It’s been said before, but it bears repeating: the shoes say an awful lot about the rider. More than they’d like them to in retrospect, I’m guessing. Here we have the Prophet, looking mighty dapper, congratulating the unexpected victor in the form of Charley Mottet in the Grand Prix of his own name.
A first glance at the photo reveals a few gems: we witness the first hints of the death of the Cycling Cap at the hands of one of the worst examples of a “baseball cap” in existence. We also have a Kwantum rider whom I suspect had a time of it getting comfortable on his TT bike with that rod shoved up his ass. Whatever works, although that’s more Rule #5 than I’m equipped to deal with in a productive way. The rider who got third, whom I’m assuming is Italian based on his kit and impeccable style, is the only magnificent example of a cyclist in the photo. Aside from Merckx, obviously.
And the shoes. Again I point to the Italian with my “that’s how you do it” finger, and give a brisk wag of the “oh no you di-int” thumb at the other two. Loafers for Kwantum and a pair of what-the-fucks for Chuck. Not good.
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@RedRanger
Like Sagan hosing Thor et al, again, at the TdS ...
@G'phant
No shit. The guy wins sprints and mountain stages. He better be fucking clean.
@G'phant
I am a huge fan of that. Not a Thor fan here
And I am a Sagan fan.
@Marko, @G'phant, @RedRanger
It doesn't seem to me he wins "sprints" or "mountain stages" so much as it seems like he's fast in a really tough finish. Gotta love that. Like Cunego used to be.
@frank
Don't jinx him.
@Ron
Fignon is rockin' the connoisseur's tape, Benotto cello tape. Classy stuff, and - since that photo was taken on or around Bastille day of the '89 Tour - his bars were wrapped in three sections, the lower red, the middle white, and the top blue.
Incidentally, Fignon is riding Campa, but Mottet was on the Mavic SSC group, which holds the distinction of having the most beautiful, if prone to breaking, crank ever made.
beautiful frank!
we all just hope to learn, learn how to dress by the italian..and how not to by chuckles
Thanks, Frank. Ah, one Mavic one Campagnolo gruppo, I see. Great photo of Fignon. What a sweet ride he's aboard there. Love how clean his drivetrain is, shows off the silvery goodness well. Silver gruppos, much sexier than black.
Um, so is that Fignon's V-Meter mounted to his fork?
And can someone fill me in on the backstory - I know the Badger had shoved someone off the podium, but I don't know why. What did the FDJ guy do, or was it just because he was in white bibs?
@frank
For sure. My "sprints" and "mountain stages" comment was in the vein of how the stages were labeled at the TdS. Sagan really seems to be a born Rouleur, big engine capable of hauling his frame just about anywhere to get the job done. Probably won't be winning any mountain top finishes but how awesome is it to see a rider mixing it up in a variety of ways. Makes me wonder what guys like Thor, Jens, and the rest of the Peloton are saying about him.
This is where the doubt I hate about cycling enters. Is this guy for real? Is he juiced? Will he hang on? Is he a COTHO waiting to spring eternal? Seems we could be talking about this dude for years to come. So promising.