While the whole world is watching the international Olympic Games taking place in Rio, former athletes and coaches silently recall times of former glory. One of them is the famous professional cyclist from America Greg Lemond. Let's dive together in a series of wonderful memories of the triple winner of the Tour de France.
Information from the biography of the athlete
Gregory James Lemond, better known as Greg, was born on June 26, 1961 in California. From childhood, the future athlete became interested in cycling. At that time, he still had no desire to become a real racer. It was just a little hobby: he raced with the same boys living nearby. However, his parents insisted that he try cycling on a more serious level. And when the case turned up, a young American was identified in a group of juniors. Then Greg Lemond and continued to do his favorite thing, but already under the auspices of professional trainers.
The first successes in the career of a cyclist
From the first day Greg began serious training with the coach, he was pursued by an incredible craving for victory. It is said that by the age of 17 the future world champion had already prepared a clear plan in which he described his victory at the junior World Championships and the Olympics, which was held among juniors. By the age of 22, he planned to win gold at the prestigious World Cup, and by the age of 25 he won the Tour de France. However, Lemond was not just a dreamer. He did not sit idly by, but walked long and hard toward his goal, daily training until the seventh sweat. And finally, his labors were rewarded. The athlete became one of the best among juniors and even managed to attract the attention of the national cycling team of America. That was Greg Lemond. You will learn the height, weight and other information about this athlete later.
What height and weight was the cyclist?
It is noteworthy that the athlete was quite tall. His height was 1.78 m. Taking into account this indicator, we can say that he weighed a little - only 67 kg. To some extent, this did not stop, but helped him achieve such significant results, which we are talking about today.
Participation in the World Cup and the first major victory
In 1977, Greg Lemond (his biography contains a lot of interesting facts) became the US champion among juniors. And exactly two years later, he finally confirmed his winner status, having obtained the title of the fastest and most powerful cyclist in America. At the same time, he attracted attention by the fact that he literally destroyed his opponents at almost every bicycle race.
Throughout the year, the promising young man did not lose his vigilance and rapidly gained form. As it turned out, he was preparing to conquer a new peak, which for him was the World Cup, held in 1979 in Argentina. Without a moment's delay, he added his name to the already existing list of juniors. To the surprise of the audience and all the relatives of the young man, he managed not only to win the group road race, but also to get three medals at once: gold, silver and bronze.
After this overwhelming victory, the media and representatives of the sports community started talking about him as a future champion, gaining momentum with impetuous force. Moreover, he was selected to participate in the upcoming 1980 Olympic Games. However, for a number of reasons, the athlete was not able to take part in them.
Moving to Europe and getting to know your future rival
In 1980, an incredible and significant event took place - the five-time winner of the Tour de France, the French cyclist Bernard Hainaut, and his sports director Cyril Guimard drew attention to the young athlete. Perhaps this was the very sign of fate that many people have to wait for many years. And everything happened during the victory of the young athlete in the Circuit de la Sarte cycling race, held in France. At that time, Greg was a member of the national team, which managed to get around many famous bicycle professionals from Eastern and Western Europe.
Frankly, the first to react to the young talent was Bernard Ino, known in cycling circles under the nickname Barsuk. He received it for an incredible way to fight during the competition. By the way, Bernard did not even realize that in the person of his protege he would find a strong and worthy opponent. At that moment, Ino pointed to Greg to his director and advised him to take a closer look at the guy. As a result, without hesitation, Cyril Guimard held a series of meetings and still persuaded the athlete to sign a contract and go to them in Europe. Flattered by the attention of the cyclist with experience, Greg Lemond, without hesitation, agreed. So, at the end of the year he left his family and went to conquer Europe.
Swift career athlete in the team of Cyril Guimard
Once in the big world of sports, Greg was not at a loss. And, of course, not lost among a huge number of strong and famous racers. Despite his young age, he has already managed to gain a certain authority even among experienced cyclists. To the surprise of Cyril Guimard himself, his chosen one was persistent, strong and hardy. Therefore, he often had to compete with those riders who were much older than him. At the same time, he was not inferior to them at all, which, in fact, very much resembled Bernard Ino at the beginning of his stellar career.
In 1981, an American cyclist was honorably credited to one of the most powerful French teams - Renault-Elf-Gitane. Bernard Ino himself entered into it. In the same year, at the Dauphin Liber, the young talent received its serious trophy - third place. And exactly one year later, Lemond became the winner of the Tour de l'Avenir and won silver in the World Cup. In 1983, he managed to confirm this title and secure it with new victories and medals.
A series of overwhelming victories
In 1984, the cyclist began a series of stunning victories. So, he won two bronzes at once: one at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the second at the Criterium Dauphine Liber. At the same time, the cyclist took part for the first time in the Tour de France, where he took third place and, as the best young athlete, received the so-called white T-shirt.
Discord in the team and Greg's transition to La Vie Claire
Seeing a real rival in the person of Greg, Ino finally quarreled over him with his director and left his team. In contrast to Guimaru, Bernard created his own group, which he called La Vie Claire. Here he also invited Lemond, who was supposed to speak on his behalf. However, the ambitious American did not like to be on the sidelines. During each of his competitions, he followed his mentor and, at the same time, a rival in command of the nostril in the nostril. Because of what they often quarreled and argued. And on July 20, 1986, Greg Lemond finally walked around Ino and won the Tour de France.
In 1987, Lemond was seriously injured due to an accident while hunting. For the same reason, he had to miss two rounds of the competition. But after recovery, Greg won the honorary international tournament two more times in a row: in 1989 and 1990. For this, he became the "Athlete of the Year" and received a number of other honorary titles and awards.
Greg Lemond: his brand bike and retirement
After a series of incredible victories, Greg ended his sports career in 1994. At the same time, he was waiting for the new career of a businessman in LeMond Bicycles. He founded the company in 1990, but managed to promote it only after he left cycling. From that moment he signed a contract with Trek and began selling professional bicycles under the LeMond logo. Lemond later opened LeMond Fitness and the Tour de France on France Avenue restaurant.