He made viewers smile with his "Yaune Jersey", pronounced in Spanish ... Pedro Delgado knew how to play his Hispanic accent, but on July 15, 1988, on the road leading from Grenoble to Villard-de-Lans, in Isère, the climber of Segovia had remained clenched teeth.
Over the 38 km time trial, the brand new leader of the Tour de France had put in a show of strength, winning the stage and knocking out the Grande Boucle.
A consecration which should, in principle, have propelled him towards a parade in the Pyrenees in front of his audience, then lead him to Paris on a beautiful yellow carpet.
The sequel turned out to be somewhat different.
Delgado, born on the Tour in 1983, climber with fiery legs, designated successor to Bahamontes and Ocaña, has indeed had a thwarted fate on the Grande Boucle.
Already in 1986, while playing on the podium, he had to give up during the 18th stage, learning of his mother's death.
He failed for 40 seconds the following year, runner-up to Irishman Stephen Roche.
A positive control for Promenicide
And there, while he crushes the test, keeping the Dutchman Steven Rooks at a safe distance, he is caught up in a doping story.
Five days from the finish, the peloton learns that it has tested positive for Promenicide, a product intended to treat urinary diseases and which, by extension, masks traces of anabolics.
The Spaniard is doing, however, because if the product is banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), it is not yet by the International Cycling Union (UCI), which therefore takes no sanction.
Its success is marred, however.
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The following year, his 2'40 '' lost for a forgotten start in the prologue condemned him to third place behind Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon in the final general classification of a Tour that he could have won.
After?
The reign of Miguel Indurain is looming.
He will become its lieutenant before retiring in 1994, winner of a Tour de France and two Tours of Spain (1985, 1989).
