_Because of the knee injury that Fignon had sustained, he missed the 1985 Tour, and wasn’t able to finish the 1986 Tour. During the 1987, Fignon finished 7th overall. Then, he didn’t participate in the 1988 Tour. He snatched the title of being the number one cyclist in the world from Sean Kelly in the 1989 Tour.

After retiring, he managed to race to Paris-Nice until ASO took it over, which is the Tour de France’s organiser in 2004. He remains as one of the organised for several races such as Paris- Corrèze.

With regard to his relationship with Bernard Hinault and Cyrille Guimard, he stated with Hinault, Guimard already discovered a champion, but with himself, Guimard created a champion. This statement proves that his relationship with Guimard was stronger than Guimard’s bond with Hinault.

In June 2009, Fignon announced that he had advanced intestinal cancer and was receiving chemotherapy. Furthermore, he admitted using doping products when asked about the association of his past doping and cancer. He has authored a book about his life “Nous étions jeunes et insouciants" (We were young and carefree), which was published in the same month and year.

_Name: Laurent Fignon
Date of Birth: 12 August 1960
Place of Birth: Paris

Laurent Fignon is a former professional road bicycle racer who already won the Tour de France for two consecutive times in 1983 and 1984. Also in 1989, he won the Giro d’ Italia.

His first career as an athlete was football. Then, some of his friends encouraged him into bicycle racing and his very first official race was in 1976, which he won. He then won 17 races during his second season while he was in high school. When he joined the national 100km time trial race, he was discovered by Cyrilled Guimard, former manager and rider, who reserved him a spot in the Renault-Elf-Gitane professional racers.

In 1983, Fignon won his very first Tour de France. Pascal Simon lost his three-minute advantage to Fignon half-way through the 1983 race. Fignon claimed the maillot jaune two days after the tour. He was only 22 back then, making him the youngest racer who won the Tour since 1993. During the 1984 Tour, Fignon succeeded in winning the stage 7 time trial, beating Hinault on the 14th and 16th stage. Fignon also gained a three-minute advantage over Hinault on the stage toward Alpe d’Huez, and succeeded to be the first one to finish the stage at La Plagne, 20th stage from starting from Morzine to Crans-Montana, and the last time trial stage, earning him a total of five victories during the Tour.