Originally Posted by
Keith99
The image put forward by most American writers still is one Hampsten flatly contradicted in an interview he gave later.
Per Hampsten Lemond had 2 riders working for him, but Hinault had only one, his longtime Lt. There were 2 veteran French riders on the team working for a team result and 2 poor swiss riders just trying to figure out the politics and survive.
This jibes more with my memory of the events, Bauer and Hampsten riding for Lemond, the French (at least Bernard) riding for Hinault and the Swiss being Swiss.
Thanks to the link to the Hampsten interview, really enjoyed that. Always liked him as a rider and he seems to have made a great life for himself after racing.
Saw this interview with Steve Bauer, says pretty much the same things.
Interview: Steve Bauer, Part I | RKP
Originally Posted by
Keith99
BTW Hinault could easily have won the Tour in 86. At one point he was up several minutes, the next day he attacked again. That day Lemond caught him and took the time back.
I'm not saying Hinault was a saint or even a good teammate, I'm saying he was trying to win and have plausible deniability and when he had a choice it went for plausible deniability (and a chance for a monster win) over eaking out a small win and no deniability.
I still to this day don't understand Hinault's attack after he took yellow unless he truly knew that Lemond was that much stronger and he needed more time. If he just rode conservativley he might well have won.
I don't blame Hinault for wanting to win a 6th Tour, he was hyper competitive and was probably tired of hearing Merckx tell anyone that would listen that Merckx had faced tougher competition. A 6th Tour would have put Hinault in sole possession for Tour victories.
As someone who is probably more emotionally akin to Lemond I can understand feeling betrayed when someone promises you one thing and does something else.
Still not sure what to make of Koechli, both Hampsten and Bauer were complimentary of him but he comes off badly in the documentary. I recall several years ago he did an interview where he flatly stated that the only 3 riders that rode for him that did it clean were Lemond, Hampsten and Bauer so I'm not sure where all the animosity comes from Lemond. Of course Koechli could just have said that to improve his standing with Lemond.
Sounds like I have to read the book at some point.