It was a sad day at Corza when we heard about the passing of Laurent Fignon. It doesn't seem all that long ago we were watching Fignon winning his final Tour stage in 1992. Its a sign of a great career when we look back at a stage win with a sense of melancholy.

Like Stephen Roche's stage win at La Bourboule the same year it was always going to be measured against earlier achievements. The pressure and attention of filling a post Hinault vacuum and being known as the man who came second in the 1989 Tour meant that Fignon finished his career with the Italian Gatorade/Chateau D'ax outfit that was better known for being the home of Gianni Bugno. How many other French men would have gone and ridden for an Italian team? There was a great logic to it though. Like Robert Millar, Fignon was his own man showing an intelligence and intellect that helped him gain his 'Professeur' nickname.

Fignon's best days of the mid 1980s were riding with Cyrille Guimard's Renault superteam. Two tour wins in '83 and '84 set him up as the next big French star. The 1984 Tour was probably the crowning moment. Hinault was back from injury, an American by the name of Greg Lemond was riding his first tour - finishing third, and Sean Kelly was at the peak of his powers.  It was during this time the classic Fignon images of the blue Gitane bike, (with yellow decals and handlebar tape of course) and French national champions jersey emerged. We'd still love a steel frame in that lovely deep blue colour with some classic campag equipment.

Remember the 1987 Tour? Remember what happened on La Plagne? The Delgado, Roche battle that ended with Roche crossing the finish line and being administered Oxygen. That incident will be remembered as one of the defining moments of that years Tour, rightly so. Who won the stage that day? Fignon. How many people remember that though? Lets not go down 1982 Blois-Chaville route...

Fignon was so much more than those 8 seconds in July in 1989, a winner of Milan - San Remos, Giros, Tours, and a contender from March to October.

Photo Velodenz