If we were meant to fly, Merckx would have given us wings. But he did give us two wheels and Physics. The first allows us to feel like we’re flying, and the second gives us the propensity to fall over and, as such, crashing – or the fear of crashing – is the constant companion of a cyclist. Our first experiences on a bicycle as a child probably involved a crash; if not on the first ride, then at least on a ride soon thereafter.
But crashes also help forge legends, as was the case in 1977 when a young upstart, Bernard Hinault dropped into a ditch at high speed. I’ve seen this photo before, but I’ve never seen the video (below) and therefor never had an appreciation for how deep and steep the ditch really was. Hinault is indeed lucky to be alive.
Alpin continues his V-Blitzkrieg by treating us to a Frenchman’s view of Le Blaireau and his incredible fall. Enjoy.
Yours in cycling,
Frank
—
The 63th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné has just finished. At this time of the year it’s traditionally the warm-up for the Tour and many top racers came here years after years.
Many of you must already know this picture. It was taken the 4th of June 1977 at 15h22 in the last hour of the 6th stage of the Criterium in the rapid descent of the Col de Porte en Chartreuse to Grenoble. Just under the Col de Vence there is a very treacherous and sinuous part of the road at 11% which faces the valley a half mile below.
Even today after having take this corner time and time again, one cyclist must take extra care on this very spot: the surface of the road is a little better but the danger stays the same.
In France, this picture is entitled to fame for many reasons:
Perhaps some details of this picture interrogate some of us fellow cyclists: no helmet, no glasses, no cycling cap, no visible cuissard, nor cycling shoes or even a bicycle. Only the rear pockets of the jersey and the gloved hand pointed to a spectator could indicate that here’s a cyclist.
Maybe, this other photograph of the event coming straight from the historic live footage could help me to illustrate my point:
There is something missing.
Something that doesn’t put me at ease at all.
Nothing to see there
The two pictures exemplify for me the intimate connection between the cycling racer, the road bike and the road of the race.
Here you can see neither nor bike or road, it’s in the absence of the two that demonstrates the Unheimilichkeit of this event. The sheer tell of speed and danger. Hinault hadn’t hurt himself so badly that he couldn’t take the start the day later but as he said repeatedly and humbly to cameras:
I thought I was dead, I thought it was the time.
You can see the video footage of the Fall and Rise of the Badger here at the Archive for National television ( INA). The title of the film is “La Douleur et la Gloire“.
Or, on Youtube with modern commentary added.
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great article Alpain, The Badger is my hero, even having never seen him race (i was born late 80's). Just from the stories that are told and mainly because he WON ALL YEAR ROUND, nobody seems to do it anymore, he could win Roubaix and the Tour, seemingly at his choosing. I hear so often people who think they know about cycling, at dinner parties and at school when some lad did a presentation declaring Pharmstrong to be the greatest ever, when it's just not the case.
Now he is a great ambassador for the sport and i will always have time for him.
Dare I say that The Badger is looking Casually Deliberate with his hair looking that good after a crash like that?
Merveilleux! Merci beaucoup.
Thanks you really for your very fine and kind comments about the article!
... et Bonjour aux amis Français réfugiés chez Vélominati : Ca change de l'ambiance de vélo 101, hein? )))
I think that most of you know much better than me the History of the Sport and having never been an ardent "fan" of any rider, i can't really intervene here ... This article was really something "personal and obviously has a bit of "local touch" for me ...
Quite on the same note-minus the possibility of death while cycling- Well not really in fact.See related photo)
Well.
These times it's so very special for me -here and now-with the end of the Dauphiné, all these riders who were in town and on all around the local roads... the publishing of this article who relates an event who happened on a "Routine" road of ours ( Grenoble cyclists) , : the now infamous corner is -seriously- 25 minutes from the city center !!! ... it's intriguing this imbrication of local and global, historical and live, personal and universal...
For instance, today, as 2 friends and I were climbing The Col de la Croix de Fer and the Col du Glandon : at the summit and during the ride : perhaps 1 cyclist for 15-20 was French : German, Dutch, English ... all nations but French ! and it's not even the "cycling" season ( the weather was quite cold, windy and variable i must say ) : These places seem to talk to every serious cycling enthusiast on the planet ! and it's kind of always refreshing & heartwarming for us, locals!
And i can't help asking myself how many of you Velominati have already been there climbing the Cols Durs: Alpe d'Huez, Glandon, Galibier, lautaret, mMdeleine, etc ...? curious, i am )
Here are some Iphotos and Ivideos from today's ride :
The Road of Col du Glandon
Glandon ( Road Sign)
Croix de Fer ( Road Sign)
and now adjusting the little wheels
on a more seriously note
video : Bikes at the Croix de Fer
video : Panoramic - Glandon
video : Panoramic - Croix de Fer
Now.
The bikes you can see parked at the summit of la Croix de Fer ( see video ) were as outrageously PRO-like as their owners were outrageously bad at their job of PRO-enthusiasts ...
My two friends ( scruffy young sportive fellows, Bike Mechanic & Bike Messenger) and I were looking at them, with respect ...and envy perhaps... all in Castelli, Rapha, Assos, dressed "de pied en cap", all apparel perfectly coordinated to their 8000e bikes : de Rosa, Cervelo(s), BMC(s), Bora(s), Zipp(s), etc...
Incidentally, we saw them clipping on and get going ( with almost as many grace and efficiency as your every day Try-Athlete ))))... 5-7 minutes passed, as we were taking photos, looking at the yellow and purple flowers on the ground , trying to avoid the Hells Angels whose gang has loudly accosted at the local Chalet...
Then, we decided to ride down (at insane speeds, eventually )the 2 Cols... we are incredibly quickly seeing our more-money-than-sense-riders. they were there literally going at the lowest speed conceivable ( their hands obviously will hurt more than their legs when they 'll return to their country house ) ... And, yes, an obligatory climb who succeeded the pass descent showed that their climbing skills were also more Fishy than Squirelly...
We're good people, us three geezers, and WE LOVE nice bikes and RESPECT a certain cycling dress code, but when installed cosily at the bar down the Col as we were ordering a bottle of Cotes-du Rhone with steak-frites AFTER having drinked 1 or 2 beers and that's about the time that you see AT LAST the slow motion of an overweight, overdressed clown on an overexpensive bike trying to maintain his two Boras in line, we couldn't think of him as anything else of a COTHO.
( Obviously they were Germans. But that's no excuse.)
Sorry. )
Oh that is gold.
Thanks for the article. The more I come to this site, the more I learn about the sport and the legends and characters of it.
I used to just watch the TdF and call myself a fan. I now know better.
In the words of a famous Jedi "You have much to learn my Padawan"
@Steampunk
I forget that Canadians speak French, though to be fair it is Canadian French, so all you need to do to speak it is know the words for "eh?" and "hoser".
@RedRanger
Inddeed...all he needs is a pipe and a smoking jacket!
@all
For all the downs that come with allowing spectators so close to the sport, it sure is cool that the Badger had himself some fans to help him out of that ditch. What a cool sport.
@Alpin
Thanks for the additional note, and I am happy to infer from your story that all the Dutch cyclists were model cyclists, descended/climbed at just the right speeds and had bicycles which matched perfectly their aptitude. My oh my how I love the Dutch. We're perfect. In every way.
@Xponti
+1
@Oli, @Buck Rogers, @Cyclops
The '86 Tour had to be one of the best ones ever. The pendulum just kept swinging. So was '89. So was '90. LeMond just had a way of making his Tours fucking awesome.
But I hated the Badger for trying to hosebag Lemond, but I've come around since. The guy was/is? a total asshole, but the V through and through and a total legend. He's an easy rider to love from the luxury of 20/20 hindsight, no doubt. And no one can claim his reign was monotonous like they are these days.
@frank
WTF? I forget that Americans speak English, though to be fair it is American English, so all you need to do to speak it is know the words for "Second Amendment" and "high fructose corn syrup" (pronounced: sirp).
Chapeau