Categories: Anatomy of a PhotoFolkloreNostalgiaThe Hardmen

Anatomy of a Photo: Hunchbacks of the 81 Tour

Le Blaireau, Planckaert and ?

My friend and trainee Velominata Rachel has a keen cycling eye and an inquisitive mind. While perusing the book Tour de France/Tour de Force she happened upon this image of The Badger, Bernard Hinault, sprinting for a stage win in the 1981 Tour. We know this because the caption says so. And that is pretty much all it says; no other names, no photo credit, nothing.

Of course, I wanted to know who the other protagonists are. Some research into that year’s race, and the Wickes-Splendor team pointed to one of the riders being Eddy Planckaert, who won Stage 12 (*Part B) into Zolder. The other one though? Could it be old bro Walter? (Not likely, he finished way back that day.) Sean Kelly was on the team too, and was always up for a bunch gallop, but of course it looks nothing like the Irish hardman (his legs are uglier than those, says Rachel. And by ugly, I think she means awesome). No, my hunch is it is Guido Van Calster, as he took fourth on the stage that we whittled it down to. *Stage 12 was broken into Part A (Roubaix-Brussels, 107 km) and Part B (Brussels-Zolder, 133 km), both raced on the same day.

While not really interested in who the other riders were, the thing that stood out most to Rachel was the strange lumps on the riders’ backs. Not Camelbaks (because that would violate Rule #32, and they weren’t invented yet), probably not race radio transmitters (not sure if they were around then either). Not bidons (too square), not food (why have food stuffed down your jersey in a sprint?), so what the hell could they be?

Once again, we trust in the Velominatii to decipher the clues, and feast on the pure awesomeness of another great photo.

Brett

Don't blame me

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View Comments

RobSandy says:

Jan 4 2016 at 8:02 am

@wiscot

And that’s one of the reasons I like Hinault. He knew that what goes around, comes around. You want the loyalty and hard work of teammates? Work on their behalf occasionally. Lead them out, give them a stage win. Unlike COTHO who had loyalty through fear and intimidation.

Glad you’re liking the book. I thought it was great and explained a lot of what drove Hinault and why he did what he did in 86. The man was hard-wired to win when it was a race he wanted. And he wanted the 86 Tour. The only problem was he’d given his word to help Greg and that was vitally important to him to honor that. He went about it in a strnge way, but untimately Greg won.

Haven't got that fair yet, I'm about halfway through, but very much enjoying it. I knew I would, Hinault has always fascinated/frightened me. Just got to the bit where Fignon joins the team and is quite happy to take the piss out of the Badger. Can't imagine COTHO putting up with that.

Interesting how many different riders say that they think that at his peak Hinault was better than Merckx; De Vlaeminck for one after the Paris-Roubaix win.
Cary says:

Feb 13 2017 at 2:49 am

jesus this is a great photo. Hinault was a complete animal.
RobSandy says:

Feb 13 2017 at 12:22 pm

@Cary

jesus this is a great photo. Hinault was a complete animal.

I've tried not to comment on this thread (again) but I can't help myself. Yes, that is one of the best cycling photos ever, I could stare at it for hours. And yes, Hinault was a complete beast.

I rode our club's 75 mile reliability ride on the weekend, and as we got up into the mountains we found ourselves riding through sleet and over an inch of slush on the road. Made me think of Leige-Bastogne-Leige. Sadly, I got dropped a couple of kms from the top of the moor by the real beasts of the club.
Cary says:

Feb 13 2017 at 4:11 pm

it has everything. Plankaert, Hinault leading out a finish in the Maillot Jaune, and the shadow of Freddy Maertens.