'One of the most charismatic and flamboyant cyclists in recent history' - "Daily Telegraph". Laurent Fignon is one of the giants of modern cycling. Twice-winner of the Tour de France in the early eighties, Fignon became the star for a new generation. In 1989 he took part in one of the most fiercely-contested Tours of all time. Over the course of 3,285 kilometres he lost out to his American arch-rival, Greg LeMond, by an agonising eight seconds on the final Parisian time trial. Fignon does not mince his words. In this forthright and unflinching account the former champion spares neither friends nor opponents, nor even his own image. In doing so he gives cycling fans a tantalising glimpse of what really went on behind the scenes of this epic sport - the friendships, the rivalries, the betrayals, the scheming, the parties, the girls, and, of course, the performance-enhancing drugs. Laurent Fignon lived cycling at its peak. He enjoyed a truly exceptional career, winning over eighty titles from 1982 to 1993. The highs were matched by lows of serious injury, periods of self-doubt, and accusations of cheating. Fignon's story bestrides a golden age in cycling: a time before the scandals and the shadow of doping, a time when cyclists were afraid of nothing.
We Were Young and Carefree
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
We were young,
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This review is from: We Were Young and Carefree (Paperback)
I was lucky enough to be a competitive athlete in the 1980's...an Iron Man distance triathlete who fell in love with cycling. It was a time when MTV and the Tour de France both made their debut on television. We learned a new language; peloton, Alpe d'Huez and riding a wheel. We also learned of old heroes and fell in love with new one's; Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, The Badger, Greg Lemond and Laurent Fignon. Laurent was the man I admired and even tried to mirror in appearance. He was fast, insane in his tactics and was the cool French guy with the pony tail! He was partly why I rode. Even why my wife and I became part of a student exchange program with a French family. If you took up cycling in the 1980's you MUST read this book. His recollections bring back images we watched on TV of Paris Roubaix and the Tour. His stories will help you to understand the times and to make the men of the peloton like Sean Kelly and Bernard Hinault become real people not just powerful guys on bikes. I have to say there were times while reading I felt great melancholy at the knowledge these days are gone for them and for me. Though it took only two days to read the book I have already re-read pages as they instill such emotion, joy and sometimes sadness. Laurent is a personal hero. Many Americans at that time loved to hate Laurent as he was Lemond's nemesis. And few remember that Laurent won the Tour de France twice before Lemond beat him with skill and technology. The yellow Renault jersey and The Professor will never be forgotten. Laurent is very very sick now...which brings another level of mortality to the book and to life. I wish him well and I hope he knows he DID create a legacy and a joy for many of us...as we rode our bikes over 100 mile training rides we would take up the personas of Hinault and Lemond....and I, Laurent Fignon.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
`You are a non-conformist, so hang on to that; it's a rare thing in French sport',
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This review is from: We Were Young and Carefree (Kindle Edition)
I met Mr Laurent Fignon at Superweek, in downtown Chicago, in the early 90's. At the time, I was still beyond excited and proud that an American had beaten the great French cyclist in the last stage, of the greatest race of the Grand Tours. I went up to him (expecting anger and hostility) to introduce myself and immediately felt charisma, personality and strength of character to this day I still admire. I would never have guessed 20 years later my opinion of Lemond and Fignon would flip-flop. This was no ordinary Frenchman, this was no ordinary athlete. Laurent Fignon embodied the spirit of Anquetil Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape: The Remarkable Life of Jacques Anquetil, the First Five-Times Winner of the Tour de France: "Where the risks are greatest, that is the area I aim for." He had no malice towards Lemond. He states in his book his meteoric rise to champion status. Think about it, THE GUY WON THE TdF ON HIS FIRST TRY. We have no comparisons for this great racer, and we may not ever see again such a feat.
I purchased this book one week before his passing. And today we mourn the loss of a great man who left us far too soon. He starts the book with that breathtaking day in 1989, one that none of us will ever forget. His stories with Hinault (Memories of the Peloton), the battles, his admiration for "The Badger", the late nights at restaurants plotting strategy for the next stage and the epic after-parties illustrate this racer's lust for life. He recalls Directeur Sportif Cyrille Guimard (now retired) and his unparalleled insight into winning grand tours, and the fights and argument they had over the years. He leads us through compelling examples where "in life, just as in sport, you must never ever let an opportunity go." Prepared to be moved, this was no ordinary man. You will read the book and feel you are right there in there corner bistro at midnight plotting the next day's mountain stage. It's that intense. I highly recommend this book because it is well translated, it is inspiring to cyclists and non-cyclists alike and it tells the story of a remarkable man. The story all of us know, how when you feel unstoppable and unbeatable, and how you can spend the rest of your life chasing that feeling again. "You don't choose the circumstances in which you race" he used to say. He repeats in his book. But, in a larger sense, these are words we can all live by.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Soul of Cycling,
By Jim Fitzpatrick (Southern Cal.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: We Were Young and Carefree (Paperback)
I was inspired to buy this book after the passing of Laurent Fignon and the subsequent exposure of the book. I wish I would have known of this book sooner, it's inspirational to say the least. Well translated, the personality, passion, dedication, drive and fearless freedom Fignon had during his life is shared with the reader. No, not shared. The reader is there, with Fignon, as if you are sitting on his shoulder. You are in his life. It's personnel. Before this life experience with Fignon I thought he was an arrigant self absorbed Frenchman. Now, I know him as a champion in every sence of the word. I would have cherished meeting him.
The sport of cycling in his days are different from what we are exposed to now. The move from the way it was to the way it is now, through his eyes, is insightful especially considering the issue of doping. I love the sport of cycling. You will love it even more after this book as you will experience the soul of cycling and witness the change that is taking place. There is still a soul, it's just different. I don't want to say more. Read it.
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