Professional Cycling - What is Hinault's job ??

What is Hinault's job ??

he is the one who sleeps with the yellow jersey girls

He's kinda Like the French Jesse Jackson.. high profile, always hanging around near the cameras, but no one really knows what he does....

Curmudgeon

I believe he essentially sits on the board of the Tour de France organization. Which very well may entail all jobs stated above.

I think it is his job to blow smoke up LA's a$$ after every stage. :D

Stab Greg Lemond in the back...?

Stab Greg Lemond in the back...?
that would make 2 A-holes that Lance will pass in the record books

Washout celebrity... Zipps up Jerseys...

He's there because he is a french national hero and was (and still is) a giant in the world of professional cycling. He won five tours, and ten grand tours, and a host of classics. He was a huge "patron" of the peloton and still commands great respect -- at least in the cycling world, even if not on this Bike Forum where most folks have been watching the tour for how many years? Since LA became a household name?

His job, as I understand it, is simply to add his presence to the race, to be visible in a PR role, be an occasional consultant to the organizers, etc.

Many americans don't like him because of his treatment of Greg Lemond back in the La Vie Claire days, but he's much loved in France, and with good reason.

Touche, mon ami.

that would make 2 A-holes that Lance will pass in the record books
What makes you say that? I didn't know Greg Lemond was like that at all, rather he seems to be one of the few good guys.

Is it because he accused Lance of Doping? I suppose thats is unsportsman like.... :mad:

[QUOTE=lthis Bike Forum where most folks have been watching the tour for how many years? Since LA became a household name? .[/QUOTE]


No actually I've been watching/following cycling since about this era ;)

I believe he badgers the race leader to make sure he wears the Yellow Jersey properly.

He's there because he's the second greatest rider of all time.

Lemond is a tool. He couldn't really handle being surpassed as America's greatest cyclist and it's made him petty and bitter. Not to mention fat. That guy became a tub.

The tail end of his career was a joke. It's fine to suck...it happens to most mortals as they age, but do it graceful. He blamed his lack of form on just about everything including Tyler's twin. The truth was he was old, rich and lacked the drive to really compete on that level any more.

Pretty much the same as Bill Clinton's job these days.

He's there because he's the second greatest rider of all time.
In two days, the third greatest.

He's there because he is a french national hero and was (and still is) a giant in the world of professional cycling. He won five tours, and ten grand tours, and a host of classics. He was a huge "patron" of the peloton and still commands great respect -- at least in the cycling world, even if not on this Bike Forum where most folks have been watching the tour for how many years? Since LA became a household name?

His job, as I understand it, is simply to add his presence to the race, to be visible in a PR role, be an occasional consultant to the organizers, etc.

Many americans don't like him because of his treatment of Greg Lemond back in the La Vie Claire days, but he's much loved in France, and with good reason.

I agree with what you're saying (although I lost a lot of respect for him for what he did to Lemond), which is why it's somewhat strange seeing a man of his stature standing behind yellow jersey wearers and zipping up their jerseys. Kind of like Michael Jordan at the NBA Finals handing out the World Champion hats and t-shirts to the winning team. Weird.

le tour is way bigger in france than the NBA finals are in the states

In two days, the third greatest.

No, he'll probably be second greatest for a long time.

For all you 99ers and newbies:

Hinault

TDF (5)
Vuelta (2)
Giro (3)
Dauphine Libere (3)
LBL (2)
FlecheWallonne (2)
Grand Prix des Nations (5)
Giro di Lombardia (2)
Worlds (1)
Paris Roubaix (1)
UCI world cup (4)

Of course this was back in the "old days" of the late 70s and 80s.

Lemond is a tool. He couldn't really handle being surpassed as America's greatest cyclist and it's made him petty and bitter. Not to mention fat. That guy became a tub.

The tail end of his career was a joke. It's fine to suck...it happens to most mortals as they age, but do it graceful. He blamed his lack of form on just about everything including Tyler's twin. The truth was he was old, rich and lacked the drive to really compete on that level any more.
Thanks for the enlightenment ;) He is still my hero as he was a modern day cycling pioneer and really was my inspiration to cycling in the 80's. I'll always be thankfull to him for that :)

le tour is way bigger in france than the NBA finals are in the states

OK, agreed, so now it's even more uncomfortable than seeing Jordan passing out hats.

The tail end of his career was a joke. It's fine to suck...it happens to most mortals as they age, but do it graceful. He blamed his lack of form on just about everything including Tyler's twin. The truth was he was old, rich and lacked the drive to really compete on that level any more.

I don't suppose getting shot had anything to do with his lowered motivation.

Thank you laggard! Hinault's record speaks for itself. He was a monster on the bike, and if I remember, it was either him or Merycx who told Armstrong to give "no gifts".

I don't suppose getting shot had anything to do with his lowered motivation.


considering he won the twice after getting shot it would seem a nonfactor? that would be like saying, if LA lost this year, that it was because he had cancer

I agree with what you're saying (although I lost a lot of respect for him for what he did to Lemond), which is why it's somewhat strange seeing a man of his stature standing behind yellow jersey wearers and zipping up their jerseys. Kind of like Michael Jordan at the NBA Finals handing out the World Champion hats and t-shirts to the winning team. Weird.

Even more wierd to me is the whole stuffed lion bit. Flowers I can see, but a Walmart stuffed animal? And the way it appears from behind the backdrop, with an unseen hand. That's freaking kooky. Or just French. Anyone know the deal behind the toy lion bit and why it's important to see it at the stage presentation every time?

The yellow jersey is sponsored by Credit Lyonaise, French Banking house. Its their symbol / mascot.