All the right moves

In the drivers seat...
After his first Tour win, Fignon in his new

Renault 5 Turbo... with parents beaming!

1983...

Second year pro, Laurent Fignon entered his first Tour de France without the patron, the injured Badger. The beleaguered Renault team was uncertain who would lead. But, manager Cyrille Guimard had an idea.

The young Fignon helped lead a hobbled Hinault, in the mountains, to Vuelta victory. The price; the Badger won his second Vuelta, battered with tendinitis of his knee could not ride the Tour. Fignon is quickly included to the Tour team and hopes for; a stage win, challenge for the white jersey classification and aim for a top ten placing. Lofty goals?

On the stage between Luchon and Fleurance, leader Pascal Simon fell and cracked his shoulder blade but still gallantly rode on. His defense of the yellow jersey was now in peril. And, on the stage to L'Alpe-d'Huez, with the pain unbearable, Simon quit the Tour. At the end of that stage, Fignon finished fifth but became the new yellow jersey. Further proof that his yellow jersey was on worthy shoulders, the Parisen won the final Dijon TT. The Tour was his.

Laurent Fignon's door to greatness opened. He achieved his pre-race objectives of winning a stage, best young rider and winning his debut Tour...at only 22 years old!

Enter ...the Professeur.