We tend to look at cycling through rose-tinted glasses; cycling-specific ones that not only give us a cheery outlook on the past, but ones that conveniently hold big black bars over the bits we prefer not to remember as they were because they don’t fit into the picture we’ve formed in our minds. One of the most interesting things about a community like Velominati is all the different viewpoints that come together regarding events past that help remind us of something approaching reality, built from an aggregation international of views. Perhaps even more interesting is how this experience also brings into sharp relief the evolution of the “facts” as we each have seen them at different points in our lives.
A prime example is of the discussion earlier this week regarding the Lenault battle in 1986. The American view predominantly held was that LeMond was short-changed by Hinault, while the Europeans (or at least the French) could see no reason Hinault should acquiesce the Tour should he be in a position to win it. Certainly not from an American. The Aussies, of course, feel Phil Anderson or, barring that, Phil Ligget or someone else named Phil – regardless of nationality – should have won it, and the Kiwis are no doubt still busy looking for a Tour contender who doesn’t ride a bike. At the time, I hated Hinault and characterized him as a cheating douchenozzle; these days, I regard him as one of the greatest examples of a complete rider and a model of what riders today should aspire to be.
The truth is, of course, somewhere in the middle and after we boil the ocean of the ’86 Tour, we’re left with two great riders on one team who were so closely matched they each could have won that year. But the promises made the year before and the reality of the race situation on the road were like water and oil, and by the time the race reached l’Alpe d’Huez, the team, the fans, and the countries had polarized towards one end or the other, each choosing the side that matched most closely the version of the facts that helped them feel more at ease with their loyalties.
As controversies have a tendency to, they overshadow one of the most unique rides to the top of l’Alpe d’Huez in the history of the great climb. In my memory, Hinault attacked on the descent from either the Col de la Croix de Fer or the Glandon. (Maybe he attacked at the base, as WikiPedia suggests, but I don’t remember it that way.) Only LeMond had an answer, and the teammates escaped together to ride the mythical 21 hairpins together. I can’t think of another time when two G.C. riders – let alone two teammates – outclassed everyone else in the race up this climb.
Up and up they rode together – the Badger in his distinct style and LeMan in his – with only their pain, their massive gears, their rocking shoulders, and their resentment for each other as company. Hand-in-hand they crossed the finish line as happy team mates, LeMond gifting the stage to his patron in the end. But beneath the surface boiled a fearsome rivalry and within minutes Hinault and LeMond’s dashing alter-ego, LeMelvis, traded blows in the press. And with that, the great ride was almost immediately eclipsed by polemics.
In the end, LeMond overcame a tampered-with TT bike to win the Tour and Hinault retired as arguably the most successful Tour de France rider at the time. The record is set but the facts become more malleable with time. The rest we see with our rose-tinted glasses.
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Oli
Paaahhhhlleease, Oli. And Lance never doped either. :) (said in a sarcastic, but respectful, voice that is hard to communicate over the net)
In fact, that is one of the lamest parts about the whole thing in my opinion: That after he pulled those stunts he thought up that bullshit excuse to try to make it look like it was honorable. Loses even more points with that one. I had forgooten about that. Unbelieveable.
@Oli
@Buck Rogers
Oli, I reckon only Hinault felt he kept that promise, most everyone else thought him a dick.
Buck, I'm not defending him but I can see how this happens with egos like his involved.
We need a French perspective...Alpin?
@Gianni
I'm sure that a French opinion would be to relax, drink a little more vin, maybe watch a Renoir or Cocteau film and then go for a ride. Man I love the French!!!
@Gianni, @Buck Rogers, @Pedale.Forchetta
I'm with Buck on this one as well - especially in regards to the revelation of character, even though Gianni's "Winter can make you fuck people you can't unfuck in Spring" quote, which is absolute gold.
I'm just happy for Greg that he won the Tour outright, and didn't have a Schleckanical - the Chaindrop attack (oh no, not that again!) by the Bertie was a similarly classless move from my view, and it's a shame that Andy couldn't just win the Tour despite the mishap and put the issue to bed. But the fact the LeMond won despite the infighting and broken promises is a major good on him.
@Oli
I'll go with you on that one, but over here on the right side of the planet, we all take Greg's word for granted. And that's almost the same as it being true.
That's what he's always said, but I think the classic interpretation of helping someone win the Tour doesn't involve the person "helping" attacking and proving that the helpee is the honorary victor. It's a gray area at best, and - to Buck's point - I personally believe there's not a lot of gray area in a promise like that.
It's kind of like a husband and wife promising each other to start saving and then having one of them buy a whole bunch of cycling gear and saying that those purchases were an investment in trying to save. Not that I'm speaking from experience here. STRICTLY HYPOTHETICAL.
Gianni's thoughts, modified by Frank: "Winter can make you fuck people you can't unfuck in Spring"
Hmm, spring is always the most taxing part of the year on me...warmer weather, more skin, females working on tans for the coming summer...It's sheer torture.
Anyway, wasn't I supposed to be talking about cycling?
@frank
God DAMN, Frank, you are trying to fire me up today, aren't you?!?!?! :)
@frank
"respect", to quote Sasha Baron Cohen when he was playing that idiot English rapper
@frank
Next you'll be telling me that Merckx was the picture of class when he stated that a lesser man had broken the hour record!