A Flash Of Brilliance - The 1984 Tour de France

It's perhaps unfair to call Laurent Fignon a rival to Bernard Hinault in the same light as Greg Lemond.
And perhaps not. Fignon certainly had the ability and courage to demolish the opposition in the 1983
Tour de France and did so with such devastating effect. Even more incredible was the fact that this
was his first attempt at a major stage race, never mind the Tour de France. It's true to say that he did
not have the "pleasure" of riding against Hinault in '83 and it's also true that after having a long period
away from the peleton after his knee injury, Hinault was not the major force that he had been in 1982.

Prior to the '84 Tour de France, the clever money appeared to be on Fignon and Lemond. Fignon
had won the '83 Tour and Lemond had taken the World Road Championships for the USA for the
first time in the race's history. Both riders had consistent results through the '83 season and this
combined with their respective major victories made them the obvious favourites to win the Tour in
1984. As Hinault had already won an incredible four Tours de France, he could not be ruled out of
the running - everybody knew that The Badger was more than capable of winning again - but no-one
could ignore the fact that he had only just recovered from knee surgery and had a lengthy period away
from his bike. continued...

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