Anatomy of a Photo: Laurent Fignon, 1989 Tour de France
I know the feeling, Laurent. Sometimes I just want to give the cross winds a big, “Fuck You”, too.
I know the feeling, Laurent. Sometimes I just want to give the cross winds a big, “Fuck You”, too.
I think ya’ll being a little hard on Michael, yeah he made a bad call, but he’s right that Le Prof will be remembered for his 8 second loss in 89.
C’mon, we have more class than that… he’s not Slash or Adrian for fuck’s sake, cut him some slack on this one.
@brett
A-Merckx there brother
@mcsqueak
Regarding VSP-The Force is strong with the Dutch Monkey this summer. He is much lighter, fitter and maybe this time he will heed the direction of the DS. He will be faster. He might be younger too, somehow. The fucker is not yet 35?
@Gianni
He’s at least 3 hours younger while in Hawai’i by my estimates. That has to count for something.
Not yet 35. Sigh. That was a good age…
I wonder what would have happened had Le Prof embraced the aeros instead of fighting them….
As I said before, HTFU.
@frank & james
my bad, those weren’t pinarello drawn, good eye!
@8ace:
here is my pentance, a pic is all i could find on Fignon’s mishap
I can’t imagine how that would hurt, to snap a BB
@Cyclops
Tweeted by Dan Wuori:
@Steampunk
He’s reported as saying this:
“My biggest goal is still to win Paris-Roubaix. The BMC Racing Team has good riders to support me or for me to help someone else on the team win.”
The part about “someone else” looks like something the marketers and/or lawyers made him say …
@Oli
What’d you call me? (And, what is that exactly?)
@michael
What you may not yet have picked up on yet is that Marcus is Australian. As such he is currently displaying impeccible manners for someone from the wide brown land.
@minion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
@brett
My VMH is furious with my choice of sock length. I’ll have to find a pic and post it for judgement.
@minion
And you should also know that Australians will go a long way to prove a point. here is an article on a quality countryman of mine who let a taipan bite his 10 year old daughter to prove that the snake had been de-venomed.
Thanks Dad!
@Oli, @michael, @brett, @Steampunk
I’m with BrettOK on this one; Michaels’ just making a joke using a term we made up here (first loser) that come across as awkward because sarcasm doesn’t always translate well on the interwebs. He’s been around a long time and obviously gets it. It’s just a misunderstanding.
Besides, he said himself in his book that he felt he was remembered more for that than his wins. Sad bit of human nature, that. It’s best we leave this one unsolved.
RIP, Laurent.
@Velo Kitty
That’s actually a misconception. He and Guimard had been using the bars earlier in the season, but the UCI told them to stop, that they broke the regulations. But when LeMond used them, no one said a word. To this day, it’s unclear to me what the situation was with that. Oli?
@G’phant
I just happen to be reading, “Slaying the Badger”. Methinks I smell a sequel.
@G’phant
Touche
@frank
you mean Thor is crying again? didnt he “help” a teammate win a classic this year? It always seems to be the team that is holding him back. me thinks he doth protest to much.
Thanks frank.
I’m old enough to have been racing more than a few years before that performance and remember it very very well.
Shame on y’all for getting offended about a term invented here, maybe you don’t like your own terms used on riders you rate.
I totally respect the memory of Fignon as a person and fellow human especially because he died of cancer. However, I never rated him as a rider just as many don’t rate Hincapie. I just happen to have enough respect for him to wait until he couldn’t read my posts to berate him.
@frank
I’m sure that this term has been used elsewhere before this blog. I have been using it for years, but can’t remember where I heard it.
But anyway I’m with you Frank. Lets all lighten up and not take the comments so seriously. The banter that I have come to love on this site gives me a good laugh and provides me with a bit of joy in an otherwise frightening world. At least we are not inciting riots (or is that to come….:P)
By the way. We have just had our Census here down under, and I marked my religion as “Velominati”. What did you put down @marcus
@michael
Lol….That’s the laugh I am talking about….
Poor George if he ever lands here.
@michael
I actually think Shoecovers is alright. He protected Cuddles for the majority of the #TdF and managed to get him into position for some of the ascents. Did better than some of the other “so called” Super Domestiques
@Marcus
Love it! With a name like Hoser, I’m surprised he’s not Canadian…
@frank
Here ya go. It’s in sad shape right now, but I do know a couple things about it: It was used by one of the members of the US ’84 Olympic team. It’s a 56cm (probably Ron Kiefel), and it has serial #69 on the bottom. I’ve contacted Viner, and while they have been nice, they are not helpful about it’s original kit.
Any help would be nice. I’ve found someone to paint it and have replacement decals. Oli? Frank?
Fuck, why didn’t the photo upload??
arraghhhhhhh!!!!!!!
@Xponti
If I ever meet whatshisname Goodwin I’m gonna do something unpleasant to something he owns while he’s not looking. Smart arse bastard.
@Marcus
Funny, I was about to characterise my dealings with Australians to shaking a snake in a sack – you wanna do it to get them riled up, but if they bite you it’s your own fault. And you’re fucked.
@michael
Shame on us indeed.
@minion
Bahahahahahahahaa
@minion
It’s funny. Only just the other day I was thinking about New Zealanders. And then I forgot about them.
Fignon is a god to me, even more so after reading his book soon after he passed away. A true sportsman.
Fuck me, they road 53/42s. Manhood, ultimate manhood.
2 cents.
PS-Frank, fucking awesome picture. Thank you.
@minion
An Aussie, a Kiwi, and a South African are at a bar one night having a beer. All of a sudden the South African drinks his beer, takes off his diamond encrusted watch, pulls out a gun and shoots the watch to pieces. He says “In Seth Efrika we have so many diamonds that we don’t need to wear the same diamond twice”.The Kiwi (obviously impressed by this) drinks his beer, throws his glass into the air, pulls out his gun and shoots the glass to pieces. He says “Wull bro, in Niw Zulland we have so much sand to make the glass that we don’t need to drink out of the same cup twice”.
The Australian then pulls out his gun and shoots the Kiwi
An Australian ventriloquist visiting New Zealand walks into a small town and sees a local sitting on his porch patting his dog. He figures he’ll have a little fun.
Ventriloquist: “G’day Mate! Good looking dog, mate. Mind if I speak to him?”
New Zealander: “The dog doesn’t talk, you stupid Aussie.”
Ventriloquist: “Hey dog, how’s it going old mate?”
Dog: “Doin’ alright.”
New Zealander: (extreme look of shock)
Ventriloquist: “Is this Kiwi your owner?”, pointing at New Zealander
Dog: “Yep”
Ventriloquist: “How does he treat you?”
Dog: “Real good. He walks me twice a day, feeds me great food, and takes me to the lake once a week to play.”
New Zealander: (look of disbelief)
Ventriloquist: “Mind if I talk to your horse?”
New Zealander: “Uh, the horse doesn’t talk either…I think.”
Ventriloquist: “Hey horse, how’s it going?”
Horse: “Cool.”
New Zealander: (extreme look of shock)
Ventriloquist: “Is this your owner?” (pointing at New Zealander)
Horse: “Yep”
Ventriloquist: “How’s he treating you?”
Horse: “Pretty good, thanks for asking. He rides me regularly, brushes me down often, and keeps me in the barn to protect me from the elements.”
New Zealander: (total look of amazement)
Ventriloquist: “Mind if I talk to your sheep?”
New Zealander: “The sheep’s a liar!”
When it’s a kiwi we call them jokes. When it’s an Aussie it’s a documentary.
Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Heaven, God went missing for Six days. Eventually, Michael the Archangel found him, resting on the seventh day. He inquired of God, “Where have you been?”
God sighed a deep sigh of satisfaction and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, “Look Michael, look what I’ve made.” Archangel Michael looked puzzled and said, “What is it?”
“It’s a planet, replied God, “and I’ve put LIFE on it. I’m going to call it Earth and it’s going to be a great place of balance”.
“Balance?” inquired Michael, still confused.
God explained, pointing to different parts of Earth.
“For example, Northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth while Southern Europe is going to be poor; the Middle East over there will be a hot spot.”
“Over there I’ve placed a continent of white people and over there is a continent of black people” God continued, pointing to different countries. “And over there, I call this place America.
North America will be rich and powerful and cold, while South America will be poor, and hot and friendly. And the little spot in the middle is Central America which is a Hot spot. Can you see the balance?”
“Yes” said the Archangel, impressed by Gods work, then he pointed to a smallish land mass and asked, “What’s that one?”
“Ah” said God. “That’s New Zealand, the most glorious place on Earth. There are beautiful mountains, rainforests, rivers, streams and an exquisite coast line. The people are good looking, intelligent and humorous and they’re going to be found traveling the world. They’ll be extremely sociable, hard-working and high-achieving, and they will be known throughout the world as diplomats and carriers of peace. I’m also going to give them super- human, undefeatable, strong in character citizens who will be admired and feared by all who come across them”.
Michael gasped in wonder and admiration but then exclaimed, “You said there will be BALANCE!”
God replied wisely. “Wait until you see the buggers I’m putting next to them”
@frank
Ahahahaaaa! I think that saying has been around a lot longer than Velominati, Frank! You’re not bad…
But otherwise I agree, hence (after sussing out he wasn’t trolling) my reply being more educational than confrontational.
I was just becoming a fan of PRO cycling in the late 80s. I’m thrilled I can say I watched him while he was still racing, not just in archival footage.
Love photos of him in his hogwashers bibs…
Oh yeah, I know it’s an advert, but some of the stuff Cancellara says is rather outstanding. The locked fingers, with him on top…awesomeness. You gotta want to win to win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcE4vPyyV2I
@Xponti
By the way. We have just had our Census here down under, and I marked my religion as “Velominati”. What did you put down @marcus
Awww dude, you so shouldn’t have. Each “fake” religion vote in the Census counts as a vote for Aus as a religious country & then contributes to organised religions receiving more govt funding to continue their touching of little boys & girls…
@Ron
+1 yep
@Oli
Awesome, FrÃ¥nkie’s claimin it! He also invented ‘whatever’ and ‘dude’…
:-D
@Ron
I’m not buyin it… last year he told me Specialized was best.
Crikey lads, all getting a bit precious about ourselves today….
Having read Laurent’s book, I’ll withhold my judgement for fear of anhililation
Anyway, interetsing reshuffles going on – can’t wait for Faboo to destroy Garmion Cervelo or BMC at P-R or whoever Thor is riding for next year – true Thor did a top team job, but as a Faboo fan, it was hard to watch the Lion with someone standing on his tail
Tony Martin off to Leopard Trek, maybe with O’Grady gone that won’t make a difference, but it’ll be ineteresting to see if Jens and Tony form some sort of depth charging role for Faboo’s obliteration of the P-R contenders next year – I’m more excited about P-R 2012 than anything in between save the WC and ToL
Fast Phil going to BMC….arse! Must be the team strip, but I just can’t love them, though it was clear with 30km to go at Enoco yesterday, that he is already training with them….
Cav with no FedEx…. who’ll lead him out now? EBH/ Greg Henderson? Velly interesting – the break up of HTC could be the most exciting, if very unfortunate, thing to come for 2012
yada yada yada
@frank
Interesting, thanks Frank. Sounds like the UCI and their waffling ways on aeros moments before a TT stage hasn’t changed a bit at all. Must have been a long, PITA ride hanging on the wing grips like that for the whole TT, but Le Prof was such a BAMF, maybe aeros wouldn’t have mattered. Maybe….
@brett
And the internet. Don’t forget he invented that, too.
@Mikael Liddy
Wow I just finished my census, what a missed opportunity “Velominati!!! NOOOO, its too late, the ship has left.
BTW thanks @frank for the post and a great pic – its beautiful no?
@Dr C
It seemed to me that Thor and Ballan were probably as strong as Faboo that day and I was expecting a similar finish to 2008 (substituting Thor for Boonen).
@Alex
….until he blew them off his wheel with that ridiculous bridge he made to Maarten Dingalingi
Not blaming Thor, it was the right thing to do, and fair play to JVS, and his copious Belgian toothpaste, but faboo was such an awesome MF that day, I just think he deserved more – roll on 2012!!