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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OOoOOOhh ?
Is there another Alpine Citizen from Grenoble in the place ?
Hello John!
Nice to see u there!
Still Ok to ride the Cols these next days ?
Oh ! And as a"real" Velominatus Budgetatus :
I should inform you that you can find BMC framesets for 300e(!)
if you really search... like i did myself, couldn't even think about adding another 0 ...
All other peripherals were coming from my defunct/crashed Cannondale CAAD9 Liquigas... and some third hand gear...
Can't blame you also for wearing Rapha...
Overpriced but tasteful gear and goes so well with your Cervélo S1 ride! '-)
see you soon!
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Handy notes for Velominati Budgetati :
Aluminium rules !!!
-BMC SSX StreetFire
-Cervelo S1
-CAAD 8 or 9
choose your weapon !
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By the way, did you know that Bernard Thèvenet was living in Grenoble for 10 years now ??? Perhaps it is HIS bike that you see on the street ? )))
I am now preparing myself for a mystical ride : The Mirror of the Alp...
If i should come back from this adventure : I'll send here some Postcards tonight !
@J
You picked it up, right? You now have this bike in your possession, right? Please provide pictures over on The Bikes.
Welcome.
(the bike was too small. Thank you for the welcome)
First off, I'm a big Hinault fan. Plenty of the V displayed over the years and a lot of today's riders could copy his example of riding hard in any and every event. For example, he hated Paris-Roubaix. Most riders with this attitude would have avoided it like the plague. Hinault? Rode it, won it and never raced it again. Done.
That being said, I was going through some old Miroir du Cyclismes the other day (just rescued them from the parents' attic) and was looking at the Miroir du Tour 88 issue. I know Hinault had a lot of endorsements in his day, but it appears he had his own line of jewelry. "Ligne de Bijoux en Or Bermard Hinault" by the Paris-based jeweler Desmeure. Three options: a wee bike for a necklace (650FF), a chainset pendant 2800FF), and a bracelet (5900FF). All purchases came with a certificate of authenticity in your name signed by Monsieur Hinault. There's even a lovely pic of the badger leaning over a saddle wearing a necklace, two bracelets and what appears to be a signet ring on his right hand. I wish I had scanning abilities at work to post this, but who knew there was Badger bling? Hard as nails he certainly was, but a jewelry line? Hmmmmmm . . . . gotta be some kind of rule violation there somewhere.
Just a point. Hinault also rode P-R in 1982 as defending champion, finishing 9th.
It's funny how the myth that he only rode it once and won it has been disseminated so widely - I'm pretty sure he rode it in '79 too, but an exhaustive search of my archives (well, five minutes anyway...) can't turn up a result (DNF?). He also rode several secteurs in the Tour de France during his 1979 win and 1980 DNF, riding well on both occasions.
Oli,
My apologies. Should have checked my facts better, but I guess it just shows how strong the myth is. Found this interview with Hinault on the Gitane site. Very interesting. Clearly, for BH, the bike was just a tool of the trade, if it made you faster, great; if not, no use. For BH, it's all about the riding rather than the bike. http://www.gitaneusa.com/Hinault.asp
No need to apologise at all, I live for situations like this! As I say, that myth has been perpetrated for years, including in some of the big name magazines - they are the ones who should be checking their facts...
@Oli
I'm no expert in these things and certainly wouldn't question your encyclopaedic knowledge but could your suspicion that Hinault rode the Paris Roubaix in '79 be down to the fact that the '81 race was the 79th edition of the race? I got this from "One more kilometre and we're in the showers".
Haha! No, I doubt that was the thing. As I said, I'm pretty sure but not certain. That's trawling the depths of my memory though, so it's entirely possible I'm wrong. Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that he definitely rode P-R again in 1982...