ed073

Won the final Tour stage on the Champs-Elysees in 1994 on his own....in the rain too, IIRC.

from cyclingnews.com


Seigneur calls time
After finishing the last stage of the Tour de la Somme, French veteran and four-time French national time trial champion Eddy Seigneur has decided to call it a day. "It was not an easy decision to take," said Seigneur. "But it was necessary. I have 14 pro seasons behind me. It had to come to an end one day or other, and this was a personal decision based on personal choice - I remained motivated from start to finish of my pro career."

Seigneur rode for the RAGT Semences team in 2005 and during his career the 36-year-old rode all three Grand Tours, was French road race champion in 1995, and French time trial champion in 1996, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He always rode from French teams, including Gan, Francaise des Jeux and Jean Delatour.

Seigneur doesn't intend on quitting cycling completely, though. "I can't ever imagine stopping cycling altogether," he said. "Cycling is for life."

While he plans to stay active, his professional involvement may see him switch from wheels to keyboard. "I'd like to stay in sport; in cycling of course," he said. "I wouldn't say no to other propositions either. I'm ruling nothing out for the moment. I'm going to give myself a year to get used to my new responsibilities. I'm pretty attracted by the idea of working for the written sports press. I've already made one or two moves in that direction."

YMCA

You a friend of his?

His career was a good one. Not a prolific winner, but quite strong for sure. I remember the TDF stage in '94. Frankie Andreu was in the break as well and got 2nd. It was good to see a break succeed on the Champ Elysees.

Nothing beats Vino's effort in Paris at this years Tour though!

ed073

Nah....not a friend. Met him once at a criterium in Holland....he was chatting with Durand and I was in his face like a kid who'd got backstage at a pop concert. Nice bloke.

I just get nostalgic when all the old racers give it away....

YMCA

I get a bit nostalgic as well. I miss the leather helmets and full 150 race day seasons. Impossible to race 200x a year now a days with the speeds so high from the start of every event, but there was something quite romantic before big money came in. Yes, I know managers were dirty and riders were doped full up, but I still loved it.

ed073

Yeah.....when everyone was on 10kg Columbus SLX bikes....Mavic GP4 rims....Selle Italia Turbo black suede saddles....you could get a complete Mavic groupset, handlebars and stem too....chainstays and forks used to be chrome-plated....there was an amateur calendar where Olaf Ludwig or Soukhourochenkov won everything....

I loved it too....."sniff".

YMCA

Looks like you and I are the only ones "pining" for the old days.

Although I love my 10spd cassettes, I really miss when the sport wasn't all about pretty boys and flashy mags. It's okay though, I've got some great memories (a bit clouded of course).

Nice to know I can still turn the big gears when motivated. Especially when I'm out competing against the kids with a fire in their bellies. I like those kids, but not the ones worried if their sunglasss match their tires.

Thanks for the quick trip down "good-ol'-day lane.

ed073

Amen.

(sound of Ed reaching for the VHS of the epic 1988 World's in Ronse...)

YMCA

Ronse 1988. I've ridden that course. Beautiful training roads. Hard racing circuits.

Bauer was robbed. Criquelion made the mistake. Fondriest made quite a career after that race.

ed073

100% correct on all counts.



Watching The Criq cross the line, bloodied arm in the air, dragging his Merckx still gives me goosebumps.


The effort Bauer made to get up to them with only 800m left still amazes me.