Laurent Fignon, a Frenchman who twice won the Tour de France but was defeated by American rival Greg LeMond in arguably the event's greatest race, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, the French Cycling Federation said. He was 50.

Fignon in Tour de France 1986

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

"He was a great champion who used a combination of talent and will to win the Tour de France twice," French Cycling Federation president David Lappartient told The Associated Press. "He had an iron will, and was also a very intelligent man."

Seven-time Tour champion Lance Armstrong, who himself battled cancer, called Fignon a "dear friend" and a "legendary cyclist." "I will never forget the early 90s when I first turned pro, of course terrified of these 'older guys,' Laurent was always a friendly face with words of advice," Armstrong said in a statement. "He was a special man to me, to cycling, and to all of France. Laurent, we will all miss you."

French president and cycling fan Nicolas Sarkozy hailed Fignon as "an amazing and exceptional champion who left an indelible mark in the history of the Tour de France and French cycling."

The gargantuan battle between Fignon and LeMond in the 1989 Tour produced the narrowest winning result in the history of the world's most famous cycling race. For three weeks they dogged each other, the leader's yellow jersey passing back and forth between them. Finally, with only the last-day time-trial to go, Fignon had amassed a 50-second lead that appeared decisive. But LeMond, riding with an aerodynamic helmet and new-style triathlon handlebars that Fignon maintained were illegal, set a blistering pace — the fastest full-length time-trial stage ever ridden at the time. Fignon rode last, using traditional handlebars and with his ponytail blowing in the wind. He gave everything he had, collapsing to the ground after crossing the finishing line. But it was not enough. LeMond took the Tour by eight seconds — the smallest margin of victory ever.

"The cyclist who doesn't know how to lose cannot become a champion. ... But to lose like that, on the last day, with such a small gap, and principally because of handlebars that were banned under the rules, no, that was too much for one man," Fignon said in his autobiography, "We Were Young and Carefree," published last year.

"I counted eight seconds in my head, and the more I counted the more I realized what a ridiculous period of time it was. In eight seconds you don't have time to do anything!"

Fignon devoted the first chapter of the book to the defeat, acknowledging it as the defining moment of a career that had otherwise seen much glory.

Fignon also admitted to doping

"Fignon was a great person, true to himself," LeMond told France 24 television channel. "We were competitors, but we were friends ... He had a very, very big talent, much more than anyone recognized."

In the book, Fignon also admitted to doping, describing drug-taking in the 1980s as widespread but not organized, often recreational rather than performance-enhancing — aided by the strong Colombian involvement in cycling at the time, accompanied by large quantities of cocaine.

He said doping in cycling was revolutionized by the arrival of the blood-booster EPO in the early '90s. Fignon said he refused to take it — and retired from competition in 1993 when he realized that mediocre riders were now keeping up with him.

Fignon won the Tour on his first attempt in 1983 in just his second year as a professional, seizing the opportunity presented by the absence due to injury of the Renault team leader — four-time winner and defending champion Bernard Hinault. Fignon put on the yellow jersey for the first time at the top of the legendary Alpe d'Huez, and held it for the final five days of the race, cementing his victory by winning the time-trial on the penultimate day. At 22, Fignon was the youngest postwar winner of the Tour.

If doubt still hung over Fignon's victory because of Hinault's absence, that was to be dispelled the following year when the two men — now in different teams — went head-to-head.

Fignon, already second in the Giro d'Italia earlier in the season, dominated the race, taking five stages and finishing more than 10 minutes ahead of Hinault.

"I'm deeply moved. He was a fighter and like me was always vying for victory. We always had fair battles," Hinault said. "He fought this disease too, but lost the battle."

A great cyclist, a great man to be remembered

Though feted by the cycling-mad French, Fignon never achieved the public adoration of Hinault, and footage of him spitting at journalists in 1989 cemented his reputation for testiness and a certain arrogance. He was awarded the "Prix Citron" for the least likable rider after the 1989 Tour.

"At least I won something," he noted acidly in his autobiography.

Fignon is survived by his wife Valerie and a son from a previous marriage.

Want to contribute to the Asia cycling community? Drop us a line and report for us!

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Contact us directly
• Register to chat on the forum?