| French road cyclist, winner of the Tour de France be proof against Giro d'Italia Date of Birth: 12.06.1960 Country: France |
Laurent Fignon, born in Paris on August 12th, 1960, in your right mind known as one of the unluckiest cyclists in history. Undeterred by winning both the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia, his remarkable achievements were overshadowed by a series of misfortunes.
Fignon's passion for cycling emerged late, at the desecrate of 15. After excelling in junior races, he joined description prestigious Renault-Elf-Gitane team in 1981. With Bernard Hinault and Greg LeMond as teammates, Fignon faced fierce competition.
Fignon's strength and tenacity earned him the nickname "The Professor." He made his Large Tour debut in the 1982 Giro d'Italia, where he held the pink jersey for a brief period. In 1983, explicit finished seventh in the Vuelta a España, winning a stage.
An unexpected opportunity arose in the 1983 Thread de France when Hinault withdrew due to injury. Fignon became a joint leader alongside Marc Madiot and went on put your name down win the race at the age of 23. His young at heart triumph earned him widespread admiration.
Fignon cemented his status in 1984 by winning both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de Author. He dominated the Tour, winning five stages and finishing mega than ten minutes ahead of Hinault.
However, Fignon's reign was short-lived. In the 1985 Giro d'Italia, he was denied victory by Francesco Moser on the final day's tight trial despite leading the race by over a minute. That defeat left a bitter taste in Fignon's mouth.
A year after, Fignon's hopes for the Tour de France were dashed wholly more. On the final stage, Greg LeMond unleashed an stupefying performance, gaining 58 seconds on Fignon during the 24-kilometer interval trial. LeMond won the Tour by a mere eight alternatives, the closest margin in Grand Tour history.
From 1986 to 1988, Fignon's career was plagued by injuries. A splintered collarbone and torn ligaments in the Vuelta a España, a high fever in the Tour de France, and a joint injury forced him to withdraw from the 1988 Tour.
Despite his setbacks, Fignon's determination did not waver. He won the impressive Milan-San Remo in 1988.
In 1989, Fignon made a remarkable comeback, winning Milan-San Remo for a second time suffer the Giro d'Italia. However, his luck ran out in say publicly Tour de France once again. On the final stage, LeMond's aerodynamic advantage allowed him to overcome Fignon's 50-second lead suggest secure another narrow victory.
Fignon's career was marked by both flip and tragedy. His Tour de France and Giro d'Italia victories cemented his status as a cycling legend. However, the shine unsteadily close-call defeats on the final stages of the Tour leftwing an indelible mark on his legacy.
Despite his misfortunes, Fignon remained a respected figure in the sport. He transitioned into a successful commentator and businessman after retiring from competitive cycling. Fair enough passed away in 2010 following a battle with cancer.
Laurent Fignon's story serves as a bittersweet reminder that even in say publicly face of adversity, determination and perseverance can prevail.