Greg LeMond vs Bernard Hinault: “Team Orders TdF 1985” and “Promises Abandoned TdF 1986”

Bernard Hinault nicknamed “the Badger” because of his aggressive racing style. “As long as I breathe, I attack.” He was well established as a champion in the world of cycling. Greg LeMond, a young American emerged on the racing scene with enormous potential to shake-up the cycling world!

Tour de France 1985, Hinault was chasing an elusive 5th TdF victory. His team owner Bernard Tapie invested a substantial amount of money to bolster the team and brought LeMond to support the Frenchman’s effort.

Stage 14 from Autrans to Saint Etienne will not be remembered for its aggressive racing, but for the severe crash of race leader Hinault. During the field sprint Hinault touched wheels with another rider and fell heavily to the pavement. Because the crash happened inside the final kilometer, Hinault would not lose time, provided he crossed the finish line.

(L) The Crash (R) the day after

His nose broken and face covered in blood, the Badger courageously remounted his bicycle and slowly crossed the finish line. The race leader held on to the Maillot Jaune.

When the Tour entered the Pyrenees Mountains, Hinault’s broken nose severely hindered his breathing. Sensing an opportunity Pedro Delgado (Spa) escaped the peloton and rode solo to the final climb to Luz Ardidan. Stephen Roche also seized the moment and attacked the struggling race leader. Roche was quickly joined by Eduardo Chozas and teammate Greg LeMond. Hinault trailed the Roche group by more than a minute, and LeMond sensed the opportunity to gain control of the race. With great legs he wanted to attack his chase group, but team director Paul Koechli prohibited the move. LeMond was ordered back to the Hinault group. Delgado climbed to the stage win, while a furious LeMond lashed out at Koechli and Hinault. Spirits within the team were calmed after Tapie entered the discussion. LeMond announced his full support of the French team leader.

During the remaining five stages, LeMond worked diligently and helped the injured Hinault take his record tying fifth Tour de France victory.

The victorious Hinault, on the podium in Paris, pledged to support LeMond in the 1986 Tour. It was a promise the Badger would not keep.

Tour de France 1986: the great French champion had the opportunity for an unprecedented sixth TdF championship, but a 1985 promise of support to teammate Greg LeMond's 1986 bid deferred Hinault's chances. LeMond returned full of promise and ready to take full control of the powerful French team.

The American was now the team leader. But true to his aggressive racing style, Hinault betrayed LeMond and spent the next three weeks attacking him instead. Hinault rode like a Frenchman trying to win a record setting sixth Tour. When questioned, Hinault insisted he was “just making the race hard for their rivals.”

A very fit Greg LeMond rode well enough to crack his teammate in the closing mountain stages and did ride into Paris to make history as the first American to win the prestigious Tour de France championship. Bernard Hinault finished second overall and won the Maillot Pois (best climber's Polka Dot Jersey).

As he crossed the finish line in Paris, LeMond was exhausted, furious, and still visibly confused. The podium handshake was “ice cold”!

Note from Eddy O’Rourke: I know they are still cordial in public, but they were no longer close. The relationship started as “older brother/younger brother” that eventually went sour with “two lion kings in one pride”. All I know is that when I worked at LOOK in 1988, I spent considerable time with Hinault… there definitely was still a grudge!