Originally Posted by same time
Check out the final standings for 1989 - he finished third, something like 3:30 down. The 1989 Tour was the closest finish ever, and if Delgado had not shown up late for the start he would have been right in the thick of the action instead of playing catch-up the whole way.
I remember at the time there were rumours that a seductress had delayed him - there was a funny name like "Madame Prologue" or something, Fignon had hired her. He took a lot of flak for that.
That's funny, I had never heard that.
If you watch that tour, there are a couple of times DelGado just looks Fignon and Lemond in the eye and attacks dropping them effortlessly in the mountains. I think he could have quite possible won a second TDF in a row if he had been on time in the Prologue. You are correct--Delgado's presence in the GC would have made for a much more competitive race.