Memorial to Laurent Fignon at Paris – Cycling News
A memorial to late Laurent Fignon was revealed before the start of the final stage of Tour de France 2011. Fignon was a French professional cyclist and a two time winner of the Tour de France as he wore a yellow jersey in 1983 and 1984 and missed out by
eight seconds in 1989. Fignon died on August 31, 2010.
He started his career in 1980 at the US Creteil cycling club and joined Renault-Elf team later on as he stepped in to professional cycling.
The final stage of this year’s Tour de France was scheduled in Paris and Fignon’s family and his previous team-mates inaugurated just before the start of the final race on Sunday.
“Laurent Fignon is a part of the history of the USC. This memorial is to underline the role of the club in French and international cycling, and in the history of the Tour,” Martine Rolland mayor of Creteil said.
Fignon was following the Tour de France even after the bad health conditions as he opted himself as a television commentator. Tour de France organisers and L'Équipe, a local newspaper took the initiative to give their tribute to the great cyclist.
During 2009, it was revealed that Fignon was going through treatment of metastatic cancer and was diagnosed in April 2009 until in January 2010 when doctors found out that cancer was reaching his lungs.
The 50-year-old who was nicknamed as The Professor not only because of his round glasses but also because he was amongst the few cyclists who passed their baccalaureate exams.
Fignon was not in the Tour de France 1983, but when Hinault, who won four previous Tours, announced his unavailability due to an injury, Renault team was missing a captain. Fignon was than included in the team as they decided to go for stage wins. Fignon
was in second place behind Pascal Simon after the stage 9 but Pascal broke his shoulder in a crash and had to leave the race in stage 17.
Laurent became the new leader in his first Tour de France and went on to win the Tour as he was the youngest man to win the Tour de France since 1933.
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