I remember that day well, couldn’t have been scripted any better. Up there with Julie Moss crawling across the line at Ironman…And what is funny was all the roadies thinking that LeMonde invented the aero bar that year…Of course we all had been using them for 3 years before that…But what isn’t funny is that I now talk to triathletes that think the same thing, that LeMonde was the 1st to use aero bars…
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As an historical point - Lemond was not the first person to use aerobars in a stage race, nor was he even the first person to win a stage race in the final TT w/ aerobars.
That particular distinction belongs to Dag-Otto Lauritzen. The 7-11 team first used aerobars (I wanna say Profile, but could be wrong on that) in the final TT at the 89 Tour de Trump, with Dag-Otto defending the pink jersey in the last day’s TT.
I’m not suprised as we used to train with a lot of the old 7/11 guys in San Diego. ANd they did not have an negative attitude towards triathletes, in fact they were astonished how well we rode, and then had to go train at two other sports. Hamptsen and a few others were regulars on our wednesday ride, and often would train with us on Palomar rides. One thing about us in those days, you could plan any ride, 4,5,or 7 hours, and we were in. So they had early exposure to the bars that other cyclists did not have.
I didn’t know about Dag, but pretty cool, and a very big race here in the US at the time.
I always wonder how that race would of played out without Pedro’s gaffe at the start.
I don’t think it really would have played out much differently. A few reason why:
He lost even more time the next day in the TTT (his team had to actually wait for him)He was, in all likelihood, allowed his freedom on some stages because he was no longer considered a primary threat to the GCHe lost time to Lemond in every TTOn stages where Lemond and Fignon went toe-to-toe, he usually lost time to one (or both) of them.
The reality is that his gaffe, combined with the horrendous TTT result, changed the tactics and focus of the GC contenders such as Lemond and Fignon. He was nearly 10 minutes down after the first weekend, so when he went on the attack in the Pyrennes, there was really no reason for Lemond of Fignon to chase. “Meh…let him go. He is still 6’ down on us” was likely the overall mentality at that point. So while Pedro did an admirable job of scratching back time, I don’t think he would have found himself on the top of the podium had he showed up on time for the prologue.
Good point. On a side note, I own one of those pinerello prologo’s. Except mine is the burnt paint instead of the red and white. Do you know what year the pinarello’s changed the decal of their name on the seat tube from centered to one on each side?
I remember this as my first pro cycling memory so it’s something a bit special - even then I remember the tension and thinking Lemond was some kind of super hero.
I thought the RAAM guys were the first to use aerobars???
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Actually if you go back to the turn of the century, there were lay down bars then. What I’m referring to is when you could actually buy a pair, not a one off in someones garage. Although Boone did make them in his garage, but he at least had a business where they were sold…But you are right, Pete and Lon and a few others made a lay down systen for the RAAM in the mid 80’s that pre dated Boone’s DH bar. You just couldn’t get one of those yourself…
I remember that day well, couldn’t have been scripted any better. Up there with Julie Moss crawling across the line at Ironman…And what is funny was all the roadies thinking that LeMonde invented the aero bar that year…Of course we all had been using them for 3 years before that…But what isn’t funny is that I now talk to triathletes that think the same thing, that LeMonde was the 1st to use aero bars…
And to the guy that asked why did’nt they not allow Greg to use the bars, it is simple. They did not think they worked. It was some triathlete fad/gimmick thingy, so no big deal… Come to think of it, there is not one new invention that triathletes did not use and make popular first, before roadies adopted it later on… I got one of the 1st pair of Look pedals around 82 or so, a couple years before I swaw any roadies using them. Aero helmets were 1st seen on Scott Tinley in 83 or 84, roadies in the last 6 or 7 years caught up with the position to ride those aero bars. All the tricky wheels we used 1st, aero bikes, ect… Very traditional lot those roadies, but when it takes food out of their mouths, for the 10th time, they finally get it…(-;
Once again, I put him in the category of the RAAM riders. A home made one off that didn’t last for even a season before being banned. But none the less, it was a step up in aerodynamics, just not one we got to ever purchase or use. ANd that superman position was very familiar with a couple guys when we first got the bars, I think Kenny Glah rode just about that strectched out, but not that other one. Imagine 3000 triathletes riding on their chests these days, probably bankrupt the medical insurance industry!!!
“Fignon would probably be faster with drop handlebars, lower position.”
Huh? The cowhorns that were used back then directly simulated ONLY the drop position for the riders. Additionally, the 650 front wheels dropped the front end tremendously. Fignon’s position is tremendously low for a guy sitting well back in the preferred slack angles used in those days before the current aerodynamic position became fully understood. What likely made Lemond more aerodynamic was the narrower frontal area created by use of the aerobars.
