Fignon loses cancer battle

Two-time Tour de France winner passes away at the age of 50

Last updated: 31st August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fignon loses cancer battle

Fignon: 1960-2010

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Former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon has died from cancer at the age of 50.

Fignon won the Tour de France in 1983 and 1984 and also finished runner-up by just eight seconds to Greg LeMond in 1989, the smallest winning margin in the history of the race.

The Frenchman was a versatile rider capable of challenging in both the grand tours and classics - he collected 76 victories during his career, including Milan-San Remo twice and the 1989 Giro d'Italia.

He twice tested positive for banned substances in the late 1980s and later, in his 2003 book 'We Were Young and Carefree', admitted taking amphetamines and cortisone.

Fignon remained involved in professional cycling after his retirement, organising races and commentating for French television.

He announced in June 2009 that he had advanced cancer of the digestive system and was undergoing chemotherapy.

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Comments (13)

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Ren Aungier says...

A great cyclist has died. I listened everyday to his commentary and he was brave and interesting to the end. Well done France 2. You have shown that business, sport and humanity mix. You let Lauren comment on the Tour. He did a god job as he was one of the most interesting commentators around. May rest in peace. The Tour commentary will not be the same without you. O brave one, thanks for all the memories

Posted 21:56 6th September 2010

Gary Johnston says...

Death of a legend such a tragedy that Laurent died so young at 50, what a magnificent man who achieved so much and touched so many fans with his incredible achievements. France be proud of him he was one of the greatest cyclists of all time. On a personal note I am so sad to hear of Laurents passing he was one of my heros as a teenager growing up with a love for cycling at a time when the characters were really great. Laurent RIP I am so glad to have met you briefly at a Nissan Classic in Dublin Ireland many years ago cherished memories for me now.

Posted 01:12 4th September 2010

Philip n Roberts says...

what a loss a great cyclist and a great man missed by many loved by all who new him, my youth is dying slowly, once met never forgotten a true hero

Posted 22:36 2nd September 2010

David Mcmahon says...

A part of my life has died along with Laurent. What do you do when your heros die? I guess you just keep going...

Posted 04:50 2nd September 2010

Andy Hunt says...

What a sad day- a true great- the man was my hero, because he was always honest, told it as it was, was an attacking rider the like of whom we are unlikely to see again- and from a personal point of view, the man who got me back on my bike in the 80''s. Have read his autobiography- just an absolute colossus- but also a very sympathetic person- the section where he describes how he and his wife invited a cancer diagnosed Lance Armstrong round for dinner, because he was in Paris and alone now has a poignancy that beggars belief. A true giant of the road- may you be at peace.

Posted 19:55 1st September 2010

Julie Mraud says...

Perhaps just as impressive as his victories in the Tour and his narrow defeat in 1989 was his commenting during this year''s Tour. Despite a very raspy voice, he was on the television every afternoon for the whole Tour, commenting with passion and intelligence - it must have been absolutely exhausting for him. Hats off also to his employer, France Television, to let him have one last Tour - it would have been easy for them to have cancelled his commentator''s contract as he was so ill and had such difficulty in speaking.

Posted 20:30 31st August 2010

Mark Brooks says...

I so clearly remember that 8 second loss in Paris.. Thats when the race was contested to the bitter end.. not like now. God bless Laurent...

Posted 20:23 31st August 2010

Gareth Williams says...

this great man was only talking at the tour de france 2010, a big part of cycling gone in just 2 months , what a man, say no more, he will be missed in a very big way with all the fans in cycling all around the world

Posted 18:52 31st August 2010

Simon Leeming says...

A Terrible loss to the sport. Despite the involvement in drugs (as everyone during that period seemed to be) he truly was a great champion, who will be sorely missed. RIP Legend!

Posted 15:53 31st August 2010

Tony S says...

I remember watching Fignon as a kid tear apart the field at the TDF. A fantastic rider who was just as good at the one-day classics as the grand tours. Very sorry he is gone at 50.

Posted 15:34 31st August 2010

Darran Pratt says...

a sad day for the sport and all that knew and followed laurent fignon he was a great rider and a legend and a life cut short by illness and a real shame r i p

Posted 15:21 31st August 2010

Peter Hobson says...

A lean mean spectacled eyed fighting machine, who could ever forget the the run in of the time trial on the last day of the TDF 1989 where he lost the tour by a mere 8 seconds. A great cyclist a gentleman and a great loss to the cycling world.

Posted 14:40 31st August 2010

Steve Casserley says...

TERRIBLE SHAME,WHAT A GREAT RIDER HE WAS,A BIG LOSS TO THE CYCLING WORLD

Posted 13:51 31st August 2010
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