French cyclist. He was world number one in his sport from July 1989 until June 1990. He won the Giro D'Italia (1989), la Flèche Wallonne (1986), Milan San Rémo (1988, 1989), and the Critérium International (1982, 1990). He was French Champion in 1984, and won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984.
Laurent Fignon (born August 12, 1960 in Paris, France) is a French former professional cyclist, who won the Tour de France twice in 1983 and 1984, and missed winning it a third time, in 1989, by a very narrow margin. Hinault was the winner of the Tour in 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982, whereas Fignon was a young newcomer on the same Renault-Elf-Gitane team directed by the legendary Cyrille Guimard (Hinault's fallout with Guimard the following year meant that Fignon became Guimard's new protégé). Mid-way through the 1983 Tour, the race leader Pascal Simon lost more than three minutes of his advantage to Fignon in a 15.6km individual time trial, with Fignon claiming the maillot jaune two days later. Fignon won the stage 7 time trial, beat Hinault in the sprint for second place on the 14th stage, then beat him soundly in stage 16 (another time trial). On the stage to Alpe d'Huez, Fignon gained a further three minutes over Hinault; he then won the mountain top finish stage at La Plagne, stage 20 from Morzine to Crans-Montana, and the final time trial stage (22) - giving him five stage victories in the Tour.
A knee injury meant Fignon missed the 1985 Tour, and he did not finish the 1986 race, retiring on stage 12 to Pau. However, Fignon is also particularly remembered for finishing second in the 1989 Tour de France when he lost to Greg Lemond by only eight seconds. Before the final stage time trail, Fignon had a 50-second advantage over Lemond on general classification, but Lemond beat Fignon by 58 seconds in the stage and, with an overall lead of just eight seconds, gained his second Tour de France victory after having become the first American winner of the Tour de France in 1986.
Fignon did not complete the 1990 Tour, but finished 6th in 1991, and 23rd overall in 1992, taking his ninth and last stage win at Mulhouse on stage 11.
Retirement
Upon retirement Fignon started to become involved with managing several races, most notably Paris-Nice until it was taken over by ASO, the organizer of Tour de France in 2004.
Significant victories by year
1982 Renault-Elf-Gitane 1st, Critérium International 1983 Renault-Elf-Gitane 1st, Critérium International 1st, Overall, Tour de France (and Stage 21 win) Stage, Tirreno-Adriatico Stage, Critérium International Stage, Vuelta a España 1984 Renault (Gitane) 1st, Overall, Tour de France (and Stage 7, 16, 18, 20 and 22 wins) 2nd, Overall, Giro d'Italia (and King of the Mountains and Stage 20 win) France National Road Race Cycling Champion 1986 Systeme U (Gitane) 1st, La Flèche Wallonne Stage, Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré 1987 Systeme U (Gitane) Two stages, Paris-Nice Stage, Vuelta a España 7th, Overall, Tour de France (and Stage 21 win) 1988 Systeme U (Gitane) 1st, Milan-Sanremo Stage, Critérium International 1st, Paris-Camembert 1989 Super U (Raleigh) 1st, Overall, Giro d'Italia (and one stage win) 1st, Milan-Sanremo 2nd, Overall, Tour de France (Combativity prize and Stage 18 win) 11 days in maillot jaune (Stages 10-20) 1st, Grand Prix des Nations 1990 Castorama (Raleigh) 1st, Critérium International 1991 Castorama (Raleigh) 6th, Overall, Tour de France 1992 Gatorade (Bianchi) 23rd, Overall, Tour de France (and Stage 11 win) 1993 Gatorade (Bianchi) 1st, Overall, Ruta Mexico|
Preceded by: Bernard Hinault |
Winner of the Tour de France 1983-84 |
Succeeded by: Bernard Hinault |
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Preceded by: Andrew Hampsten |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1989 |
Succeeded by: Gianni Bugno |
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