In 1984, moser was coming towards the end of a glittering career, but had never managed to win his home tour. The book covers the cycling life very well but rarely mentions anything of his family life. Fignon s autobiography caused a storm when it came out. In the 1984 giro ditalia, laurent ended the race in the second position behind italian francesco moser but under controversial circumstances. In june 2009, fignon revealed that he was being treated for advanced intestinal cancer. Laurent fignon biography childhood, life achievements. We were young and carefree by laurent fignon overdrive. British robert millar won the mountains classification and laurent fignon would win a. Laurent fignon was born in paris on august 12, 1960. Au terme dun veritable duel contre bernard hinault, laurent fignon simpose et conserve le. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
English translation of fignons biography on its way. Lucien van impe follows laurent fignon in stage 19 finishing in selva val gardena in the 1984 giro ditalia. Join facebook to connect with laurent fignon and others you may know. In june 2009, fignon revealed that he was being treated for advanced intestinal cancer and he died in august 2010. Fignon had just announced hed been diagnosed with cancer and. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Francesco moser, a man in demand on the 1984 giro ditalia.
Laurent fignon is in a battle that will test his endurance in ways that no bike race ever did, and it will likely go on much longer than any race he ever competed in. Its an outstanding memoir that he completed not long before his death. Fignon talks about his visit to colombia in his book, we were young and carefree. Bernard hinault laurent fignon, duel a lalpe dhuez. Fignon began competing in cycling events as a teenager, and in 1982 he turned professional. Mar 08, 2010 so begins the biography about laurent fignon. Even the choice of vocabulary in the translation rings true with the authors tone. The book is published by yellow jersey press and available in. Some said this was only because hinault had a knee injury. His taunting of hinault during and after the 1984 tdf was one of the reasons i.
In the book he admits to using banned substances while competing. Fignon ground hinault to a pulp by more than 10 minutes. This is his autobiography, no ghostwriter, although it was expertly translated into english from its original french. In his absence, laurent fignon was entrusted with the role of team leader of the renault team. Tour moves to alps as fignon excels the new york times. We were young and carefree by laurent fignon goodreads. Guerrilla warfare, luis herrera, bernard hinault, and laurent fignon, 1984. In his book, fignon did admit that he had succumbed to using drugs at. Laurent fignon is the author of we were young and carefree 4. This story is a chapter from richard moores book etape. But this book by laurent fignon i know i am reading an english translation may be my.
Guerrilla warfare, luis herrera, bernard hinault, and. Fignon repeated as champion in 1984, besting fellow frenchman and. We were young and carefree fignon, laurent, fotheringham, william on. Fignon won the tour in 1983 and 1984 but was perhaps most famous for the 1989 contest, when he. Laurent was born in 1960 and passed away from cancer in august 2010. But, in 1983, laurent fignon appears to have been riding for renaultelf on a gitane equipped with simplex gears. Guerrilla warfare, luis herrera, bernard hinault, and laurent fignon, 1984 this story is a chapter from richard moores book etape. It contains a few elements from the book so if you worry ill spoil the read for you, look away. This, very 1980s, postcard shows a rather beefy compared to modern cyclists laurent fignon wearing a maillot jaune that has inexplicably. Fignons book spared no one including some of those who paid. If it all came to end quickly, i wouldnt have many regrets. Fignon took to cycling when he was a fifteen year old teenager and practiced on his fathers vigneron bike.
This is what a historian had to say about laurent patrick fignon, the french road bicycle racer. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read we were young and carefree. Lemond was a young but talented teammate at the renaultelfgitane team in 1984 and finished third overall in the tour. Yellow jersey press laurent fignon we were young and carefree. Fignon suggests that he never had a nickname that stuck. The obituary was featured in legacy on august 31, 2010. His teammate vincent barteau gained a huge amount of time in. Fignon wonders if drug use caused cancer bicycling. Laurent fignon is one of the giants of modern cycling. Fignon finishes stage 5 at blockhaus in the 1984 giro ditalia. His taunting of hinault during and after the 1984 tdf was one of the reasons i took to disliking the man. Fignon wonders if drug use caused cancer frances laurent fignon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week.
Renaults french rider laurent fignon won his second consecutive tour, beating former teammate bernard hinault by over 10 minutes. My only complaint as ever is the lack of photos and an index. Jul 22, 2010 as the winner in 1983 and 1984 id already drunk that cup to the full. Laurent fignon, we were young and carefree was first published in french in 2009. Laurent fignon led the 1984 giro ditalia until francesco moser took the win on the final stage. Fignon had lemond, the reigning world road champion, as his trusty lieutenant making his tour debut. In the 1989 tour, he lost out to his american archrival, greg lemond, by. Laurent fignon is a name that would be known to any cycling fan. Laurent fignon author of we were young and carefree.
About the time of his death the book was translated into english by william fotheringham. Laurent fignon drew tributes from across french society after losing his. They made sure i lost laurent fignon and the controversial 84. In his book about his career, we were young and unconcerned, fignon.
In 1984, fignon was reigning tour champ, now facing hinault, who returned to the peloton with a vengeance, but in the kit of a new team. Defending tour champion laurent fignon displayed an incredible mastery over all his competitors in the 1984 edition. Sign and view the guest book, leave condolences or send flowers. The international bestselling autobiography of the legendary french cyclist laurent fignon. In the 1984 giro ditalia, fignon was in the lead near the end of the race, with italian. Today marks the fifth anniversary of the death of laurent fignon. He grew up about 20 miles away in tournanenbrie at a time before it was just another bedroom community near the city of light, and still had some woods in which the youngster and his mates could play out their small adventures.
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