tick@Shasta.ARPA (07/25/85)
Does anyone out there have an opinion on the following: What was Greg's understanding with La Vie Claire during the last stages of the Tour De France - why did he feel obligated to work for Bernard on the last climb and then cry about it on t.v.? What reason could his manager have given him to hold back? If Greg went into first place dropping Roche, La Vie Claire still had a winner. I am not so naive to misunderstand the chauvanism of the French, but was Greg? Evan Tick
jhs@druri.UUCP (ShoreJ) (07/27/85)
>What was Greg's understanding with La Vie Claire during the last stages of the >Tour De France - why did he feel obligated to work for Bernard on the last >climb and then cry about it on t.v.? What reason could his manager have given >him to hold back? If Greg went into first place dropping Roche, La Vie Claire >still had a winner. > >I am not so naive to misunderstand the chauvanism >of the French, but was Greg? -- Evan Tick He worked for Hinnault because "The Badger" hired him. He cried about it on TV because business arrangements and Le Mond's integrity don't cancel out emotions. And TV was there--Le Mond didn't ask for eyewitnesses to his personal distress. He knew it might be his only/best chance, but he still honored his commitment to Hinnault. Speculation: his manager probably reminded him of all of the above, then noted that he (Le Mond) could stick it in his ear forever after if he didn't honor the contract, real or implied. La Vie Claire having the winner be the FIVE-TIME Tour champion was more important than just having *a* winner. You don't often get a chance to plug your products with a "living legend" that shares the company of Mercyx (sp?) and Coppi. You *are* naive (that's really not intended as a flame; but fair's fair, so fire back if that'll make you feel better). The French have no monopoly on chauvinism and it is not really important what the nationality of the rider was in this case. [Do you recall that that "French" team had American, Canadian, and Dutch (or was he Belgian?) riders working for Hinnault?] Greg is no man's fool--witness his business dealings AND riding over the last couple of years. All things being equal next year, Hinnault *will* "sacrifice for Greg, and Le Mond will be the first American winner of the Tour. -- Jeff Shore, ..!ihnp4!druri!jhs
leimkuhl@uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA (07/29/85)
I was in France on the days just prior to the tour, when everyone was buzzing with tour gossip. I picked up a few French cycling magazines (Le Velo, Le Cycle, etc.) which contained previews of the tour and interviews with the racers. In an interview with Hinault in Le Velo, the racer made it quite clear that Lemond was to work for him in the tour. I was rather surprised by his candid discussion of a deal he had struck with Lemond: "Greg pourra me demander tous qu'il veux." (Greg will be able to ask of me whatever he wants.) This in exchange for Lemond's help in the tour. I am not sure, then, why Lemond rebelled on Luz-Arbidan. After all, he had been effectively recruited by Hinault and given a very hefty salary and great promotional freedom by La Vie Claire. And of course he was well aware that with Hinault's self-pronounced retirement from the spotlight to follow the tour, he would become the leader of a very strong and well-backed team--a position which could eventually elevate Lemond to the stature of a Merycxx or Hinault. He is still quite young, after all. Also, Lemond and Hinault are quite close, and I think that Lemond genuinely wanted to give Hinault this swansong. I suspect that what happened is this: Lemond found himself suddenly with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win the tour in a single stage--in a two man break with the very strong Roche. The only opportunity after Luz-Arbidan for someone to make up a significant amount of time was a shortish time-trial, and in Hinault's fatigued state, Lemond wouldn't have lost too much time there. (He later won that stage, but that was very likely a consolation gift from Hinault.) So Lemond suddenly realized that he had a shot at the win. The Tour has always been his greatest ambition, so it is not surprising that his strong competitive instincts took over in this situation. It was then the duty of the team to remind him of his obligations, of his friendship with the great man, and of the great possibilities that lie in store for him as the leader of La Vie Claire. I suspect that we will begin to get a taste of things to come in the remainder of the season as Hinault and the team seek to establish Lemond as the next great champion. -Ben Leimkuhler
rogerh@bocklin.UUCP (07/29/85)
Bicycling is a team sport. Lemond rode to team orders, in a very tough situation. If he had gone on and worked with Roche, he might not have dropped him; if he had, it would not have been by 4 minutes. So by sitting on Roche's wheel, he protected Hinualt's lead of over 5 minutes on Roche. Any time he made on Hinault, would have helped Roche do the same. The result might have been Roche, not Lemond, as the eventual winner. (There was still a time trial ahead, remember). He was upset about it, of course -- he was close enough to taste it. As he said on TV, it might have been a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Let's hope not. He certainly has shown a great deal of ability, and a great deal of class in doing the honorable thing on that climb in the Pyrenees.
leimkuhl@uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA (08/03/85)
excuse me: "Ardiden" for "Arbidan"
"Merckx" for "Mercxxxxxxxx"