and won the Tour with a ten-minute margin.

Did You Know?

• Fignon won his first official race in 1976 after friends persuaded him to try cycling, despite his parents' opposition.
• He earned the nickname 'The Professor' because he was one of the few cyclists who had passed his baccalaureate exams.
• At 22 years old, Fignon was the youngest man to win the Tour de France since 1933.
• In the 1984 Tour de France, camera helicopters flew in front of Fignon creating a headwind and behind Moser creating a tailwind during the final stage time trial.
• Fignon developed epididymitis in stage 19 of the 1989 Tour, which gave him pain and made it impossible to sleep the night before the final time trial.