R.I.P. Laurent Fignon
08-31-10, 08:25 AM
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R.I.P. Laurent Fignon
He was 50. 
08-31-10, 08:52 AM
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08-31-10, 08:55 AM
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Banned.
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Didn't he die of colon cancer?
I understand he did his best to provide commentary to this year's TdF but was too ill to do much.
I understand he did his best to provide commentary to this year's TdF but was too ill to do much.
08-31-10, 08:57 AM
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08-31-10, 08:59 AM
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Checked it out. Apparently it was pancreatic cancer. He had beaten himself pretty badly and blamed it on his doping, but I doubt doping had anything to do with it. Pancreatic cancer is just a bad actor.
08-31-10, 09:09 AM
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Sad news indeed.
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
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A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking. - S. Wright
Favorite rides in the stable: Indy Fab CJ Ti - Colnago MXL - S-Works Roubaix - Habanero Team Issue - Jamis Eclipse carbon/831
08-31-10, 09:15 AM
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I saw a piece on him during the TDF where he said he had his good days and his bad days. He was upbeat and tried to enjoy the time he had, it seemed.
08-31-10, 09:20 AM
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My favourite cyclist of the 80s, intelligent, kind and brave. And also a romantic, stating that in the great scheme of things, bike riding isn't a great thing, but then what is?
From a recent interview
Je n’ai pas envie de mourir à 50 ans, mais si c’est incurable, qu’est-ce que j’y peux ? J’aime la vie, j’adore rigoler, voyager, lire, bien bouffer, comme un bon Français. Je n’ai pas peur de la mort, je n’en ai juste pas envie !
I don't want to die at 50, but if it's incurable, what can I do about it? I love life, I love to have a laugh, to travel, to read, to eat well, just like a good Frenchman. I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want it!
I was booked to ride with him at Bagnerres de Bignorre, his road training clinic, and then other stuff happened
(And on the drugs question set above, his comment was - 'at my time, yes, there was illegal consumption everywhere, but not at all systematic, more recreational. Systematic consumption developed more in the 90s with EPO. If my current illness was linked to cycling stimulants, there wouldn't be any 80s cyclists alive'
Make of that what you will. Me, admiration and regret
From a recent interview
Je n’ai pas envie de mourir à 50 ans, mais si c’est incurable, qu’est-ce que j’y peux ? J’aime la vie, j’adore rigoler, voyager, lire, bien bouffer, comme un bon Français. Je n’ai pas peur de la mort, je n’en ai juste pas envie !
I don't want to die at 50, but if it's incurable, what can I do about it? I love life, I love to have a laugh, to travel, to read, to eat well, just like a good Frenchman. I'm not afraid of dying, I just don't want it!
I was booked to ride with him at Bagnerres de Bignorre, his road training clinic, and then other stuff happened
(And on the drugs question set above, his comment was - 'at my time, yes, there was illegal consumption everywhere, but not at all systematic, more recreational. Systematic consumption developed more in the 90s with EPO. If my current illness was linked to cycling stimulants, there wouldn't be any 80s cyclists alive'
Make of that what you will. Me, admiration and regret
08-31-10, 10:32 AM
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He was something to watch and read about.
The '89 battle with LeMond in the TdF was incredible. Got me back on the bike!
The '89 battle with LeMond in the TdF was incredible. Got me back on the bike!
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08-31-10, 11:07 AM
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Today is a sad day for cycling. Some of my most vivid TdF memories have him in them. Whether you were "All-American" and pulling for the US or not, you had to have respect for Fignon and the way he rode.
RIP...
Charles
RIP...
Charles
08-31-10, 11:39 AM
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I'll never forget when Fignon overcooked a corner during a ToF and went off the mountain. Scrambling back up the embankment, he remounted...and won the stage.
08-31-10, 12:28 PM
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there have never been enough like him in the peleton. Thoughtful, gracious and full of courage, I always liked and respected him; a true scholar and athlete.
08-31-10, 03:35 PM
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I was saddened to read this on Velonews.com. He was a great cyclist.
08-31-10, 07:58 PM
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Sad to hear. He was an exception to the European mold, more like the typical US bike racer. Most Europeans are from the working class, trying to get rich from cycling, sort of like boxers in the US. Most American bike racers are university-educated, or are more concerned with life after racing. Fignon, "The Professor," was much closer to this model, and I think that played a large part in his appeal to North Americans.
The strange thing is, most of the old time Euro Pro bike racers, back in the old days, would die at age 54 from all that doping. Sadly, Fignon didn't even make it that far. I will drink a toast to the gentleman.
Luis
The strange thing is, most of the old time Euro Pro bike racers, back in the old days, would die at age 54 from all that doping. Sadly, Fignon didn't even make it that far. I will drink a toast to the gentleman.
Luis
08-31-10, 08:32 PM
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So sad.
When I followed racing back in the 80's, he was one of my favorites. A class guy all the way.
When I followed racing back in the 80's, he was one of my favorites. A class guy all the way.
Last edited by Louis; 08-31-10 at 09:36 PM.
08-31-10, 09:33 PM
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RIP Laurent Fignon, Thank you for being an inspiration to our generation.
09-01-10, 10:54 AM
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09-01-10, 06:21 PM
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Ah, the man with the pony tail . . .
Bien fait Laurent . . . RIP!
Bien fait Laurent . . . RIP!
09-05-10, 10:18 AM
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According to the obit in our local rag, he stated he doped but it was all recreational with cocaine the emphasis of fun.
