Categories: Defining MomentsExportLa Vie VelominatusNostalgiaThe HardmenTradition

Truth and Fiction

Hinault, Le Blaireau

There is nothing more disappointing than discovering the truth behind a myth or spotting the mortal behind a legend. This is why I make a point never to do any research or in any other way attempt to validate my assumptions when evaluating a situation; mystery that feels like a fact and sounds like a fact is better than an actual fact. Truth, like sex, is something that should be kept private between willing participants, not spread around for everyone to see.

Lucky for me, I’m Dutch, which means my assumptions are usually correct and by extension means I’ve mastered almost every challenge I’ve taken on in life; sometimes it pays to descend from pale Northern European stock that subsists equally on root vegetables and wild guesses (external participants’ experience may vary).

I’ve always been obsessed with history and mythology; the Iliad and The Odyssey occupied my mind like little else did if you can ignore Luke Skywalker or exactly what I might accomplish in life if I had access to a lightsaber and/or the use of The Force. When I became interested in Cycling due in part to Greg LeMond’s influence on the sport in the early 80’s, I was immediately confronted by this crazy character he was embroiled with nicknamed Le Blaireau who was a tireless competitor spitting out quips like, “If I breathe, I attack.” I pulled on the yarn and discovered similar or greater legends and stories hand over fist. This was a sport that seemed to combine everything I love in life: history, legend, myth, aerobic sport, discipline, technique, and not a small amount of OCD within its practitioners.

The most amazing thing about Cycling is that it has a unique kind of mythology. Mythology is normally something that lays in the distant past, far from the reach of our personal experiences. But in Cycling, our mythology and legend lays within the span of our influence, it is something tangible we feel when we watch it unfold before us at the roadside or even on television. This is also why our fallen heros continue to be lionized; when the observer is genuinely unaware of the false forces behind the performance, the emotions felt at the time leave an indelible mark that are unsullied of thoughts of cheating or malfeasance. Discovering the truth years later may well tarnish the reasonable portion of our minds, but the imprint of those original emotions can never be removed and continue to influence us at a level that lives somewhere below the conscious and the rational. This explains why those of us who watched a rider like Pantani dance away from the bunch in the late 90’s continue to love him, while those who came to the sport later view his performances as obviously false and wonder how we could rationally continue to ignore the elephant behind his legend. The point is, rational has nothing to do with it.

They say truth can be stranger than fiction, but I have rarely seen anything more interesting than myth; we are lucky to be a part of a sport whose mythology is still developing and rather than frown upon the truth behind some of its details, I cherish the opportunity to be a part of it.

VLVV.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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freddy says:

Oct 28 2014 at 7:49 pm

@DeKerr

Good one. Reminds me of McCrae's In Flanders Fields. Excerpt:

We are the Dead...

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.
Ron says:

Oct 29 2014 at 5:48 am

As someone who came into cycling in their mid-20s, I'm enthralled by the legends, the myths, and the tales of the peloton. Oh, it doesn't hurt that I'm a historian either. Great piece, Frank! I only started riding seriously in the early aughts and watching seriously within the past few years. But, I can't get enough these days. Cycling is a part of my daily life and I enjoy the history lessons provided by Keepers and Followers alike, thanks!
Ron says:

Oct 29 2014 at 8:15 am

The (Cross) Force. Happy Halloween!
PeakInTwoYears says:

Oct 29 2014 at 9:33 am

@Dave R

Wow, what a great short film! I'd read a few snippets of Twight's writing. He struck me, his humor notwithstanding, as a fundamentally quite serious individual--someone who could not only quote Nietzsche but live Nietzsche.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 10:34 am

@gilly

For all that Hinault was an utterly compelling rider to watch, let's be honest here guys. Among many other aspects, I was drawn to cycling because of the code of honour that was evident, like not attacking the jersey while he stopped for a natural break/ had the misfortune to flat. Or the way that a local rider was allowed up the road to see his family. That stuff was unique to cycling and made it special to me. What was once commonplace is now rare enough that it is commented on, like when Wiggins slowed things down for Cuddles to catch up after the tack throwing In 2012. Back to my point, while I admired him as a rider, I still think that Hinault was a COTHO, a generally difficult man, clearly devoid of the integrity gene based upon the "Slaying the Badger" tour. Greg may have taken some shit for his reaction, but fuck me, a deal between gentlemen is a deal. Without LeMan playing his part it is doubtful that Hinault would have got 5, let alone 7.

Some good points here, and I'm very much on the fence on the whole LeMan/Hinault thing. I certainly think Hinault tasted victory and couldn't resist having a go, which is really incorrect after making an agreement - particularly when LeMond waited in '85 and could have gone after the win himself.

On the other hand, LeMond did seem to almost feel like he was almost entitled to win, not unlike what the Schlecks were acting like during the Swivelneck Tour. I think with LeMond's massive talent, he was used to winning or at least doing well without having to get his head as strong as his body; I do feel Hinault hardened LeMond mentally like nothing else ever could have, and I'm sure those reserves were drawn upon during the '89 and '90 Tours.

The last scene of Slaying the Badger is great when he says it would have been very easy to race for the win; that grin that comes across his face is very, very telling of his attitude and drive.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 10:36 am

@Dave R, @PeakInTwoYears

Amazing to me the connection between climbing and Cycling; it comes up time and time again. Must expolore this more some time.

@PeakInTwoYears

I think you meant "subsist" rather than "subside"

Do you have any idea how many times I read that paragraph and never caught that error? Granted, most of the reads were not for editing but to remind myself how clever and funny my own joke was, so there's that.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 10:45 am

@Stephen

After watching 'A Sunday in Hell,' I came to accept that there is one man who could slay the Prophet, and it would be okay. But only one man, and that man only. Roger de Vlaeminck

Such a fucking stud, that one. Although the scene where Moser comes blasting by is one of a kind as well.

Even though he's nowhere near a bike, this might be my favorite shot of him.

Start 'em young.
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 10:52 am

@Buck Rogers

@PeakInTwoYears

Climbing (or mountaineering or alpinism or even simple rock climbing) has always been a pursuit pursued by people who understand the power of myth and the power of words. Just as another example.

This was my first thought on reading this article. Only in climbing have I found a similar (or, to blaspheme here, even greater) mythology than cycling. Reading "The White Spider" or Herzog's "Annapurna" and you are walking with the Gods. I first read them in early med school and was "lost" to climbing for the next 9 years until I had my first child. Frank, I give you some unasked for advice, do NOT start climbing/mountaineering or reading Mountaineering literature b/c of what I know of you through the interwebs, you'll be in the Himalaya wihtin two years (which, having been there myself, is not a bad thing but it sure fucks with your riding time!!!)

My experience with mountaineering is limited to reading books about it, but I think a lot of the mythology in both sports comes from writing and not having a camera there, because cameras make truth much too obvious, and mythology and lends by no means willing participants to the truth.

Take the expeditions into the Himalaya in the early 1900's; holy shit, most that is built from journals and post-expedition reports. In other words, its basically made up. Its beautiful stuff!
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 10:59 am

@wiscot

First, awesome photo of M. Hinault. The hairnet, the "other" sport gloves, the nylon cap and, of course, the rain jacket with mesh panels for "breathability." Those things sucked. It was like wearing a think bin bag. You got as wet inside from sweat as you did outside from rain.

I had the clear version and I agree, they sucked ass. Despite rain coats getting much better, they still suck unless it's raining hard enough that the animals are starting to line up in pairs.

@rfreese888

@ Frank - you are playing my song sir! I have always loved mythology and would agree cycling has a unique capacity to serve as a canvas for the gods to paint upon.

A quintessential example of that which you speak - Buzzati's account of Coppi as Achillies defeating Bartali as Hector from the 1949 Giro.

"For years and years, we realized, there would be endless talk about this brief moment which by itself did not seem to be of special importance: merely a man on a bicycle, who was pulling away from his traveling companions. And yet in that instant on this stretch of road came to pass what the Ancients used to call "Destiny."

THIS!
frank says:

Oct 29 2014 at 11:03 am

@wiscot

That's how you create a mythology - ride your peak years and retire with dignity. Don't sully things by going on too long. Cases in point? Michael Jordan. Tiger Woods. Both went past their sell by dates and that will be the postscript to their legends.

I don't know who those guys are, but Merckx, RdV, and Coppi all come to mind as having ridden on too long. Not to mention Pharmstrong, as having quit when he said he would, he'd still be a 7x "winner".

Agree though, Hinault was no COTHO; COTHO was a COTHO - I'm not aware of anyone else deserving the title. Its a tough one to earn, that.

@Gianni

I think Hinault stands pretty tall when comparing his real persona and the myth built around him. He was very much in the Eddy (and Lance) mold in that he was going to win every race he entered. What could be the point of doing anything else. His drug was the force of his Breton will.

Slaying the Badger was fun to watch but it didn't really change my feelings toward him. He was a driven, viciously competitive bastard, that's what it takes to get to the top sometime. It was his nature.

This.