Anatomy of a Photo: 1986 Milan-San Remo

Lemond and Beccia are caught by a terrifying Kelly on the Poggio. Photo: Cor Vos

It’s a classic tactic. The day’s break is caught and before anyone has time to decide what to do about it, you counter-attack. Already tired from chasing the break, maybe – just maybe – the suckers you tricked into pulling for you will let you get away.

That was Beccia’s plan in the 1986 Milan-San Remo. He attacked right as the break was caught on the Poggio and Greg LeMond – America’s greatest-ever cyclist – went with him. The Poggio’s big-ring gradient must have suited LeMond’s powerful style perfectly and riding with the weaker Beccia, he must have felt almost assured of notching what would be the first American win in a monument.

A quick check over the shoulder to make sure no man is bridging up. Sure enough; no man is coming, but that doesn’t mean you’re not being overtaken. That’s Sean Kelly – half man, half bear, and half pig – doing his best to crack his bottom bracket on his one-race-per-frame Vitus.

That’s three big rings and three hard men, but only one has managed to scare the mud off his forehead. Spoiler alert: the finish line photo shows Kelly with spotlessly clean face.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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Buck Rogers says:

Jun 22 2012 at 2:37 pm

@RedRanger

@Cinghiale

"Greg LeMond - America's greatest-ever cyclist..."

Nice. I believe I'll start using that one, too.

cause it's the truth.

YES!!! Could not agree more!

Pays to check the site at least once a day to see such awesomeness posted.
Steampunk says:

Jun 22 2012 at 3:01 pm

@scaler911

Boy, I'd hate to look back and see Kelly bearing down on me. Soul crushing.

This. Name one other rider who would have instilled such fear? Take the anatomy of a photo theme even further: the race is already over. The winner is inevitable.
the Engine says:

Jun 22 2012 at 3:28 pm

@frank

@wiscot

Oh, wow. I had no idea.

That's funny...
frank says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:30 pm

@Anjin-san

Sean Kelly is about as hard as they come, but I have never cared for LeMond. You may not like him, but it's hard to argue that Armstrong (Lance, not Kristin) is America's best all-time cyclist. There, I said it, let the thrashing begin ; )

Finally someone bit, it's about time.

Pharmy isn't the best not because of his obvious doping to get to the top, but because he was a one-trick pony. Pre-Cancer, it was only classics. Post-Cancer, it was only the Tour with the exception of Liege to test his form. Not to mention that he was standing on the shoulders of giants in terms of infrastructure and a precedent of American cyclists in Europe.

Not only was LeMond a pioneer in Europe, but were it not for his hunting accident, he'd have 5 if not 6 or 7 Tour wins to his name as well, along with podiums or wins in races on both ends of the calendar. He was second both in MSR and Lombardy (both to Kelly, incidentally).

And that's even before we start talking about what an incredibly nice guy LeMond was. Having known him personally and spent more than a few hours hanging out and skiing with him, he was absolutely genuinely friendly. And fucking hard as nails. And - we know now that LeMond was right all along when he went all douchey about drugs in cycling.
Oli says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:48 pm

@frank Wrong. Far from a "one-trick pony" before cancer Armstrong was convinced he could improve on his 36th (32nd?) place on GC in the Tour to maybe one day take a tilt at the podium. He won small stage races like Tour Dupont and came close to winning Paris-Nice. He was the first American to win a classic when he won Fleche-Wallone, and he came second in Amstel a couple of times. He raced from the start of the season until the end. I'm not disputing your LeMond statements, as I agree he was a legend, but you're being a bit revisionist about LA's place in the scheme of things.
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:53 pm

I'm too ignorant of technology to link a video, so bear with me while I go old school and cut/paste...

My favorite "I'm going to chase you down, then lead from the front, then sprint from the front, win, and you can do fuck all about it" moment is Hinault's victory at Paris-Roubaix in 1981. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdjP4TFwDEc He crashes. Then he catches. Then he goes to the front to let everyone know he's caught back on. Then, when he enters the velodrome, he overpowers the likes of RDV, Moser, Van Calster, Demeyer, and Kuiper. Just beats them in a drag race. Like redheaded step-children. No jockeying for position. Opens a 2liter can of whoop-ass. The announcer shits himself. It's AWESOME.
RedRanger says:

Jun 22 2012 at 6:57 pm

@frank and(take 2)
Nate says:

Jun 22 2012 at 7:05 pm

@Jeff in PetroMetro

Here ya go
Tobin says:

Jun 22 2012 at 7:15 pm

@wiscot He went full fluffy for his last movie role...
TBONE says:

Jun 22 2012 at 7:16 pm

@Gianni

Man, that is a great photo. Seeing Kelly coming up, that must be the worst sight, even for Lemond. This one must have been taken thirty seconds later, assuming Sean just f'ing steamed past the two of them.

Dat accent.