Felix Levitan, cycle race organiser, born October 12 1911; died February 17 2007
Levitan was a character who had intrigued me since I had first begun reading about cycling in the late 1970s. I spoke to him while researching a book a year or two before his death. It was clear that he did not wish to speak about the event which had meant so much to him.
Harry Hall
9 November 2007
Cycling team mechanics are an unsung group, who work into the night repairing their charges’ machines, then spend the day in the back of a team car waiting to change a wheel or fix a loose spoke. Harry Hall, who has died aged 78, was perhaps British cycling’s most famous spannerman, and the man who heard the last words of the world champion Tom Simpson when Britain’s greatest ever cyclist wobbled up Mont Ventoux to one of sport’s most famous deaths in the 1967 Tour de France.
Simpson keeled over as his heart began to give out in the intense heat, and as the mechanic, Hall was first to him, along with the manager Alec Taylor. “Me straps Harry, me straps,” Simpson said, referring to the leather cords with which his feet were attached to the pedals. Hall strapped him back into his bike and pushed him off. A hundred yards or so higher up, he fell again, and this time he did not get up.
The experience was traumatic for Hall, a punctilious mechanic who still had detailed records of all his charges’ gear ratios and tyre changes when I visited him in 2000, and who still had the frame number he had taken off Simpson’s bike that evening. He had also shot cine film footage of the champion earlier on the climb, for home movies that would be shown to his clubmates that winter.
Born in Manchester and originally a printer, Hall founded his cycle shop in Manchester in 1957 on Hyde Road in Gorton and subsequently moved to the city centre, in Cathedral Road and later Hanging Ditch, where it remains a Mecca for northern bike riders. The shop was famous for providing race service to Britain’s biggest amateur events through the 1970s and 80s, assisted by a converted Mini van, a ubiquitous feature of British racing at the time.
The shop also sponsored some of Britain’s strongest cyclists, including some who would go on to ride the Tour de France, such as Paul Sherwen and Graham Jones. The sponsorship deal was uniquely incentivised; cyclists were given a bike, for which they would have to pay at the end of the season. If, however, they managed to get photographs in a cycling magazine during the season of them and the bike, they would get credits to spend on kit at Hall’s shop.
Hall had been a racing cyclist himself before acquiring the shop. He would convey himself, his mates and their bikes to races in a converted flatbed truck which was used in the week for delivering coal. From the late 1980s, he took a back seat in the shop to return to racing as a veteran, winning the British and world championships in his age category in 1989. He leaves his wife Jean and sons Graham and Robert.
Harry Hall was instrumental in the help he gave me when writing the biography of Tom Simpson – Put Me Back on My Bike – and it was his testimony that lent strength to the idea that perhaps “Major Tom’s” last words were not what they had been held to be for over 30 years. That visit to his “den” in 2000 to be shown Simpson’s race number in its original plastic bag, and his notebook from the race was simply unforgettable. And like most British cyclists from the 1970s and 1980s, I always smile when thinking of the Mini.
Laurent Fignon
2 September 2010
Laurent Fignon, who has died of cancer aged 50, won the Tour de France twice, but was also widely celebrated for losing it, in the narrowest defeat in Tour history. He was a charismatic cycling champion with trenchant views on his sport, the last Frenchman who seemed capable of living up to national expectations in the Tour, which he dominated with such insouciant ease in 1984 that the cycling magazine Vélo published his photograph that July along with a one-word caption: l’Ogre.
Nicknamed “the professor” after an abortive attempt at university studies, and with distinctive looks – long blond hair, thick-lensed spectacles and a John McEnroe-style headband – the Paris-born Fignon had the cycling world briefly at his feet after winning five stages in his Renault team’s total of 10 (out of a possible 23), at the age of 23. His fellow Frenchman Bernard Hinault, who had dominated cycling for six years, finished more than 10 minutes behind, and had never looked Fignon’s physical equal. On one occasion, Fignon was asked how he felt when Hinault attacked. His answer was: “When I saw him going up the road, I had to laugh.”
The dominance was brief, although the expectations survived a little longer. Fignon’s place in cycling history is based on the celebrated role he played as the runner-up in the greatest Tour ever, in 1989. By then he had spent four years trying to regain his best level after two achilles tendon operations in 1985. His battle with the American Greg LeMond was a tense affair, with the two men swapping the lead for the three-week duration of the race until Fignon carved out a 50-second lead before the final stage, a time-trial into Paris.
Fignon felt his advantage was sufficient, but he was suffering from an abscess which made it virtually impossible for him to sit on his bike, and LeMond was using radical new aerodynamic handlebars. Fignon crossed the line on the Champs-Élysées and subsided in tears on the cobbles, having lost by just eight seconds after almost 88 hours of racing – still the narrowest margin in Tour history. It was a brutal defeat, a magnificent comeback for LeMond – who had come close to death in a shooting accident the previous year – and its impact turned the Tour into a truly global sports event.
Fignon won other major races – the Milan–San Remo Classic in 1988 and 1989, the Giro d’Italia in 1989 – and suffered a controversial defeat in the Giro in 1984, when the organisers pulled out all the stops to ensure a home victory. But his impact extended beyond his victories and his great defeat. In 1985, when Renault pulled out of sponsorship, he and his manager, Cyrille Guimard, came up with a novel system of managing team finances. Previously, teams had tended to belong to the sponsor, and were vulnerable when a backer lost interest. Instead, Guimard and Fignon set up their own company to run the team and own its assets, selling advertising space on the team’s jerseys and cars to a main sponsor. Most professional cycling teams are run in this way today.
He was also one of few cyclists to reinvest their winnings in their sport. After retirement in 1993, he set up a promotions company to run events for cycle tourists, and he bought the second-biggest race in French cycling, the Paris-Nice “race to the sun”, in 2000. As an organiser, he was unable to compete with the Amaury Sport Organisation, which has a virtual monopoly on major races in France, including the Tour, and he eventually sold Paris-Nice to them in 2002.
Subsequently he scaled down his promotional ventures and put his energy into developing a training centre in the Pyrenees. He also published his memoirs, Nous Etions Jeunes et Insouciants (2009), which I translated into English this summer under the title We Were Young and Carefree. The book was painfully honest about his attempts to get back to full fitness after his operations, spoke mercilessly about former rivals and described an epic drinking session with Hinault and an occasion on which Fignon lied to his manager to enable a team-mate to use his hotel room for a romantic assignation with “an unofficial Miss France”.
Fignon’s main premise was that cycling was “a living, breathing art”, a world that created “complete men rather than just sportsmen”, and that it had been robbed of much of its magic by the demands of sponsors and the widespread use of the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin, which he contrasted with his own amateurish use of cortisone and amphetamine.
He worked as a television commentator on the 2009 and 2010 Tours, in spite of his illness – the harsh croak of his voice will remain my enduring memory of this year’s race – and in one of his last interviews, in January, he was typically forthright about his health: “I don’t want to die at 50, but if there is no cure, what can I do? I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want it to happen.”
Fignon’s death was anothe
r I felt deeply. As with Pantani, there had been several memorable interviews during his racing career and he had been a joy to watch racing; I had also followed his second Tour win while living and racing in France in 1984, and I had been impressed by his attempt to reinvest in cycling after he stopped racing. He would have made a great Tour de France organiser. Knowing that he would be unlikely to survive his cancer, I was determined to see his autobiography translated into English and I am proud we managed it.
INDEX
Abdoujaparov, Djamolidine 1
academy, see British under-23 academy
Aherne, Bertie 1
Albasini, Michael 1
Alexander, Caroline 1, 2
Anderson, Mike 1
Andreu, Frankie 1
Anquetil, Jacques 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Armstrong, Grace 1
Armstrong, Isabelle 1
Armstrong, Kristin 1
Armstrong, Lance 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 among greatest comebacks 1, 2
beginning of endgame for 1
blood-doping admission of 1
and broken saddle 1
cancer suffered by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
on Cipollini affair 1
disqualified from results 1
drug allegations surrounding 1
and Ferrari 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
first Tour de France win of 1, 2
last Tour de France of 1
life ban imposed on 1, 2
Oprah doping admission of 1
and Pound 1
“prejudice” allegations of 1
retirement of 1
and Simeoni 1, 2, 3
timeline of drugs controversy surrounding 1
turns professional 1
unpopularity of 1
and USADA 1, 2
Vayer’s dope allegation against 1
Armstrong, Linda 1
Armstrong, Luke 1, 2
Aubier, Nicolas 1
Augendre, Jacques 1
Averis, Mike 1
Baal, Daniel 1, 2
Backstedt, Magnus 1
Bagot, Jean-Claude 1
Bahamontes, Federico 1, 2, 3
Ballerini, Franco 1
Ballester, Pierre 1, 2
Balmat, Willy 1
Bannister, Sean 1
Barras, Sid 1
Barry, Michael 1
Bartko, Robert 1
Basso, Ivan 1 withdrawn 1
Bassons, Christophe 1, 2, 3 at “Festina” trial 1
Bauer, Jack 1
Bauer, Steve 1
Bauge, Gregory 1
Beamon, Bob 1
Becker, Boris 1
Bellis, Johnny 1, 2, 3, 4
Beloki, Joseba 1, 2
Bernaudeau, Jean-René 1
Berssette, Lyne 1
Binda, Alfredo 1
Biver, Marc 1, 2, 3, 4
Blondin, Antoine 1, 2
Blueyonder Challenger 1
Boardman, Chris 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 commentary role of 1
as “expert adviser” 1
new one-hour record of 1
“Q” sobriquet of 1
racing–lottery analogy of 1
at Stourbridge 1
at Velodrome opening 1
Wiggins mentored by 1
Boasson Hagen, Edvald 1, 2
Bobet, Louison 1, 2
Boonen, Tom 1
Borlee, Serge 1
Bougain, Mickael 1
Bouvard, Giles 1
Brailsford, Dave 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 on Peters 1
Sky sponsorship announced by 1
Brard, Florent 1
Brisson, Guy 1
British Cycling Federation 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and women’s funding 1
British under-23 academy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Brochard, Laurent 1
Bruyneel, Johan 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bryant, Karina 1
Buckley, Peter 1, 2
Buffet, Marie-George 1
Burke, Steven 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Burl, Bill 1
Burt, Phil 1, 2
Burton, Beryl 1, 2, 3
Burton, Charlie 1
Burton, Denise 1, 2
Bush, George W 1, 2
Cabello, Francisco 1, 2
Cancellara, Fabian 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Carmichael, Chris 1
Casartelli, Fabio 1, 2, 3, 4
Casero, Angel 1
Casper, Jimmy 1, 2
Cavendish, Mark 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 passim contract opt-out of 1
road-race title of 1
to Sky 1
Sports Personality of the Year 1
Change Cycling Now 1
Chany, Pierre 1
Charlton, Jack 1
Charteau, Anthony 1
Chiappucci, Claudio 1
Chirac, Jacques 1, 2, 3
Christian, Mark 1, 2
Christmas Hamper race 1
Ciolek, Gerald 1
Cioni, Dario 1
Cipollini, Mario 1, 2, 3, 4
Clancy, Ed 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Clarey, John 1
Clarke, Barrie 1
Clignet, Marion 1, 2
Clinton, Bill 1
Colclough, Katie 1
Collinelli, Andrea 1
Collins, Sam 1
Commonwealth Games 1, 2 1966 1
1994 1
2002 1, 2
2014 1
Contador, Alberto 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cooke, Nicole 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cooke, Tony 1
Coppi, Fausto 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Cornilisse, Michel 1
Crampton, Matt 1
Crow, Sheryl 1, 2, 3
Cuimard, Cyrille 1
Cummings, Steve 1
Danielson, Tom 1
De Vere, Richard 1
de Villiers, Philippe 1
de Vlaeminck, Roger 1, 2
Del Olmo, Txema 1
Delgado, Perico 1
Delion, Gilles 1, 2
Desgrange, Henri 1
Dierckxsens, Ludo 1, 2, 3
Dimopoulos, Corin 1
Donati, Dr Sandro 1
Doyle, Mike 1
Drawer, Scott 1
Droussent, Claude 1
Dufaux, Laurent 1
Duffield, David 1
Dumoulin, Samuel 1
Durand, Jacky 1, 2, 3
Dyer, Iain 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Earley, Martin 1
Echavarri, José Miguel 1
Edgar, Ross 1, 2, 3
Eisenga, Luuc 1
Ekimov, Viatcheslav 1
Ellingworth, Rod 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Elliott, Malcolm 1
Elliott, Shay 1
Equipe 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Escartin, Fernando 1, 2
Escobar, Sergi 1
Etape du Tour 1
European championships 1, 2, 3
Evans, Cadel 1
Fédrigo, Pierrick 1
Fenn, Andy 1
Ferrari, Michele 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Festina doping scandal 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 trial concerning 1
Field, Chris 1
Fignon, Laurent 1, 2, 3, 4 Ulrich accused by 1
Flecha, Juan-Antonio 1
Fleurance, Jean-Marc 1
Fondriest, Maurizio 1
Forstermann, Robert 1
Freire, Oscar 1
Frison, Herman 1
Froome, Chris 1, 2, 3, 4
Fuentes, Dr Eufemiano 1
García Acosta, José Vincente 1, 2
Gardner, Scott 1, 2
Gaul, Charly 1, 2
Gaumont, Philippe 1
Gazzetta dello Sport 1, 2
Geminiani, Raphael 1
Ghent–Wevelgem Classic 1
Gilfillan, Ceris 1
Giro d’Italia 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 drugs police raid 1, 2, 3
Goddet, Jacques 1
Gripper, Ann
e 1
Guderzo, Tatiana 1
Guimard, Cyrille 1
Hall, Harry 1
Hamilton, Tyler 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Hammer, Sarah 1, 2
Hansen, Anna 1
Harland, Georgina 1
Harris, Reg 1, 2, 3
Harrison, Sam 1, 2
Hayles, Rob 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Heald, David 1
Hemsley, Margaret 1
Heras, Roberto 1, 2, 3
Herety, John 1
Heulot, Stéphane 1
Hill 1
Hinault, Bernard 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 on lack of effort 1
retirement of 1
Hincapie, George 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and banned drugs 1
Hindes, Philip 1, 2
Hoban, Barry 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Holland, Charles 1
Hoogerland, Jonny 1
Hoy, Chris 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 achievements of, listed 1
becomes triple-gold legend 1
focusing on perfection 1
“German shepherd” 1
vs Kenny 1
last Olympics of 1
at London 2012 1
on Peters 1, 2
Hughes, Megan 1
Hunt, Dan 1, 2, 3
Hunt, Jeremy 1 retirement of 1
Hunter, Robert 1
Hushovd, Thor 1, 2, 3, 4
Hutchinson, Michael 1
Iglinsky, Maxim 1
Indurain, Miguel 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 penalised 1
International Cycling Union, see Union Cycliste Internationale
International Olympic Committee (IOC) 1, 2
Jalabert, Laurent 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 UCI attacked by 1
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