It’s on – the biggest trade show the self-powered, two-wheeled world has ever witnessed convened in Friedrichshafen, Germany this week. This year, more than ever, it’s set to dwarf America’s annual Interbike trade show. The energy here is unparalleled. It’s clear that despite occasional doping drama at the highest level and malaise in the greater global economy, the sport of cycling is alive, healthy, and just as exciting as ever.

The Mares cyclocross platform from Focus debuted in the U.S. last year.

Keeping tabs on every one of nearly 1100 exhibitors is impossible. But over the next few days I’ll try to sift out as many of the more interesting and noteworthy bits of tech I can.

Normally I’m not much of a cyclocross fan (see my column in VeloNews magazine, November 2009). No, it’s not a popular point of view, but looking around Eurobike, clearly I’m in the minority.

Sweet cyclocross bikes no longer hide in dusty corners of company displays. They command prominent display on par with the best road and mountain bikes a builder offers. They’ve also obviously received plenty of love from various engineering departments as they’re now as fully teched-out as the best ProTour road racing bikes.

Just to get everyone all foamy about the coming cyclocross season, here’s an assortment of some of the killer bikes we found in Germany.

Cannondale SuperX

Cannondale’s new SuperX may or may not steal this show, but for `cross fans, it’s sure to steal hearts. The company’s newly promoted global product marketing manager Murray Washburn filled me in on how it came to be.

Washburn related that Cannondale star `crosser Tim Johnson borrowed a Flash carbon hardtail to do some mountain bike riding. If you recall, it’s an ultralight rig made from ballistics-grade carbon fiber and sophisticated tube profiles to present a compliant but stiff and efficient ride. Upon returning the bike, Johnson asked, “why can’t we have ‘cross bikes made this way?” Washburn said that Johnson loved and still loves the original CAAD 9 frame that carried him to several victories, but his query prompted the company to dig in and build a competitive carbon ‘crosser.

The result is a frame and fork that weighs less than 1400 grams in a 56cm size, according to Washburn. The SuperX uses loads of engineering developed for the Flash and brings a few elements of the proven SuperSix series as well. Starting with their impact resistant, ultra-strong BallisTec carbon fiber, Cannondale strategically added more brittle but stiffer high-modulus carbon to improve rigidity. As with the other elite carbon frames, the carbon tubes are laid up individually so they’re optimized for the loads of their location on the structure. The frame is then built via tube to tube construction overwrapped with additional carbon. A highlight of this method is the ability to run continuous strands of fiber from the front of the bike to its back, a feature which aids load distribution.

Naturally, frame tube shapes are tuned for stiffness and compliance. The SuperX rear stays are thinned horizontally to aid bump compliance. The head tube is tapered 1-1/8th inch to 1-1/4-inch for an optimum blend of stiffness, light weight, and strength. The slender seat tube widens at the oversized BB30 bottom bracket shell. SuperX frame geometry remains identical to the CAAD9 from last season.

Cannondale will be offering two models of their new SuperX. The flagship version will have parts nearly identical to those used by the elite Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com team. At $7500, you’ll have to want it pretty badly, but the Rival-equipped version is more reasonable, at $3700. And for those that still prefer aluminum, the CAAD9 `crosser is now replaced with the CAADX, a bike with subtle re-tuning of the frame geometry for more all-around riding. Three CAADX models range from $2000 to $1200 in price.

Best of the rest

• I checked out the Focus booth and saw not only the familiar, high-end carbon fiber Mares CX, but two aluminum models as well. Focus partners with Rapha for the upcoming 2010 season in a unique brand blend that is sure to attract attention.
• In the Santa Cruz stand, more dirt riders clustered around the Nomad and Tallboy carbon fiber mountain bikes than ogled the aluminum Stigmata ‘crosser. But the gorgeously simple Easton aluminum bike is finished with nothing more than a clear coat over the raw metal, and it looks like it’s begging to be tossed over a barrier.
• Somewhat surprisingly, Fuji Bicycles put love into their Altamira carbon ‘cross bike. It’s packed with features including a tapered head tube, BB86 internal bottom bracket, and fairly massive tube profiles. I failed to score info as to pricing and availability in the USA, and naturally I couldn’t vouch for the ride quality. However, I’ll wager that it’s stout as hell and it visibly sports major mud clearance.

Check the photo gallery for details, and stay tuned for more from Eurobike 2010.

Message by Chris Selden
Wow, did somebody say transfer season? It's certainly that crazy time of year where riders, managers and suppliers are fighting for the best deals for next year and today we have all the latest from a busy week of negotiations. We also have updates from the Vuelta of course and much more. So, sit back and enjoy - it's Eurotrash time!

Mobile version

From da Craigs list.

————————-

Seven Cycles—the industry leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance custom bicycle frames and components—is seeking a conscientious individual to handle the company’s shipping and receiving.

Job Summary
Hands-on management of the company’s shipping and receiving function, including packaging and preparation of outbound shipments, processing of inbound shipments, organization and maintenance of shipping/receiving area, maintain shipping supplies.

Essential Job Functions
• Packaging and processing of outbound customer shipments for daily pick-up by courier
• Prepare and maintain necessary documents for international shipments
• Processing of inbound shipments from suppliers, as well as returns and service items
• Assist production in final product preparation
• Maintain communication with sales team regarding shipping delays
• Monitor and maintain shipping supplies and packaging
• Maintain and organize shipping and receiving area for cleanliness and efficiency
• Drive continuous improvement in the accuracy of shipments and process efficiency
• Liaison with courier companies

Mandatory Experience & Background
• Previous shipping and receiving experience
• Ability to manage fluctuating work volume
• Proficiency with MS Outlook and Excel

Beneficial Experience & Background
• Cycling enthusiast
• International logistics
• Inventory management
• Experience working in a manufacturing company

Necessary Personality Traits:
• High degree of accountability and commitment to delivering timely and accurate results
• Ability to work under time constraints
• Concern with efficiency, streamlining, and process improvement

Qualified candidates should send resume via email to Jennifer.miller@sevencycles.com

About Seven Cycles
Seven Cycles, Inc. was founded in January 1997 and is the largest exclusively custom bicycle builder in the world. The company’s mission is to enhance the riding experience of cyclists worldwide through the optimum fit, performance, and comfort of their bicycles. Seven fosters a fast-paced, value-driven environment, placing particular focus on its employees, customer satisfaction, and product quality and innovation.

Seven Cycles is an equal opportunity employer offering a competitive compensation and benefits package, including health insurance and flextime.

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Message by Alastair Hamilton
Roadside St.5: A sprinter’s day and the best of them are here at the 75th Vuelta a Espańa. Who will take the honours and the champagne? What will I have for lunch? Will there be any Daily Distractions to photograph? All this and more “under-cover” at La Vuelta!

Tyler Farrar powers to stage 5 sprint win in the Tour of Spain 2010 for Team Garmin-Transitions; Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert maintains overall 2010 Vuelta a Espana lead.

Tyler Farrar powers to stage 5 sprint win in the Tour of Spain 2010 for Team Garmin-Transitions; Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert maintains overall 2010 Vuelta a Espana lead.

Trek Bicycle and The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team Project today announced that the two parties have signed a long-term partnership agreement. The agreement was revealed earlier today at Eurobike by Trek representatives and Brian Nygaard of the Luxembourg Team. The new team, featuring brothers Frank Schleck and Andy Schleck, will be part of the Trek Family for 2011 and beyond.

BMC Racing Team announces 2011 rider signings.

They’re rivals now, but next season, Tyler Farrar and Thor Hushovd will ride side-by-side on the new-look Garmin-Cervélo team.

The arrival to Garmin of Hushovd and six more riders, including Heinrich Haussler, will incredibly strengthen the team’s classics team as well as bolster its sprinter depth.

Just moments after his stage victory in Lorca at the Vuelta a España, VeloNews asked Farrar how he thinks the arrival of Hushovd and the others will change the dynamic at Garmin.

“It certainly will change things. We haven’t spoken about it. We started to talk about it a bit, but I said, ‘I want to worry about the Vuelta and then the world championships right now.’ Let’s finish this season before worrying about the next one,” Farrar told VeloNews. “I know they’re coming. We’ll find a way to make it work. There are lots of races on the calendar. It’s not something I am going to worry about until I finish Melbourne.”

Hushovd said he didn’t think his arrival should create tension with Garmin next season.

“Of course, Tyler Farrar is a good sprinter, he’s an up-and-coming sprinter. We’ll just do our spring classics and we’ll see how things develop as we get closer to the Tour de France,” Hushovd told VeloNews. “I am sure we will find a good solution. We are going to be very strong and I am sure we will be fighting for the green jersey, whether it’s more, Tyler or Heinrich Haussler.”

The transfer of classics power from Cervélo — which is closing down at the end of this season and becoming the bike sponsor of Garmin next year — to Garmin in 2011 should transform the American squad into a major force in the spring classics.

Joining Hushovd and Haussler to the move will be classics specialists Roger Hammond, Daniel Lloyd, Brett Lancaster, Andreas Klier and Gabriel Rasch. Lancaster has also served as Hushovd’s lead-out man and will add more strength to Garmin’s sprint train next year as well.

Hushovd said the deal came together quickly and that he’s looking forward to teaming up again with Garmin manager Jonathan Vaughters.

“It’s good to be back with Jonathan. We raced together at Crédit Agricole, now he’s my boss, so I am really looking forward to working with him and the whole team. Of course, I am sad that the Cervélo team has to stop, but that’s just how it goes sometimes,” Hushovd continued. “We have six guys who can come with me. For me, the classics are important for me and these six guys will be there to support me. We will be really, really strong for the classics next year.”

Vaughters told VeloNews earlier this week that there’s plenty of room for both Farrar and Hushovd on the team next season.

“I’ve spoken with Tyler about it. At the end of the day I think they are different types of sprinters,” Vaughters told VeloNews. “Thor can survive hearty mountain stages, and he excels on hard, uphill finishes; Tyler is really fast. I think they are very compatible. If Thor were six or seven years younger, like when he was quick sprinter, it might be different. But now he’s really strong, he time trials well, he’s proven at one-day races that are 260km long, and with climbs. Tyler is pure speed, and I think they complement each other rather than supplement each other.”

Message by Jered Gruber
Race Report: After the arduous profiles of the last two days, the sprinters got their chance in Stage 5. Not to say that today was an easy one, but it didn't finish with a final kilometer where the top speed was wrought by the little ring. The big rings got a good workout today as we were treated to a beautiful sprint on the streets of Lorca.

Farrar says he's on form and his win in stage 5 at the Vuelta proves it. | GrahamWatson.com

Tyler Farrar was hoping to win a stage at this year’s Vuelta a España, but he didn’t expect it would be in Wednesday’s 198km hilly run from Guadix to Lorca.

The Garmin-Transitions sprinter suffered through Tuesday’s challenging stage to Valdepeñas de Jaén with a nasty stomach bug, so much so the team doctor was worried he would have to abandon. Farrar never gives up easily, but then he crashed on loose gravel Wednesday near the feed zone as the peloton was ramping up the chase.

Farrar overcame all those setbacks and railed home one of the most important victories in his growing palmares, roaring past nemesis Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) to post his seventh win on the 2010 season.

“I was ill yesterday. I was vomiting all day during the stage. I wasn’t feeling very confident and I decided to sit in the bunch and see how the stage went. I felt better and better,” Farrar recounted. “It’s nice (to beat Cavendish), but it’s more important to win a stage in the Vuelta. That was my goal coming here. Of course, it’s always to win against the most successful sprinter in the world, but my priority is to win.”

An ecstatic Farrar was hugging teammates at the finish line in Lorca. With ace lead-out man Julian Dean still banged up from crashing ahead of the team time trial on Sunday, Farrar counted on some other Garmin teammates to help out in the sprint.

After a four-man breakaway was reeled in, thanks to work by Lampre and Omega-Lotto, Matt Wilson helped keep Farrar in good position with 10km to go. Grand tour rookie Michael Kreder drove him until 2km to go.

“It was fantastic to win. I puked six times during the stage yesterday and I had no idea how I would be day,” Farrar said. “I was a bit lucky. It was a crazy sprint there with the tailwind, but I found the right wheels and it worked out.”

The victory was especially sweet for Farrar, who took a rare win against Cavendish when the pair has faced off head-to-head. The last time Farrar came out ahead of Cavendish was during the 2009 Tirreno-Adriatico.

Cavendish was also at a disadvantage, losing his lead-out man Bernhard Eisel to illness yesterday. Matthew Goss was given the task Wednesday, but he punctured with five kilometers to go and eventually finished last.

“I was on my own out there. I lost Goss to a puncture, so I started my sprint really early,” Cavendish said. “It was too early, with 500 meters to go. It was hard to hold the speed for that long.”

Cavendish crossed the line, after Farrar and Koldo Fernández, the Basque sprinter on Euskaltel-Euskadi, slipped past him.

The victory pulled Farrar into a tie for the points jersey. Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Farrar now both have 41 points.

Farrar’s not sure how long he will stay in the Vuelta. The next major goal is the world championships, set for two weeks after the Vuelta concludes in Melbourne, Australia.

Farrar hasn’t personally inspected the course, but from what he’s gleaned from talking with other riders who have seen it, he knows it’s ideal for his style of racing.

It’s always helps to win a big race. I am on good run of form here, with my win at Hamburg and second place at Plouay, and now the victory here,” Farrar said. “Of course, the worlds is a huge objective, but there’s still lots of racing here at this Vuelta. There are still some sprint stages to come, so there will be more opportunities to hopefully win some stages.”

The overall didn’t change, with Philippe Gilbert (Omega-Lotto) retaining his 10-seecond lead to Antón and Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha).

Thursday’s short but explosive stage features a climb over the Cat. 2 Cresta del Gallo about 20km the finish line in Murcia.

That might be too much for the likes of Cavendish and Farrar to make it over with the lead group, but it could be ideal for Thor Hushovd (Cervélo), another sprinter who has something to say in this Vuelta.

Brief Results

Stage 5

• 1. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions, in 5h 03′ 36”
• 2. Larrea Koldo FernÁndez De, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 3. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 4. Matteo Tosatto, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 5. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 6. Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 7. Robert FÖrster, Milram, at 00:00
• 8. Denis Galimzyanov, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 9. Theo Bos, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 10. Greg Van Avermaet, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 00:00

Full results
Overall:

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 19h 00′ 06”
• 2. Igor Anton, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10
• 3. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at 10
• 4. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Doimo, at 12
• 5. Peter Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 16
• 6. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Columbia, at 29
• 7. Xavier Tondo, Cervélo TestTeam, at 49
• 8. Frank Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 50
• 9. Ruben Plaza, Caisse D’Epargne, at 54
• 10. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia, at 55

Full results

Stage results
GC standings
Race report
All Vuelta results
Archived live reports
Vuelta galleries Stage results

• 1. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions, in 5h 03′ 36”
• 2. Larrea Koldo FernÁndez De, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 3. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 4. Matteo Tosatto, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 5. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 6. Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 7. Robert FÖrster, Milram, at 00:00
• 8. Denis Galimzyanov, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 9. Theo Bos, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 10. Greg Van Avermaet, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 00:00
• 11. Óscar Freire, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 12. Yauheni Hutarovich, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 13. Manuel Ortega, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 14. William Bonnet, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 15. Daniele Bennati, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 16. Gonzalo RabuÑal, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 17. Johannes FrÖhlinger, Milram, at 00:00
• 18. Antonio Lea Cardoso Manuel, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 19. Andrey Kashechkin, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 20. Ian Stannard, Team Sky, at 00:00
• 21. Roy Sentjens, Milram, at 00:00
• 22. Juan Jose Haedo, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 23. Dmitriy Fofonov, Astana, at 00:00
• 24. Allan Davis, Astana, at 00:00
• 25. Nicholas Roche, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 00:00
• 26. Jorge Montenegro, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 27. Thomas Peterson, Garmin-Transitions, at 00:00
• 28. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 00:00
• 29. Marzio Bruseghin, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 30. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 31. Alexandre Pichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 32. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 33. Valentin Iglinskiy, Astana, at 00:00
• 34. Ruben Plaza, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 35. Niki Terpstra, Milram, at 00:00
• 36. Danilo Hondo, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 37. Andreas Stauff, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 38. Andrey Zeits, Astana, at 00:00
• 39. David GarcÍa, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 40. Jacopo Guarnieri, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 41. Juan Antonio Flecha, Team Sky, at 00:00
• 42. Peter Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 43. Dominik Roels, Milram, at 00:00
• 44. Vladimir Isaichev, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 45. Enrico Gasparotto, Astana, at 00:00
• 46. Ludovic Turpin, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 00:00
• 47. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 48. Maciej Paterski, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 49. Paul Voss, Milram, at 00:00
• 50. Nikolas Maes, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 51. Romain Zingle, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:00
• 52. Kanstantsin Sivtsov, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 53. Carlos Barredo, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 54. Markus Fothen, Milram, at 00:00
• 55. Thomas Danielson, Garmin-Transitions, at 00:00
• 56. Laurens Ten Dam, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 57. Jean-christophe Peraud, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 00:00
• 58. Filippo Pozzato, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 59. Mikel Nieve, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 60. Igor Anton, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 61. Vladimir Gusev, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 62. Grischa Niermann, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 63. Denis Menchov, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 64. J. Ángel GÓmez Marchante, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 65. Egoi MartÍnez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 66. Xavier Tondo, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 67. Jurgen Van Goolen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 00:00
• 68. Mikael Cherel, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 69. Mauricio Ardila, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 70. Juan Jose Oroz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 71. Christophe Le Mevel, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 72. Thomas LÖvkvist, Team Sky, at 00:00
• 73. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 74. Yoann Offredo, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 75. Gustavo CÉsar, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 76. Enrique Mata, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 77. David LÓpez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 78. Björn SchrÖder, Milram, at 00:00
• 79. Alberto BenÍtez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 80. Sébastien Minard, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:00
• 81. Markus Eichler, Milram, at 00:00
• 82. Xavier Florencio, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 83. Gorka Verdugo, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 84. Rémy Di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 85. Sergey Renev, Astana, at 00:00
• 86. Kevin De Weert, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 87. Gustavo Rodrigue Iglesias, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 88. Dario Cataldo, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 89. Vincent Jerome, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 90. Carlos Sastre, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 91. Giampaolo Caruso, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 92. Delio Fernandez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 93. Simon Gerrans, Team Sky, at 00:00
• 94. Stuart O’grady, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 95. Frank Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 96. Josep JufrÉ, Astana, at 00:00
• 97. Vladimir Karpets, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 98. Andy Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 99. Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 100. Gustav Larsson, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 101. Giampaolo Cheula, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 102. Juan Manuel Garate, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 00:00
• 103. Marcos Garcia, Xacobeo Galicia, at 00:00
• 104. Arthur Vichot, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 105. Daniele Righi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 106. Oliver Zaugg, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 107. Pablo Urtasun, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:00
• 108. Lars Petter Nordhaug, Team Sky, at 00:00
• 109. Imanol Erviti, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 110. Luis León SÁnchez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 111. Javier Moreno, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 112. Alexandr Kolobnev, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 113. Mikhail Ignatiev, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 114. Luis Pasamontes, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 115. Rigoberto Uran, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 116. Mauro Finetto, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 117. Manuele Mori, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 118. Matthew Wilson, Garmin-Transitions, at 00:00
• 119. Biel Kadri, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 00:00
• 120. Daniele Pietropolli, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 00:00
• 121. Matthieu Sprick, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 122. Tony Gallopin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:00
• 123. Lars Ytting Bak, HTC-Columbia, at 00:00
• 124. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:00
• 125. Anders Lund, Team Saxo Bank, at 00:00
• 126. Assan Bazayev, Astana, at 00:00
• 127. Iñigo Cuesta, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 128. Antonio Piedra, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 129. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Transitions, at 00:00
• 130. Juan Javier Estrada, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 131. Martin Pedersen, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 132. Ivan Santaromita, Liquigas-Doimo, at 00:00
• 133. Pierre Cazaux, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 134. Rinaldo Nocentini, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 00:00
• 135. Alexsandr Dyachenko, Astana, at 00:00
• 136. Perrig Quemeneur, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 137. Gianni Meersman, Française des Jeux, at 00:00
• 138. Davide Malacarne, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 139. Javier RamÍrez, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 140. Pierre Rolland, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 141. Sergio Carrasco, Andalucia Cajasur, at 00:00
• 142. Branislau Samoilau, Quick Step, at 00:00
• 143. J. Vicente GarcÍa Acosta, Caisse D’Epargne, at 00:00
• 144. Philip Deignan, Cervélo TestTeam, at 00:00
• 145. Joan Horrach, Team Katusha, at 00:00
• 146. Rémi Pauriol, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 00:00
• 147. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 00:00
• 148. Johann Tschopp, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 00:00
• 149. Johnnie Walker, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 22
• 150. Leif Hoste, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 29
• 151. Michel Kreder, Garmin-Transitions, at 40
• 152. Angelo Furlan, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 43
• 153. Grega Bole, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 43
• 154. Martin Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 43
• 155. David Vitoria Cano, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 43
• 156. Stefan Denifl, Cervélo TestTeam, at 43
• 157. Thor Hushovd, Cervélo TestTeam, at 43
• 158. Hayden Roulston, HTC-Columbia, at 1:02
• 159. Kasper Klostergaard, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:02
• 160. Sebastian Langeveld, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:19
• 161. David Arroyo, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:26
• 162. Domenik Klemme, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:30
• 163. Freddy Bichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:44
• 164. Dmitry Kozontchuk, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:55
• 165. Nico Sijmens, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 2:04
• 166. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 2:08
• 167. David Millar, Garmin-Transitions, at 3:35
• 168. David Zabriskie, Garmin-Transitions, at 3:35
• 169. Julian Dean, Garmin-Transitions, at 3:35
• 170. Fabian Cancellara, Team Saxo Bank, at 3:35
• 171. Kjell CarlstrÖm, Team Sky, at 3:35
• 172. Peter Kennaugh, Team Sky, at 3:35
• 173. Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:28
• 174. Beñat Intxausti, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:28
• 175. Arnaud Labbe, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 4:28
• 176. Olivier Kaisen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:28
• 177. Mickael Delage, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:28
• 178. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC-Columbia, at 4:28

GC standings

• 1. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 19h 00′ 06”
• 2. Igor Anton, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10
• 3. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at 10
• 4. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Doimo, at 12
• 5. Peter Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 16
• 6. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Columbia, at 29
• 7. Xavier Tondo, Cervélo TestTeam, at 49
• 8. Frank Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 50
• 9. Ruben Plaza, Caisse D’Epargne, at 54
• 10. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia, at 55
• 11. Nicholas Roche, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 58
• 12. Marzio Bruseghin, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:01
• 13. Denis Menchov, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:11
• 14. Rigoberto Uran, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:19
• 15. Thomas Danielson, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:21
• 16. Luis León SÁnchez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:24
• 17. Vladimir Karpets, Team Katusha, at 1:24
• 18. Jean-christophe Peraud, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:33
• 19. Laurens Ten Dam, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 2:08
• 20. Mikel Nieve, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:14
• 21. Carlos Sastre, Cervélo TestTeam, at 2:15
• 22. Greg Van Avermaet, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:17
• 23. Carlos Barredo, Quick Step, at 2:20
• 24. Andrey Kashechkin, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 2:27
• 25. David Arroyo, Caisse D’Epargne, at 2:27
• 26. Markus Fothen, Milram, at 2:28
• 27. David GarcÍa, Xacobeo Galicia, at 2:30
• 28. Alexsandr Dyachenko, Astana, at 2:40
• 29. Vladimir Gusev, Team Katusha, at 2:54
• 30. Kanstantsin Sivtsov, HTC-Columbia, at 3:01
• 31. Javier Moreno, Andalucia Cajasur, at 3:09
• 32. Alexandr Kolobnev, Team Katusha, at 3:15
• 33. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 3:17
• 34. David LÓpez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 3:18
• 35. Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas-Doimo, at 3:26
• 36. Ivan Santaromita, Liquigas-Doimo, at 3:26
• 37. Gustav Larsson, Team Saxo Bank, at 3:56
• 38. Thomas Peterson, Garmin-Transitions, at 3:59
• 39. Lars Petter Nordhaug, Team Sky, at 4:01
• 40. Iñigo Cuesta, Cervélo TestTeam, at 4:09
• 41. Mikael Cherel, Française des Jeux, at 4:33
• 42. J. Ángel GÓmez Marchante, Andalucia Cajasur, at 4:50
• 43. Christophe Le Mevel, Française des Jeux, at 4:58
• 44. Luis Pasamontes, Caisse D’Epargne, at 5:03
• 45. Roy Sentjens, Milram, at 5:30
• 46. Maciej Paterski, Liquigas-Doimo, at 5:31
• 47. Ludovic Turpin, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 5:44
• 48. Filippo Pozzato, Team Katusha, at 6:12
• 49. Manuele Mori, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 6:27
• 50. Pierre Rolland, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 6:33
• 51. Sébastien Minard, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 6:45
• 52. Josep JufrÉ, Astana, at 6:58
• 53. Rémy Di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, at 7:10
• 54. Marcos Garcia, Xacobeo Galicia, at 7:52
• 55. Alberto BenÍtez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 8:13
• 56. Giampaolo Caruso, Team Katusha, at 9:02
• 57. Juan Manuel Garate, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 10:24
• 58. Arthur Vichot, Française des Jeux, at 10:41
• 59. Niki Terpstra, Milram, at 10:43
• 60. Juan Jose Oroz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10:52
• 61. Egoi MartÍnez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:54
• 62. Gustavo CÉsar, Xacobeo Galicia, at 13:13
• 63. Gorka Verdugo, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 13:17
• 64. Matthieu Sprick, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 13:38
• 65. Enrico Gasparotto, Astana, at 14:59
• 66. Xavier Florencio, Cervélo TestTeam, at 15:12
• 67. Andrey Zeits, Astana, at 15:40
• 68. Daniele Bennati, Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:42
• 69. Mauro Finetto, Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:57
• 70. Assan Bazayev, Astana, at 16:09
• 71. Jurgen Van Goolen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 16:50
• 72. Romain Zingle, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 17:01
• 73. Sergey Renev, Astana, at 17:01
• 74. Johann Tschopp, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 17:28
• 75. Johannes FrÖhlinger, Milram, at 17:43
• 76. Gonzalo RabuÑal, Xacobeo Galicia, at 19:50
• 77. Dario Cataldo, Quick Step, at 19:53
• 78. Daniele Pietropolli, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 19:57
• 79. Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:08
• 80. Pablo Urtasun, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:09
• 81. Grischa Niermann, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 20:53
• 82. Imanol Erviti, Caisse D’Epargne, at 21:14
• 83. Delio Fernandez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 21:15
• 84. Tony Gallopin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 21:17
• 85. Thomas LÖvkvist, Team Sky, at 21:29
• 86. Juan Javier Estrada, Andalucia Cajasur, at 21:38
• 87. Grega Bole, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 21:58
• 88. Joan Horrach, Team Katusha, at 22:51
• 89. Biel Kadri, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 23:12
• 90. Vincent Jerome, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 24:38
• 91. Davide Malacarne, Quick Step, at 24:45
• 92. Matteo Tosatto, Quick Step, at 25:40
• 93. Gustavo Rodriguez Iglesias, Xacobeo Galicia, at 25:47
• 94. Javier RamÍrez, Andalucia Cajasur, at 26:05
• 95. Oliver Zaugg, Liquigas-Doimo, at 26:47
• 96. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 28:10
• 97. Andy Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 28:58
• 98. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Transitions, at 29:01
• 99. Juan Antonio Flecha, Team Sky, at 29:12
• 100. Dominik Roels, Milram, at 29:17
• 101. Sergio Carrasco, Andalucia Cajasur, at 29:21
• 102. Anders Lund, Team Saxo Bank, at 29:26
• 103. Giampaolo Cheula, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 29:41
• 104. Manuel Ortega, Andalucia Cajasur, at 29:43
• 105. Antonio Piedra, Andalucia Cajasur, at 29:43
• 106. Markus Eichler, Milram, at 30:19
• 107. Perrig Quemeneur, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 30:41
• 108. Björn SchrÖder, Milram, at 31:10
• 109. J. Vicente GarcÍa Acosta, Caisse D’Epargne, at 31:40
• 110. Danilo Hondo, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 31:51
• 111. Dmitriy Fofonov, Astana, at 31:55
• 112. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 33:53
• 113. Paul Voss, Milram, at 33:57
• 114. Nikolas Maes, Quick Step, at 34:12
• 115. William Bonnet, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 34:18
• 116. Óscar Freire, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 34:21
• 117. Leif Hoste, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 34:33
• 118. Alexandre Pichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 34:57
• 119. Pierre Cazaux, Française des Jeux, at 35:25
• 120. Allan Davis, Astana, at 35:33
• 121. Kasper Klostergaard, Team Saxo Bank, at 35:39
• 122. Manuel Antonio Lea Cardoso,, at 35:39
• 123. Nico Sijmens, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 36:23
• 124. Daniele Righi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 38:14
• 125. Rinaldo Nocentini, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 38:17
• 126. Olivier Kaisen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 38:24
• 127. Beñat Intxausti, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 38:34
• 128. Martin Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 39:13
• 129. Lars Ytting Bak, HTC-Columbia, at 39:37
• 130. Jacopo Guarnieri, Liquigas-Doimo, at 39:47
• 131. Yauheni Hutarovich, Française des Jeux, at 39:50
• 132. Stuart O’grady, Team Saxo Bank, at 39:51
• 133. Martin Pedersen, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 39:54
• 134. Robert FÖrster, Milram, at 39:55
• 135. Stefan Denifl, Cervélo TestTeam, at 39:59
• 136. Kevin De Weert, Quick Step, at 40:00
• 137. Branislau Samoilau, Quick Step, at 40:00
• 138. Vladimir Isaichev, Xacobeo Galicia, at 40:03
• 139. Rémi Pauriol, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 40:05
• 140. Ian Stannard, Team Sky, at 40:08
• 141. Yoann Offredo, Française des Jeux, at 40:10
• 142. Gianni Meersman, Française des Jeux, at 40:10
• 143. Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, at 40:20
• 144. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 40:28
• 145. Enrique Mata, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 40:34
• 146. Hayden Roulston, HTC-Columbia, at 40:39
• 147. Philip Deignan, Cervélo TestTeam, at 40:42
• 148. Thor Hushovd, Cervélo TestTeam, at 40:56
• 149. Sebastian Langeveld, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 41:58
• 150. Michel Kreder, Garmin-Transitions, at 42:00
• 151. David Millar, Garmin-Transitions, at 43:29
• 152. Mikhail Ignatiev, Team Katusha, at 43:54
• 153. David Vitoria Cano, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 44:10
• 154. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, at 44:27
• 155. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions, at 44:36
• 156. Larrea Koldo FernÁndez De, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 45:02
• 157. Dmitry Kozontchuk, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 45:04
• 158. Simon Gerrans, Team Sky, at 45:15
• 159. Juan Jose Haedo, Team Saxo Bank, at 45:23
• 160. Andreas Stauff, Quick Step, at 45:23
• 161. Theo Bos, Cervélo TestTeam, at 45:25
• 162. Mauricio Ardila, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 45:53
• 163. Angelo Furlan, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 45:54
• 164. Johnnie Walker, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 46:00
• 165. Denis Galimzyanov, Team Katusha, at 46:01
• 166. Jorge Montenegro, Andalucia Cajasur, at 46:06
• 167. Domenik Klemme, Team Saxo Bank, at 46:31
• 168. Freddy Bichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 47:10
• 169. Matthew Wilson, Garmin-Transitions, at 47:42
• 170. Mickael Delage, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 48:13
• 171. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC-Columbia, at 49:15
• 172. Peter Kennaugh, Team Sky, at 49:36
• 173. Fabian Cancellara, Team Saxo Bank, at 50:05
• 174. David Zabriskie, Garmin-Transitions, at 54:30
• 175. Kjell CarlstrÖm, Team Sky, at 55:05
• 176. Arnaud Labbe, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 59:43
• 177. Valentin Iglinskiy, Astana, at 1:01:32
• 178. Julian Dean, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:13:33

Laurent Fignon's last professional road race, the 1993 Ouest France-Plouay

Perhaps the most notable reactions to the death of Laurent Fignon early Tuesday morning at age 50 came from a string of French politicians. Among those who hailed the outstanding career of the two-time Tour de France champion and noted his immense courage in the face of terminal cancer were President Nicolas Sarkozy, heads of French political parties, union leaders and former ministers of sport.

Some of the most telling tributes came from the French communist party’s general secretary Pierre Laurent, who said, “It’s with emotion that I’ve learned of the death today of Laurent Fignon, whose talent and generosity have written a magnificent page in the history of French cycling.”

Fignon’s battle with cancer lasted 18 months. It was initially defined as cancer of the digestive system, but a course of chemotherapy in the spring of 2009 was unsuccessful. He began to experience bronchial problems last year, and in January this year he told Paris-Match magazine that his doctors found the cancer had originated in his lungs.

This summer Fignon’s vocal chords were affected, but he still completed his assignment as a color commentator on French television at the 2010 Tour de France, working from his Paris home and speaking in a soft and throaty, yet informative and impassioned voice.

Lung cancer was not mentioned, but Fignon was a smoker after he ended his pro cycling career in 1993. Significantly, he never wrote about his cancer in his informative 2009 autobiography, “When We Were Young and Carefree,” which was published in English this year. He had said early on to his confidant and former trainer Alain Gallopin, now a directeur sportif at Team RadioShack: “I’m not afraid to die.”

The communist party’s Laurent said this Tuesday: “A champion of rare stature, Laurent Fignon honored his sport in taking a courageous position to denounce doping and the pressure put on riders by powerful pharmaceutical lobbies that falsify the spirit of cycling.”

In his book, Fignon did admit that he had succumbed to using drugs at various times in his career, but he was embarrassed when he once tested positive, and later spoke out against the temptations of doping.

A native of Paris

Born in the mainly working-class 17th arrondissement of northwest Paris on August 12, 1960, Laurent Fignon grew up at a time when France was slowly evolving from a traditional Old World country to a modern state. He was a talented but not particularly earnest student, although he did well enough to obtain his high school baccalaureate.

His English teacher Irène Frain, now a best-selling French novelist, said Tuesday, “For me, Laurent remained the young adolescent of 16, gauche, in (11th grade), with a bright red sweater and soft blue eyes. He remembered me some 20 years later as ‘a strict but fair teacher.’”

Fignon earned the nickname of Le Professeur from the other members of his small amateur cycling club because of his round, thick-lens glasses and scholastic achievements. When it came time for him to serve his compulsory military service he was selected to join the French army’s elite sporting battalion at Joinville, where he spent most of his time training and racing with his best pal, Pascal Jules, who was a year younger.

Their achievements earned them pro contracts for the 1982 season, Jules with a minor domestic team, Fignon with the famed Renault-Gitane squad that was directed by ace coach Cyrille Guimard and led by Bernard Hinault –‑ who was then the world’s No. 1 racer, having won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979 and 1981. Also on the team was the new American phenom Greg LeMond, who was fast gaining notoriety in his second pro season.

Remarkably, after winning some early-season races on the Côte d’Azur, the rookie Fignon was picked by Guimard to ride support for Hinault at the 1992 Giro d’Italia. Fignon would take the leader’s pink jersey after he placed second on stage 2 after helping Renault win the opening day’s team time trial. He went on to place 15th overall, with Hinault taking the victory.

Fignon quickly become known as a solid team rider in France, but his real breakthrough internationally came about because of a defeat in October 1982. The Paris-Tours race was then run in the opposite direction, from Blois to Chaville, a Paris suburb, giving the venerable classic a hilly finale.

Knowing the roads well, Fignon made a strong solo break and he was seen by the television audience heading for victory when he suddenly fell. The crash was caused by the titanium axle on his Campagnolo Record chainset snapping in two — the “new” material was not used again for such a force-sensitive component.

The youthful Fignon continued his rise to fame in 1983 at the Vuelta a España, then held in April and May. Again, he was riding for Hinault, and this time he was the only Renault team man that could support the French star in the mountains; Hinault won the race, while Fignon took six top-three finishes, including his first grand-tour stage win.

The following month, Fignon came to race in the United States at the one-day USPRO Championship, held on a small circuit in Baltimore; part of a small contingent of European riders, he finished fifth in a race won by Davis Phinney from Steve Bauer, who wouldn’t turn pro until after the 1984 Olympics.

A few weeks later, Fignon got a lucky break when teammate Hinault was unable to defend his Tour de France title because of knee tendinitis that required surgery. Without their leader, the Renault team went into the Tour with hopes of some stage wins from their young riders in what was a wide-open Tour.

The team’s sights were raised after the first week when Fignon figured in a big breakaway on the Pyrenean stage from Pau to Luchon over the Aubisque, Tourmalet, Aspin and Peyresourde mountains passes. Rival French team Peugeot took the honors — the stage win for Scot Robert Millar and the yellow jersey for French climber Pascal Simon — and not too many noticed that the 22-year-old Fignon, in his debut Tour, had moved into second place, albeit a couple of minutes behind Simon.

But 24 hours later, the picture changed. Simon fell in a small pileup and fractured his shoulder blade. The race leader continued for five days, but the pain became too much when the race hit the Alps and he quit — so Fignon inherited the maillot jaune at L’Alpe d’Huez. He kept it to the finish, but won only a single stage, taking the final time trial by less than a second over Irishman Sean Kelly.

Fignon was the Tour’s youngest winner in 50 years, and it transformed his career. The injured Hinault fell out with team director Guimard and started a new team, La Vie Claire, with French entrepreneur Bernard Tapie, and Fignon became Renault’s top rider — even though LeMond (who would make his Tour debut in 1984) won the world pro road race championship a month after Fignon won the Tour.

With his confidence raised, Fignon went to the 1984 Giro with ambitions of winning. Indeed, he did wear the pink jersey into the final stage after taking second place on the two toughest mountain stage only to lose the victory to Francesco Moser in the final day’s time trial — when the Italian rode a futuristic aero’ bike like the one he’d earlier used to break the world hour record of Eddy Merckx.

Fignon was determined not to leave room for error at the 1984 Tour, which saw him ride a brilliant race, winning five stages and putting runner-up Hinault, his old boss, 10 minutes behind him by Paris; LeMond was third. The immense confidence gained by Fignon was emphasized when Hinault, still in contention, made a bold solo break in the valley before L’Alpe d’Huez. Fignon, after winning the stage, commented: “When I saw him attack like that I began to laugh.”

Fignon, still only 23, never again reached such a high peak. He, too, suffered from tendinitis of the knee and had surgery that prevented him riding the 1985 Tour (Hinault won from LeMond, who had transferred to La Vie Claire). Then Renault pulled its sponsorship — a setback that showed Fignon’s true character. He could have accepted big offers from other teams but he decided to stick with Guimard.

Guimard, who is now a team manager and radio consultant, said on Tuesday: “In 1985, when the Renault corporation decided to abandon us, (Laurent) stayed faithful and worked with me to find a new a sponsor.”

The new sponsor, supermarket chain Système U, would support the team for four years, but Fignon was the not the same rider after his injury. His only significant success in 1986 was winning the Flèche Wallonne classic in Belgium. He came in seventh at the Vuelta and 17th at the Dauphiné in his warm-up races for the Tour, but his return to La Grande Boucle ended with him pulling out after 12 stages (LeMond was the overall winner).

Fignon’s fortunes worsened in 1987, when his best friend, Jules, died in a car crash after playing in a charity soccer game. Fignon won only two minor criteriums that year, with his top rides being third overall at Paris-Nice (winning two stages), third at the Vuelta (one stage win) and seventh at the Tour (one stage win).

Things didn’t go much better for Fignon in 1988 except for a brilliant solo win in the March classic, Milan-San Remo; he had an abysmal Tour, not placing top 10 on any stage and pulling out at the halfway mark. But it appeared that he was finally back on track in 1989 when he again took Milan-San Remo before winning the Giro (where an out-of-sorts LeMond, still not recovered from his 1987 shotgun wounds and subsequent injuries, almost quit after failing in the mountain stages).

The infamous eight seconds

This was the background to the historic 1989 Tour, when Fignon and LeMond fought one of the event’s epic duels, with first one then the other taking the lead. The race appeared to be over when Fignon took the yellow jersey on L’Alpe d’Huez only five days from the finish and extended his lead to 50 seconds over LeMond the next day.

Then, on the final mountain stage, Fignon dropped all of his rivals on the Col de Cucheron and could have shot for another stage win in Aix-les-Bains; but he felt that he already had the Tour sewn up and wasn’t concerned when LeMond took the stage’s sprint victory ahead of the small group of leaders. There followed one more flat stage and a train transfer to Paris before the finale: a 24.5km time trial from Versailles to the Champs-Élysées

Reviewing the situation in a post-Tour interview Fignon said, “Frankly, I had 50 seconds’ lead and that’s what I’d lost (to LeMond) over more than 70K (in the Tour’s first long time trial). Over less than half that distance, I didn’t have too many concerns.”

Already, in that earlier 76km time trial to Rennes, LeMond had used a prototype clip-on aerobar to win the stage. So Fignon felt he had no reason to experiment with a last-minute imitation bar that Guimard’s Système U team had produced; the Frenchman didn’t even wear an aero helmet over his trademark blond ponytail.

The whole world saw what happened. LeMond raced with inspiration to set the winning time in Paris at a record speed for a TT longer than 20km, 54.545 kph, and Fignon rode with desperation to reach the finish line an agonizing 58 seconds behind and lose the Tour to the American by the smallest-ever winning margin, eight seconds.

On finishing, Fignon collapsed onto the pink cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées as LeMond, his former teammate, celebrated his magnificent comeback — not only that day, but also from the hunting accident that almost cost him his life two years before. Ironically, Fignon’s defeat made him a more popular figure with the public after being deemed arrogant after his two Tour victories in the early ’80s.

Fignon never won another major race. He abandoned the 1990 Tour on stage 5, placed sixth overall in 1991, and after leaving Guimard to join Italian team Gatorade for his final two seasons, Fignon finished 23rd at the 1992 Tour and abandoned the race in his final season.

True to his unassuming nature, Fignon didn’t have a symbolic farewell race for his fans like Hinault and most top stars. He quit halfway through a minor race in Brittany before the end of the 1993 season and never raced again. Fignon’s last victory happened earlier that year when he came to North America to ride the Ruta Mexico stage race to please his team sponsor, Gatorade.

Assessing Fignon, his former protégé and partner, Guimard said Tuesday: “He was a man of great feeling, very shy, a little complex. He protected himself behind a sort of arrogance that made him unpopular … (but) his defeat (at the ’89 Tour) allowed him to be more popular and sympathetic.”

Ten years after that loss, Fignon himself said, “Sure, for the pride, for my career, I should have won that Tour. But, for the continuation, I must say that it was better that I lost. And the continuation of my life is long….”

Tragically, his life was cut short on Tuesday at a hospital in Paris. He is being buried on Friday at the Père Lachaisse cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. It’s said to be the most visited cemetery in the world, containing the tombs of French jazz musician Stéphane Grappelli, French playwright Molière, American pop musician Jim Morrison and Irish author Oscar Wilde. And, for eternity, the French cyclist Laurent Fignon.

Six more Cervelo TestTeam riders will join the Garmin-Cervelo team for 2011, the team announced Wednesday. The six will join Thor Hushovd, who announced Sunday that he would join the new team.

The six additional riders are: Roger Hammond, Heinrich Haussler, Andreas Klier, Brett Lancaster, Daniel Lloyd and Gabriel Rasch. Garmin-Transitions riders who are confirmed to be continuing with the team include: Tyler Farrar, Ryder Hesjedal, Christian Vande Velde, David Zabriskie and Dan Martin.

Although the team said the roster is not final, a team statement said the six who are joining the team mark “the remaining Cervelo TestTeam riders to join,” suggesting that other TestTeam riders, including Ted King, Theo Bos, Jeremy Hunt, and Dominque Rollin, will not be joining the new team.

“Team Garmin-Cervélo’s roster will be strong and versatile,” said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of Slipstream Sports, the team’s owner and manager. “All of these riders bring a lot of experience to what’s already a great team. I’m proud of what we’ve done since 2008, and I’m excited for what we’ll do in 2011.”

List of recent ProTour rider transfers

Slipstream Sports - the company behind Team Garmin-Transitions - earlier today announced six additions to the 2011 roster, marking the remaining Cervélo TestTeam riders to join the newly formed Team Garmin-Cervelo for 2011.

Message by NONE
Two times Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, and at only 50 years of age, his time came much too soon. PEZ offers this humble remembrance to the only racer who could carry off a nickname like “The Professor’ with dignity.

Mobile version

Igor Anton wins stage 4 of the Tour of Spain 2010 for Team Euskaltel; Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert leads 2010 Vuelta a Espana overall.

Igor Anton wins stage 4 of the Tour of Spain 2010 for Team Euskaltel; Omega Pharma-Lotto's Philippe Gilbert leads 2010 Vuelta a Espana overall.