Originally Posted by HigherGround

Indeed. If I remember correctly, one of the announcers noted about the '89 Tour that you can't have a great race without a great challenger, or words to that effect. LeMond's victory would not have been so spectacular without an outstanding adversary. Like Cipollini and Pantani, Fignon was one of the riders who stood out in their own way, and really added color and character to the peloton.