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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Money is highly overrated. But a good camera, a good bike, razor sharp tan lines, smoove legs, a sharp kit from a local club (or the Sacred Garments), and a decent VO2 max? Now that's living.
But writing excellent articles, posting excellent photos, and climbing historic mountain passes whenever you want because you live just down the road? Ok, now you're rubbing it in.
Got a couch I could live on?
@Jeff in PetroMetro
10-15 years ago, I was involved with lots of friends who were skaters, snowboarders, alpinists
and obviously here,skiers,( mostly of the "extreme" kind..) None of them had EVER any money
but day in / day out, they were riding all friggin days and by all legal and illegal means :
These guys would never leave the bests spots, sleeping for days in garages or technical cabins at 6500 feet alt. : i think ameri-canadians got a name for this kind of tribe who feast on the Big Resorts hidden ressources: SKi-BUMS...
So,you too can come here when you want ...
living the "Cycling Bum Bohème Life"
It's great! )
PS : who needs a couch when you got full access to a nice Chalet up the in Vercors Mountains?
Money is definitely overrated!
I'm still in graduate school so don't have much money, but what I do have goes exclusively to cycling needs. I need new soccer cleats, I can't remember the last time I bought clothes, but I eat well, have nice cycling gear, and definitely have sharp tan lines.
Whatever makes you happy!
The only thing in life I desire/crave/lust for is a shed or basement to store/work on my bikes. Right now I'm crammed in a small house with my VMH, my cats, my dog, and the five bikes I can fit in here.
Alpin, I think you have things sorted out nicely!
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Yeah, Seriously.
Haters. ;)
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.
I hear ya, Alpin. I get annoyed by such people as well. I think the main issue is that it bugs me that they can't/don't put such a nice tool to use. Using a full on PRO race bike to roll around at low speeds...why bother?
I also enjoy dudes who dump thousands of dollars into track bikes that are used solely for coffee and beer runs. Yeah dude, you definitely need the Dura Ace hubs to ride those three miles to the bar!
Oh well, there are COTHO all over the place. Better to just ignore them and ride.
@Alpin
Beautiful post about Le Blaireau, one has to love him and his overpowering competitiveness. He is the French V. Andy Hampsten, speaking about his joining Hinault's team, had nothing but praise for him. Hinault was protective and helpful to the young North Americans.
Beautiful sentiment and story. You are a man who loves cycling for the cycling itself. Well played.
@Alpin, crazy post. There is something about Le Blaireau that always fascinated me, especially when he talks about helping Lemans win the '86 tour. His mouth says one thing his eyes say something else. Nonetheless he is Le Cinq Francais or COTHO depending where you stand
I've been to Pau, sacre bleu!, good beer and wild boar sausages made up for all the wasps I swallowed. I concur with @PetroMetro you do live my dream life. You lucky lucky bastaad.
Great Post @Alpin.
I've watched that footage a couple of times now and I'm stunned that he survived that. Given the speed he went off the road at and the steepness of the hillside below, the fact that he climbed out at roughly the point he went off and wasn't a good way downhill can only suggest that he hit one of the trees, most likely the one used by the chap who dropped down to help him out.
A hard man indeed that carries on rather than saying "fuck this for a bike race I need a beer..."
@Alpin
Says the skinny guy in all BMC bike and apparel.
Just teasing you N, that whole $3000 geared guys making fun of $8000 geared guys... I saw an abandonned Peugeot on the street the other day, same one Thevenet won the Tour with in 1977. Might be good enough for most of us then, eh?
Don't forget it's a way to get second hand niiice bikes we couldn't afford otherwise... (plus you know I love my Rapha jersey man!)
Seriously, great article, and I'm glad you did not tell me about that very corner down Col de Vence last time we rode it, I would have been WAAAY slower.