Tadej Pogacar's incredible victory this Saturday at the Planche des Belles Filles is reminiscent of another incredible turnaround in the history of the Tour de France.
And the 59 seconds lead between the young Slovenian and his compatriot Primoz Roglic will not erase the famous eight seconds, lost this famous July 23, 1989 by Laurent Fignon on the American Greg Lemond.
Before setting off from Versailles for the last stage, the Parisian is in French hearts the worthy successor of Bernard Hinault.
The Renault team rider has already won the 1983 and 1984 Tours, and nothing can prevent him from making the treble.
Greg Lemond, face of an angel and almost as loved as his opponent, is 50 seconds behind.
Impossible to catch up on the 24.5 kilometers of the stopwatch.
The impossible will however come true.
The goal for Laurent Fignon is simple: not to lose more than two seconds per kilometer.
Yet this is what happens from the first!
Bad sign… The American, who has opted for a revolutionary bike with a triathlete's handlebars, does not ask himself a question.
It spins like an Apollo rocket towards its destiny and grabs second by second.
3 kilometers from the finish, Fignon, who suffers from a crotch injury, only has one left.
His long sprint on the cobblestones of the most famous avenue in the world is worthy of a cinematographic drama in mondiovision.
“It's incredible, one of the best Tours I've seen!”
The voice of Patrick Chêne, live narrator of the legendary stage, still resonates with Laurent Fignon supporters.
"These are the most important seconds in the history of the Tour de France", already guesses, despite the emotion, the commentator of Antenne 2. For Fignon, these 8 seconds symbolize nothingness, the cruelty of the impossible defeat. admit.
The Champs-Elysées echoed to the glory of Lemond, who won the Grande Boucle the following year with 2 minutes and 16 seconds ahead of the Italian Chiappucci.
Fignon, him, will leave for an Italian team and will end his career in 1993, at the age of 33.
“Now I understand why everyone was so excited to see this race.
There it is incredible, one of the best Tours I have seen!
said Greg Lemond this Saturday.
And Pogacar, what talent, very, very great talent!
You have to have a stopwatch like that at least every five years, it's incredible.
I didn't think he could take 57 '' (
on Primoz Roglic
).
I think Roglic panicked, we saw on the climb that at one point the legs were no longer turning.
"
