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PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:36 am Reply with quote
Holger
Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 62
Location: Germany/Stuttgart
I really wonder why this message puts me down like that.
I was no relative to him, i didn`t even ever talked to him, in fact i just
dont know if he was good or bad.
But everytime i look at my Team Pro, i think of Fignon, whenever i put that old Renault Elf Jersey on and go out with that Bike i wanna look and ride like him, and its allways the same the bike say`s "whats that you`re
doing up there, you think thats cycling? Go home and watch TV ".
I really think no one else looked like him on that 80`s Team Bikes and
Deltas, i really dont wanna blame any other Riders from that Time, and there sure were a lot Giants on the road.
But i think those bikes where build for him, they were a elegant unit.
He where other like the others,a new kind of a Pro cyclist in the early 80`s, long haired, smiling.
I think what makes me so sad is the fact how he died, maybe if he had climbed Alpe D`huez or the Tourmalet and died on the Top by a heartattack it would be easier.
Since a few years i allways dreamt that one day he will visit the L´Eroica
with his old Jersey and a Team Bike hammering up the Montalcino...

P.S. i like the thoughts from Nicolas, that Fignon meets his old Mate in
Heaven maybe they see also Anquetil and later, with a Glass of Calvados in one and a Cigar in the other Hand Mr. Marcel Bruneliere join them,
laughing loud and saying " but remember Boys, you did that all on my Bikes."
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Joie de vivre 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:29 am Reply with quote
verktyg
Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 2814
Location: SF Bay Area
I wasn't very aware of Laurent Fignon until I joined this group.

One thing that struck me about Fignon was his apparent joie de vivre that came out in most of the pictures of him.

It's not just his connection to Gitanes but when you compare Fignon to many of the pro racers of the past 40 years he stands out among the top few.

How many TdF winners from that era are even remembered much less admired like Fignon?

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1984 Criterium
1969 TdF
1971 TdF
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Fignon Funeral: Friday, September 3 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:50 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Fignon will be buried on Friday at the Père Lachaisse cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.

It's the same cemetery that contains the tombs of French jazz musician Stéphane Grappelli, French playwright Molière, American musician Jim Morrison and Irish author Oscar Wilde.

I propose that all of us ride on Friday...on our Gitanes...in suitable kit (i.e. Renault or Systeme U) in honor of him. I know I will. Just have to find a black armband to wear as well.

On my number plate which will be affixed: "Allez Fignon"

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PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:16 pm Reply with quote
Wisey
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 631
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Robert Miller reflects on Fignon on cycling news:http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/robert-millar-remembers-laurent-fignon


If the ideas mentioned about the afterlife are true, then I bet Fignon is all kitted up, with one leg swung over the mother of all TT bikes (with aero bars), and is just patiently waiting............................. for Greg to arrive.


Now we'll see about those 8 seconds! Twisted Evil

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Re: Fignon Funeral: Friday, September 3 
PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:53 pm Reply with quote
nicolas
Joined: 13 Mar 2006
Posts: 543
Location: Paris, France
sandranian wrote:
Fignon will be buried on Friday at the Père Lachaisse cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.

It's the same cemetery that contains the tombs of French jazz musician Stéphane Grappelli, French playwright Molière, American musician Jim Morrison and Irish author Oscar Wilde.

I propose that all of us ride on Friday...on our Gitanes...in suitable kit (i.e. Renault or Systeme U) in honor of him. I know I will. Just have to find a black armband to wear as well.

On my number plate which will be affixed: "Allez Fignon"


That's a good idea. But for me it might be easier to go directly to the cemetery itself... It's not far from work. I'll give a nod to the big Man...

I'll do this ride on sunday, in Vincennes, where Fignon used to live...

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:22 am Reply with quote
Chaironea
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 14
Location: N. Germany / Oldenburg
I am just preparing for my personal memorial ride, of course in team dress and on a 1979 Gitane.

I was struck when I read the news of him having cancer this late winter/early spring because he, Lemond, and of course Hinault were the heroes of my youth.

What I always have admired about him was his attitude on the bicycle. If ever I saw a centaur that was physically half man and half bike then it was Fignon. Elegance, power and absolute union with the machine. Incomparable.

Thanks, Laurent!
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:12 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Rode my 1987 Team Pro with full Systeme U gear this morning on the group ride. Last night, I made a number 61 number plate for it...as Fignon was #61 in the 1987 Tour de France.

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:21 am Reply with quote
sandranian
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
Family requested donations in lieu of flowers to ICM Institute, a French organization that supports brain and spinal cord research.

Donations can be made online at:

www.icm-institute.org

or by check payable to:

ICM, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière
Bâtiment Paul-Castaigne
47-83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital
75561 Paris Cedex 13.

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:49 am Reply with quote
lofter
Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 1162
sandranian wrote:
Rode my 1987 Team Pro with full Systeme U gear this morning on the group ride. Last night, I made a number 61 number plate for it...as Fignon was #61 in the 1987 Tour de France.


u must have gotten it fixed sandman? the bike i mean.?
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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:56 am Reply with quote
sandranian
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Joined: 27 Feb 2006
Posts: 2701
Location: Southern California
I had an extra "mystery" bike in the garage. Used the frame with the Team Pro fork. The bike was purchased by me from GitaneUSA when they were closing up shop in 1988. It has all of the hallmarks of a 1987 Gitane "Inter", but came with a Reynolds 531 "P" tubing sticker. Go figure, eh? So I put that together with all of the parts from my 'dead' 1987 team pro...and voila...its reborn!

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 12:40 pm Reply with quote
Gtane
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Posts: 681
Location: UK
I found a rather nice photo in memory of Laurent Fignon that was taken at the start of Stage 5, Vuelta 2010, September 1.

It shows the peloton observing a minute's silence with a life size photo of Fignon at speed on a Delta.

http://tinyurl.com/2af95sh

Tim

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:04 pm Reply with quote
scozim
Joined: 26 Sep 2008
Posts: 629
Location: Ellensburg, WA
Nice photo, Tim.

I'm off in 45 minutes for my ride. No Team Pro here but I'll still be on a blue Gitane. I haven't worn the Renault Gitane jersey all year so today is the perfect day to put it on. I normally ride with contact lenses - not today I'll have my glasses on in honor of Fignon.

Scott

By the way, Nicolas posted some good photos of Fignon and Lemond on Greg Lemond's fan Facebook page. A nice tribute.


Last edited by scozim on Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:16 pm Reply with quote
Kongoken
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Posts: 23
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 2:52 pm Reply with quote
Wisey
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 631
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Merci Laurent.

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Delta Dreamin'
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 10:13 pm Reply with quote
Wisey
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 631
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Gone but not forgotten.
Found this video of Fignon's stage win at the Tour in 1992. There are two short interviews with Fignon (in english). One about halfway through and the other at the end. Please be warned that he isn't riding a gitane but one of those sickly green things Laughing . Still, it's classic Fignon style. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0sFf5wP6c4&feature=related

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Delta Dreamin'
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Fignon's gone... 
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