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From: leimkuhl@uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Greg LeMon(d)
Message-ID: <4200018@uiucdcsp>
Date: Mon, 29-Jul-85 00:08:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsp.4200018
Posted: Mon Jul 29 00:08:00 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 31-Jul-85 02:39:43 EDT
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Nf-From: uiucdcsp.Uiuc.ARPA!leimkuhl    Jul 28 23:08:00 1985




  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