Gregory James "Greg" LeMond (born June 26, 1961) is a former professional American road racing biker who won the Road Race World Championship twice (1983 and 1989) and Tour de France three times (1986) 1989 and 1990). He is also an entrepreneur and anti-doping supporter. LeMond was born in Lakewood, California, and grew up in a country farm on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains, near Reno. He is married and has three children with his wife Kathy, with whom he supports various charities and charitable organizations.
In 1986, LeMond became the first non-European professional bike rider to win the Tour de France, and he remains the only American cyclist who has won the Tour. LeMond was accidentally shot with several pellets while hunting in 1987 and missed the next two Tours. He returned to the 1989 Tour, completing an impossible comeback by winning dramatically in the final stages of the race. He successfully defended his title the following year, claiming his third and final Tour victory in 1990, which left LeMond one of only seven riders who have won three or more tours. He retired from the competition in December 1994. He was inducted into the United States Bicycle Hall of Fame in 1996.
LeMond was the first American to win the Elite World Road Championship, the first professional cyclist to sign a multi-million dollar contract, and the first cyclist appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine when the magazine named him Sportsman of the Year in the year 1989. During his career, LeMond championed several technological advances in pro cycling, including the introduction of the aerodynamic "triathlon" handlebars and carbon fiber bicycle framework, which he then marketed through his LeMond Bicycles company. His other business interests include restaurants, real estate, and consumer fitness equipment.
LeMond is a vocal opponent of drug use that improves performance, and sometimes his commercial endeavors suffer from his anti-doping stance - as in 2001, when he first accused Lance Armstrong of doping and sparked a conflict that eventually led to the dissolution of the Lemond Bikes brand in the year 2008, licensed by Armstrong's main sponsor, Trek Bicycles. As America's most prestigious cycling winner, LeMond has not enjoyed the expected public status of such a figure, but he continues to campaign publicly against doping and ineffective leadership by UCI, the International Federation for Cycling. In December 2012, LeMond even articulated a willingness to replace the UCI president on a temporary basis if called to do so. In December 2013, the LeMond brand was revived, produced in partnership with TIME Sport International.
Video Greg LeMond
Early life and amateur career
Greg LeMond was born in Lakewood, California, and grew up in Washoe Valley, a state farm on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains between Reno and Carson City, Nevada. His parents are Bob LeMond and Bertha (died 2006), and he has two sisters, Kathy and Karen. LeMond attended Earl Wooster High School, but lived too far away to participate in team sports.
LeMond's introduction to cycling came in 1975 thanks to Wayne Wong's freestanding ski pioneer, recommending the bike as an ideal off-season training aid. LeMond began competing in 1976, and after dominating the Intermediate category (13-15) and winning the first 11 races he entered, he was given permission to ride against older and more experienced competitors in the Junior category (16-19).
In 1977, when he was 15, LeMond came second in the Tour of Fresno to John Howard, then the top US cyclist and 1971 Pan American Games champion. LeMond caught the attention of Eddie Borysewicz, national team coach of the US Cycling Federation, who described LeMond as "a diamond, a clear diamond." LeMond represented the United States at the 1978 Junior World Championships in Washington, DC, where he finished ninth in a road race, and again at the 1979 Junior World Championships in Argentina, where he won gold, silver and bronze medals - most notably his victory in a street race. At the age of 18, LeMond was elected to the 1980 US Olympic cycling team, the youngest ever to be a US team. However, the US boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow prevented him from competing there.
Borysewicz, whom LeMond describes as his first "real coach", wants to keep his church through the next Olympic cycle and prevent him from turning pro, but LeMond is determined. Nevertheless, while he was Junior Street World Champion in 1980, LeMond did not accept a professional offer, and in the spring of 1980, he joined the US National cycling team for a 6-week European racing campaign. There, he finished third overall overall at the Circuit des Ardennes before winning the race at the Circuit la Sarthe circuit in 1980 in France, thus becoming the first and youngest American racer of all nationalities "in sports history to win massive cycling pro-am. [the European event]. "The victory, and subsequent press coverage, raised LeMond's profile in Europe and he was fostered at the next event (Ruban Granitier Breton stage race) by Cyrille Guimard, Renault-Elf-Gitane team sporteur team. Guimard said he was impressed with LeMond's spirit, and told him, "You have the fire to be a great champion," before offering a professional contract for 1981 with Renault. After he returned to the United States, LeMond won the Nevada City Classic 1980, regarded as one of the most historic and challenging professional bike races in the United States. Despite finally receiving several other offers to become a professional besides Guimard, LeMond did not take them seriously, and he signed a contract with Renault in Paris on the day of the 1980 Tour de France.
Maps Greg LeMond
Professional career
LeMond is a prominent amateur racer, "superlative quality" and "very talented", who quickly proved himself to be one of the most talented cyclists on professional circuit. Honorable John Wilcockson cycling journalist, who reported the Tour de France for over 40 years, described LeMond as a fuoriclasse rider.
1981-1983: In the early years
LeMond's first professional victory came three months into his debut in 1981 when he won the French Tour de l'Oise stage. He was followed by victory in the Coors Classic in the United States, finishing in front of Sergei Sukhoruchenkov, 1980. The Olympic road champion big step forward in 1981 occurred in a stage race DauphinÃÆ' rÃÆ' Â © Â © Â © rÃÆ' where LeMond was in third position. His achievements were more remarkable because he rode a race to support team leader, Bernard Hinault. LeMond missed the podium with race winner Hinault, like Pascal Simon had finished in front of him. Two weeks later Simon was judged a 10-minute penalty when found he had been doped. LeMond regarded the race as a "big stepping stone" in his career. LeMond said: "This tells me that I have the kind of specialized climbing abilities that you need to win the race on the European stage." LeMond won a total of five races in the 1981 rookie season.
LeMond broke his collarbone on April 11, 1982, while riding a classic LiÃÆ'¨ge-Bastogne-LiÃÆ'¨ge bike. The injury forced LeMond to climb the reduced schedule before entering the World Championships, which was in Goodwood, England that year. In the men's road race, LeMond broke his serve but ran out by Italian Giuseppe Saronni. After the race, LeMond American team Jacques Boyer accused LeMond of chasing him in the last 800 meters. Saronni was very strong at the end of the race and flew past Boyer and LeMond, winning 5 seconds over LeMond, with 5 seconds back to Kelly. Boyer placed tenth. Bronze medalist Sean Kelly, favorite to win the race, was with Saronni when he caught LeMond by about 200 yards to leave, but he could not hold the wheel. Kelly says: "I do not think that Boyer faded... He got a pretty good gap No one wants to chase him... Yeah, LeMond chasing Boyer Boyer is the only person on the road."
LeMond is supported by teammate George Mount, who observes, "What will LeMond do? Throw his bike in front of everyone because Boyer is a good friend of everyone?... Hell no - he will start running because it's less than 200 meters to go and the sprint is already running for a few hundred yards.LeMond does a good move and a good sprint... Boyer will not win the race.The best he can get is the fifth or sixth place. "
LeMond did not apologize. The US team was not formed as a European team, and did not have an independent race to determine the national champions. Instead of the highest finisher in the World is considered a national champion. LeMond has argued that teams are competing just like the European teams do, but the management team and Boyer voted against it. So unlike the other teams in the world championships, US riders compete against each other. Aged 21, LeMond was the first American pro to win a medal in the World since Frank Kramer took silver in 1912. LeMond said: "I race for Renault and I race for myself.This is business and this is my life. the two are almost as good as wins, especially at my age. "
Two weeks later, on September 20, 1982, LeMond won the 12 Days Tour, 837 miles (1.347 km) Tour de l'Avenir with a world record of 10 minutes, 18 seconds. The win, and LeMond's time advantage was held at the end, shocking Europe and giving wide confirmation that LeMond was indeed a fuoriclasse.
The following year, 1983, LeMond won the World Championships directly, becoming the first American racer to do so. LeMond cycling man - his overall strength, climbing ability, the ability to drive fast test time and his capacity to recover quickly - all that LeMond suggested would be an excellent prospect for the most demanding Grand Tours.
1984-1986: Grand Tours
LeMond drove his first Tour de France in 1984, finishing third in favor of team leader Laurent Fignon, and winning the white jersey of the classification of young riders. The following year he was taken to La Vie Claire to ride the backing of team captain Bernard Hinault who had regained his form and tried to win his fifth Tour. French businessman and team owner Bernard Tapie signed LeMond on a $ 1 million contract for three years. In the race, Hinault leads through the early stages of the mountain, but has an accident and has trouble. At this point it is clear that LeMond is an elite rider capable of winning the Tour in himself. LeMond has a natural talent for climbing Grand Tours, and is getting stronger during the three-week race. The wounded Hinault is vulnerable, and competitors know it. Stage 17 includes three major climbs in the Pyrenees. In the second, Col du Tourmalet, LeMond followed Stephen Roche in attack, but was denied permission to help build a gap on the field. His La Vie Claire team manager ordered the 24-year-old LeMond not to ride with Roche, but to sit on the wheel, a tactic to use the front rider as a cover for wind resistance so that the following riders use less energy. The speed that Roche himself could throw down eventually slowed, and another rider came to join the two men. Hinault recovers as well, though he does not regain the main group. At the end of the stage, LeMond was frustrated to cry. He later revealed that the team's management and his own coach Paul KÃÆ'¶chli had misled him about how far back Hinault was down during the crucial stage of Stage 17. Hinault won the 1985 Tour, with LeMond finishing second, 1:42 in the back. LeMond has been riding as a loyal lieutenant, and his support allows Hinault to win his fifth Tour. In return for his sacrifice, Hinault promised to help LeMond win the Tour the following year.
For the 1986 Tour, LeMond was one of La Vie Claire's team leaders with Hinault. Hinault's support seems less sure the closer the race is approaching. An unspoken condition is that his help will depend on LeMond indicating that he is clearly a better rider. Hinault in extraordinary circumstances, and the chance to win an unprecedented sixth tour. Hinault chooses to let the individual trial time of Phase 9 be decisive for where the rider will receive the full support of La Vie Claire's team. Hinault won the Phase 9 trials, completing 44 seconds ahead of LeMond. LeMond fared unluckyly on stage, after having a leaky tire and needed a wheel change, and then onstage needed a bike change when he broke the wheel. He is frustrated with the results and their impact on how the team will work for the rest of the race. In Stage 12, the first mountain stage of the race in the Pyrenees, Hinault attacked the main group and built the overall lead. At the end of Stage 12, Hinault took a five-minute lead over LeMond and other top riders. He claims he's trying to pull out LeMond's rivals, but none of these attacks are planned with LeMond. He obviously wants to ride aggressively and take advantage of the opportunities presented. LeMond never had trouble, except by his own teammates. The next day Hinault broke away early but was caught and then dropped by LeMond on the final ascent of Stage 13, allowing LeMond to regain four and a half minutes. The next three stages bring the Tour to the Alps. In Stage 17 LeMond and Urs Zimmermann dropped Hinault from a leading group, and the end of the day saw LeMond pulling on the race leader's yellow jersey, the first time it had ever been worn by a rider from the United States. The next day in the Alps saw Hinault's attack again at the beginning of the first ascent, but he was pulled back. Trying to escape when he descends, he can not separate himself from LeMond. Team leader La Vie Claire is a very good descendant. As they climb to the next col, they keep away from the field, and defend the gap as they reach the base of the final ascent, the proud Alpe d'Huez. They squeeze through the crowd, climb to twenty-one shifts from Alpe d'Huez and reach the summit together. LeMond embraced Hinault and gave him a smile and the stage won in a united show, but the fighting was not over. Hinault struck again in Stage 19 and had to be brought back by teammates Andrew Hampsten and Steve Bauer. Commenting on the team situation before the last individual time trial at Phase 20, LeMond offered the following with a sour smile: "He attacked me from the beginning of the Tour De France." He never helped me once, and I did not feel confident at all with him.
LeMond had to keep an eye on his team-mates and compete in all the races. Hinault rode aggressively and repeatedly attacked, and the division made in the La Vie Claire team no doubt. LeMond will keep the yellow jersey at the end of the race and won his first tour, but she felt betrayed by Hinault and La Vie Claire team leader. LeMond later stated that the Tour 1986 is the most difficult and stressful race of his career.
1987-1988: Accident and recovery of shooting
LeMond had planned to defend his title in the 1987 Tour de France with La Vie Claire, but he was unable to participate. Early that year, while riding Tirreno-Adriatico spring racing tuning, LeMond fell and broke his left wrist. He returned to the United States to recover from injury. A week before returning to Europe, he went hunting turkeys on a farm owned by his father in Lincoln, California - in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. LeMond with Rodney Barber and Patrick Blades, his uncle and brother-in-law. All three had become separated when the Blades, who heard the movement behind him, turned and shot through the bushes. The movement came from LeMond, who was beaten on his back and his right side with an explosion destroying about 60 No-size pellets. 2. LeMond's wounds are life-threatening, but fortunately, the police helicopter was near the scene and transported LeMond with a 15-minute medical flight to the Medical Center at the University of California-Davis. LeMond is taken for emergency surgery. He suffered from pneumothorax in his right lung and extensive bleeding, losing about 65 percent of his blood volume. A doctor told LeMond later that he was within 20 minutes of bleeding to death. The surgery saved his life, but four months later he developed a small bowel obstruction because of the adhesions that formed after the shootings. He underwent another surgery to ease the obstruction and remove the adhesion. Concerned that his team would lower it if they knew the shooting accident required a second operation, LeMond asked the surgeon to remove his appendix at the same time. He then tells his team that he has removed his appendix, but the rest of the story is somewhat vague. The event effectively ended the 1987 season, and in October he announced that he would return to a serious competition in February next, with the Dutch PDM team.
With 35 pellet rifles still in his body, including three in his heart layer and five more embedded in his heart, LeMond attempted to return to racing in 1988. His comeback was hampered by over-training resulting in tendonitis in his right shin. requires surgery. He missed the Tour for the second year running. The tension in the relationship between LeMond and PDM compounded when LeMond found that doping was taking place in the PDM squad. The result is LeMond moving from PDM, one of the strongest teams in the peloton, to the ADR, Belgium-based team. The team is sponsored by Coors Light for American races. The deal was completed on New Year's Eve, just hours before LeMond was legally obligated to ride another season for the Dutch team. Joining the Belgium ADR squad allows LeMond to keep on competing, but with teammates like Johan Museeuw who are more suited to the Classics ride than Grand Tours.
1989: Return to elite level
After struggling in the Paris-Nice 1989 season-early race and failing to improve his condition, LeMond informs his wife, Kathy, that he intends to retire from professional cycling after the 1989 Tour de France. He has several flash shapes with a total of 6 in Tirreno-Adriatico and two days CritÃÆ'  © rium International, shared a run with Fignon, Indurain, Mottet, Roche and Madiot and completed the overall overall. He started the 1989 Giro d'Italia in May in preparation for the Tour to follow, but fought in the mountains and did not compete for one of the leader's shirts before 53Ã, km (33Ã.m) individual testing time to Florence. LeMond puts a surprising second there, more than a minute ahead of the overall winner Laurent Fignon. Some of the improvements he attributed to the anti-anemia treatment he received twice during the race.
Coming to LeMond Tour de France 1989 is not considered a competitor for the general classification (GC). His most optimistic hope is to finish his last Tour in the top 20. Without the burden of hope and other pressure to become Tour favorites, LeMond surprised observers with a strong journey in the 7.8.8 km (4.8 million) prologue in Luxembourg, finishing fourth of 198 riders. Backed by results, LeMond continued to rise above the opening stages of the opening, winning 73.3 km (45 m) stage 5 individual test times, and earning a yellow jersey as leader of the overall standings for the first time in three years. LeMond seems to rise himself to better conditions during the first week's flat phase, and he comes to peak shape when the Tour reaches the mountains. LeMond remains ahead of the race at Pyrà © nÃÆ'  © es, but loses the lead for his former teammate and rival Laurent Fignon at stage 10 in SuperbagnÃÆ'¨res. Five days later LeMond was reclaimed yellow in the Alps, after a 39 km (24 miles) pilot phase of 15 volcanoes from Gap to OrciÃÆ'¨res-Merlette. The battle looked around, and when the Fignon attacked on the top slope of the Alpe d'Huez LeMond could not go with him, placing the yellow jersey back on Fignon's shoulders. The Fignon holds a 50-second advantage over LeMond's entry into the 21st and final stage, a rare individual individual test of 24.5 km (15.2 miles) from Versailles to Champs-ÃÆ' â € ° lysà ©  © es in Paris.
Fignon had won the Tour twice before, in 1983 and 1984, and was a very capable time tester. It seemed unlikely that LeMond could take 50 seconds from Fignon during that short course. It will require LeMond to earn two seconds per kilometer against one of the world's fastest chrono specialists. LeMond has been conducting wind tunnel tests in lonely seasons and perfecting the riding position. He drove a time trial with a rear disc wheel, a slashed Giro aerial helmet and Scott clip-on aero bar that helped him win a Phase 5 trials. Holding his time to test the LeMond position was able to produce fewer aerodynamic obstacles than Fignon, which used a pair wheel drive but choose to go without a helmet and do not use the aero blades that are now commonplace in the test of time. Instructing his supporting car not to give him split time, LeMond rode flat and finished at a record speed to defeat Fignon by 8 seconds and claim his second Tour de France victory. When LeMond hugged his wife and rejoiced in the Champs-ÃÆ' â € ° lÃÆ' Â © es, Fignon collapsed into the asphalt, then sat shaken and cried.
The final margin of an eight-second win is the closest in Tour history. LeMond's 54.545 km/h (33,893 mph) average velocity for the 21st stage test, at the time, the fastest in Tour history. Since then, only the prologue of 1994 and 2015 and the performance of the 2005 time trial David Zabriskie is faster. The press immediately labeled LeMond's victory coming from behind as, "the most amazing victory in the history of the Tour de France," and while LeMond admits that it feels almost "too good to be true," he personally judges it as "far more satisfying" than victory His first overall tour was in 1986.
LeMond returned to the cycling peak confirmed on August 27, when he won 259 km (161Ã, mi) of the World Championship race in Chambà © à © ry, France, defeated the Fignon again and edged Dimitri Konyshev and Sean Kelly on the line. Fignon attacked repeatedly on the last wet and dangerous ascent, but LeMond and the elected group captured his rival and then LeMond sprinted perfectly to win the title. Fignon finished sixth. LeMond is only the fifth person in history to win the Tour de France and World Championships in the same year. In December, Sports Illustrated magazine named LeMond in 1989 "Sportsman of the Year", for the first time a cyclist received the award.
1990: Third Tour Victory
LeMond staked the success of the 1989 season into the richest contract in sports history, signing a $ 5.5 million deal for three years with Z-Tomasso of France. He entered the 1990 Tour de France as defending champion and favorite pre-race after leaving ADR to join a stronger French team. In "Z" his team-mates include Robert Millar, Eric Boyer and Ronan Pensec, who have all finished in the last six of the Tour de France. This list of powerful riders appears capable of supporting LeMond in the mountains and controlling the races in the flat.
The squad's tactical plan was upset on the first day, when the breakup involving LeMond team mate Ronan Pensec, but no main favorite, arrived ten minutes in front of the pitch. LeMond was prevented from challenging to lead until the yellow shirt left the shoulders of his teammate. LeMond approached Claudio Chiappucci's race leader, eventually overtaking him at the trial of the last individual time in stage 20, where he finished more than two minutes ahead of the unknown Italian. LeMond finally has a yellow shirt, wearing it the next day during the Tour to Paris. LeMond has the distinction of winning the 1990 Tour without taking any single stage. He remains the last rider to win the Tour while wearing a world champion jersey. During the 1990 Tour the perceived power of Z's team was confirmed, as they led the team's classification through most of the contests, adding the team's title to the yellow jersey of LeMond.
In September, LeMond attempted to defend his title at the UCI World Street Championship in 1990, but finished fourth, eight seconds behind the winner, his former teammate Rudy Dhaenens of Belgium.
1991-1994: Changes in platoon and retirement
LeMond felt confident before the 1991 Tour de France. He is a defending champion, well trained and has a solid team to support him. LeMond was among the leaders who entered the individual court of Stage 8, and he finished second behind Spanish player Miguel Indurain. LeMond felt he was going up very well, and although his TT efforts had pushed him into the yellow uniform as leader of the standings, losing eight seconds to Indurain shook his confidence. He held a yellow jersey for the next four days until Stage 12, a challenging 192Ã,¬km (119Ã, mi) mountainous stage. LeMond had trouble on the first ascent and he cracked at the Col de Tourmalet, losing significant time to Claudio Chiappucci, and the eventual winner Indurain. He continued to race, but was unable to seriously challenge to lead after him, completing the seventh Tour 1991 overall.
In 1992, LeMond won the DuPont Tour. That would be the last major victory of his career. At the 1992 Tour de France, he started strongly and finished fourth in a Breakaway in Stage 6 that put him in fifth place overall and he retained fifth place up the mountain stages when he lost a disaster and lost more than 45 minutes on stage for Sestrieres before quitting the race the next day - when compatriot and former customs Andrew Hampsten won at the top of the Alpe d'Huez. While LeMond claimed a serious saddle injury caused him to leave, he earlier stated, "My ascent is not as usual, I've been climbing much better in Tours before, and this year I just do not feel my usual self."
LeMond conducted extensive endurance training on the road the following winter, but his performance the following spring failed to improve. LeMond had to leave Giro d'Italia 1993 two days before the final stage after a difficult race making him third in the GC. He was too tired to enter the 1993 Tour de France. After the 1993 season LeMond hired renowned Dutch physiologist Adrie van Diemen to advise him on new techniques to monitor training and measure performance. Power-based training (SRM) will utilize watts as a guide for power output. In November 1993 LeMond confessed to Samuel Abt that the output power in watts would be a major metric. Watt has gained wide acceptance as the best measure of training performance of cyclists.
The following year LeMond started the Tour de France in 1994 but found he could not compete effectively. He had to leave after the first week before the race had reached a difficult mountain stage. In December he announced his resignation. At that time the reasons for LeMond's difficulties were not fully known. Confused, he speculates that a condition known as mitochondrial myopathy may be responsible for the difficulties he faces with current riders. In 2007, however, LeMond speculated that he may have no condition after all, and suggested that the lead toxicity of the gun pellet still ingrained in his body might be responsible, an effect that was enhanced by heavy training.
LeMond has acknowledged since 2010 that increasing the prevalence of doping in cycling contributes to a lack of competitiveness. LeMond said: "Something has changed in cycling, the speed is faster and the driver I easily do now drops me." At that moment, my team, Tim Z, becomes increasingly demanding, more concerned... "He stated he had been told in 1994 that he would need blood clot to win again. LeMond does not focus solely on doping for its difficulties. He frankly confessed to Abt in 1999: "I think I have three months that suits me after a hunting accident," three months in which he won two Tour and world racing championships. "All that remains is pure suffering, struggling, exhausted, always tired."
In an extensive interview with American novelist Bryan Malessa in 1998, LeMond was asked if his career was not interrupted by a hunting accident, how he felt he would be comparing with five time Tour winners like Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain. LeMond replied: "Of course you can not rewrite the history of racing, but I am sure that I will win five Tours."
Two years after his retirement, LeMond was inducted into the United States Hall of Fame in a ceremony at Rodale Park in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. The event was held on June 8, 1996, during the Trial of the US Olympic Cycling Team.
In July 2014, ESPN announced the premiere of a 30 to 30 new film titled LeMond-based Slaying the Badger and former Hinault teammate at Tour de France 1986. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Richard Moore and aired on July 22, 2014 on ESPN.
Business interests
Greg LeMond was a pioneer in the use of carbon fiber bike frames on European professional road cycling, and the Tour de France victory in 1986 ahead of Bernard Hinault was the first for carbon-framed bicycles. Ironically, given the current competition between the Americans and their French teammates, LeMond drove a Signature Model View prototype "Bernard Hinault" that year. LeMond also won the 1989 Tour de France, the 1989 World Championships, and the Tour de France in 1990 on a carbon fiber framework. This bike frame features a branding of "Greg LeMond".
LeMond Cycles
In 1990, LeMond founded LeMond Bicycles to develop a machine for itself that would also be marketed and sold to the public. The following year, seeking equipment excellence for Team Z in the 1991 Tour de France, LeMond concluded an exclusive licensing agreement between his company and Carbonframes, Inc., to access the latest advanced composite technology. While LeMond briefly led the 1991 Tour as a whole, riding a bike "Greg LeMond" produced by Carbonframes, the company finally faltered, something LeMond blamed for his "low capitalization" and poor management by his father. Carbonframes and LeMond Cycles "parted friendly two years later." In 1995, with his allegedly bankrupt company, LeMond reached a licensing agreement with Trek Bicycle Corporation, which he said the Wisconsin-based company would produce and distribute bikes designed with LeMond to be sold under the brand "LeMond Bicycles". LeMond would later claim that getting into business with Tracks "destroys" his relationship with his father. A profitable partnership, generating revenues for Tracks that exceed $ 100 million USD, will be updated several times over the past 13 years, but eventually ends in bitterness after LeMond's relationship with Trek worsens due to persistent anti-doping advocacy.
The two sides first found themselves at loggerheads in July 2001, after LeMond expressed public concern over the relationship between Italian doping doctor Michele Ferrari and Trek star athlete Lance Armstrong. "When I heard he was working with Michele Ferrari, I was devastated," LeMond was quoted as saying by Armstrong. "If Lance is clean, it's the biggest comeback in sports history, otherwise it would be the biggest scam."
President Trek, John Burke, pressed LeMond to apologize, claiming, "Greg's public comments hurt the LeMond brand and Trek brand." Burke allegedly justified his request for an apology by counseling that, "As a contractual partner, he [LeMond] can criticize doping only in general - not pointing his finger at certain athletes, especially those who happen to be the company's main dairy."
In April 2008, Trek announced that they dropped LeMond Bicycles from its product line and would demand to terminate the license agreement. It quickly emerged that in March 2008, LeMond had filed a complaint against Trek for breach of contract, claiming that they had not made the "best" attempt to sell the bike, and described attempts to "silence" him about doping, including incidents in 2001 and 2004. Complaints include statistics detailing slow sales in some markets, including the fact that between September 2001 and June 2007, Tracks sold only $ 10.393 of LeMond bikes in France, a country where LeMond is famous and popular.
As promised, Tracks oppose and stop producing bicycles under the LeMond brand. After nearly two years of litigation, in February 2010, LeMond reached an out-of-court settlement with Tracks in their breach of contract dispute, whose terms were confidential. The settlement allows the case to be rejected by prejudice, which means, "no party can produce the same claim against each other in a future lawsuit." And although the terms of completion were not disclosed, LeMond reportedly gained full control on behalf of LeMond Bicycle, while Trek donated $ 200,000 USD to a charity of 1in6, to which LeMond was a founding member of the board of directors.
LeMond Fitness/Revolution
In 2002, LeMond, Bernie Boglioli, and others founded LeMond Fitness, Inc. "to help individuals achieve their fitness goals and performance and train more effectively." The company's main business is the development and manufacture of indoor exercise and bike trainers for consumers in the United States and internationally. LeMond himself serves as Chairman of the Board, and, according to company sources, "is integrally involved in the development and design of our products and programs." In 2012, Hoist Fitness negotiated to buy interest in the company and announced plans to move its headquarters to the Hoist office in San Diego, CA. At the end of 2012, Greg LeMond purchased LeMond Revolution from Hoist, relaunched with a new management team in Minneapolis. He also formed LeMond LLC to introduce a series of brands by the end of 2013, early 2014. The professional Garmin-Sharp biking team recently renewed its sponsorship with LeMond to use the Revolutionary coach for three seasons. The team has won several stages of the Tour de France, plus the general classification of Giro d'Italia 2012.
Partnership with Time
At the Interbike trade show in September 2013 LeMond announced that he was returning to the bicycle and sales business by partnering with French company Time. The new line begins with a specially designed bike series, which will be followed by road models, cyclocross, and road-pebbles. LeMond buys Time Sport USA, a US distributor for the company. He will be responsible for US distribution of the line of frames, bicycles, and components of the company. LeMond says: "I'm very happy to be back in the bicycle industry."
Real estate
In 2002 LeMond joined his father-in-law, David and Sacia Morris, a friend of Michael Snow and J.P. Morgan & amp; Co fund manager Jorge Jasson to invest in exclusive Yellowstone Club, ski and private golf community Big Sky, Montana founded by Tim Blixseth's baron wood and his wife Edra. Each of the five partners pays Blixseth $ 750,000 for one percent share in an exclusive resort. LeMond also buys several buildings and maintains property in the resort. Four years later LeMond and partners sued Blixseth in 2006 following a $ 375 million Credit Suisse loan to the resort from which Blixseth reportedly took $ 209 million in disputed partial payments for his shareholding. Credit Suisse loan is based on $ 1.16 billion Cushman & amp; Wakefield's valuation of the resort, which LeMond and partners are each looking for $ 11.6 million for their one percent share. In 2007, LeMond settled its lawsuit with Blixset for $ 39 million; however, he and his partners remained creditor when Blixseth failed to pay $ 20 million (after already paying the group $ 18 million), followed by their divorce and club bankruptcy in 2009.
Restaurants
LeMond became the owner of the restaurant in August 1990, when, in partnership with his wife and parents, he opened Scott Kee's Tour de France at France Avenue on the outskirts of Minneapolis, Edina, Minnesota. LeMond describes the restaurant, named for the chef (LeMond's brother-in-law), as "five-year dreams come true." Explaining the origins of the concept, LeMond said, "Kathy and I have eaten in the best places in France, Italy and Belgium.Our favorite has always been a small, family-owned place." LeMond also partnered in several franchises of bagel-cafà © Bruegger bread.
LeMond Composites
LeMond established LeMond Composites in 2016 to produce low-cost, low-cost carbon fiber composites under a license agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and an exclusive 20-year license agreement with Deakin University. LeMond and his family moved from Minnesota to Oak Ridge, Tennessee to approach the $ 125 million LeMond Composites manufacturing facility.
On October 16, 2017, Australian politician Sarah Henderson announced that LeMond Composites will receive AU $ 2.5 million (US $ 1.92 million) in Australian Federal Government funding to build a carbon fiber fabrication plant in Geelong, Australia.
Broadcasting
In 2014, LeMond joined Eurosport as a scholar for channel cycling coverage, providing analysis at Paris-Roubaix, Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, and hosted his own monthly LeMond of Cycling program.
Anti-doping attitude and controversy
LeMond is an old vocal opponent of drug use that improves performance. He first spoke on-record against doping in cycling after winning the Tour de France in 1989. LeMond received harsh criticism in 2001 when he publicly expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the Lance Armstrong Tour success after learning of his relationship with Dr. Michele Ferrari. His hatred placed him in the midst of anti-doping controversy.
LeMond has consistently questioned the relationship between riders and unethical sports physicians like Ferrari, and has shown that doping products ultimately sacrifice professional cyclists who use them. LeMond says: "When I talk about doping people can translate it and think it's about the riders Actually I feel like I am an advocate for riders I see them treated like rats that are test vehicles for doctors Doctors, management, officials , they are the ones who have ruined the riders, the riders are the only ones who pay the price. "
LeMond's most famous conflict is with fellow Tour riders, Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis. He also criticized Alberto Contador, UCI, and his former president, Pat McQuaid. In December 2012, LeMond claims that a change needs to be made in the head of leadership for UCI, and states if called upon he will be willing to take his own position if necessary to lead cycling out of the doping mud. Said LeMond: "Now or never will act.After the earthquake caused by the Armstrong case, another opportunity will not appear.I am willing to invest to make this institution more democratic, transparent and looking for the best candidate in the long run."
McQuaid rejected LeMond's call for new leadership and disdained LeMond. Eventually McQuaid was defeated in his bid for a third term by British Cycling president Brian Cookson at the UCI Congress September 2013 in Florence, Italy. Lemond supports Cookson in the battle of UCI President.
Personal life
LeMond grew up with active outdoor life. Hiking, hunting, skiing, and fishing is a childhood activity. The country of Sierra Nevada mountain farms lends itself to such pursuits. A hyperactive youngster, LeMond believes this outdoor activity helps him get out of trouble. "I'm a boy who can not sit still I have trouble focusing in school Parents and educators have no skills to diagnose and resolve what we know now is a classic case of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD is certainly not a disease "My victory over symptoms is found on two thin tires over many dusty miles." LeMond says: "It's one trait, it's the inability to sit [and listen to] something you're not right If they are interested, people with ADD excel in a very good way.When I bike, I will say the sport itself brings fog from my brain I can absorb the stuff I read It changed my life. "
LeMond married his wife Kathy (formerly Kathy Morris) and together they have three children: the son of Geoffrey and Scott, and daughter of Simone. LeMond and his wife lived in Medina, Minnesota from 1990 to 2017 and now live in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Since retirement, LeMond has become increasingly involved in philanthropic efforts related to causes that have affected him personally (including ADHD and sexual harassment), and he and Kathy both sit on the nonprofit 1in6 board.
LeMond was an avid enthusiast and flying pilot, and in 1991 - while still racing full time - he made a flying fish catch with a world record of a four-pound smallmouth bass on a reel with four pound tippets. The record is certified by the National Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, Wisconsin. The catch exceeded the previous three pounds, six ounces made on the same size tippet back in 1986. LeMond confessed, "I always pack my fishing gear when I travel to bike events, I lure every chance I get."
After retiring from pro biking, LeMond competed in Formula Ford 2000 series car racing. He was also a motivational speaker and guest speaker for the Sumitomo Drive Technologies International Sales Summit in Cancun, Mexico on May 2, 2008. LeMond recounts an award-winning documentary for Adventures for the Cure in the same year.
On July 16, 2007, LeMond drove L'ÃÆ' â € ° tape du Tour cyclosportive with his son, and found it to be a defining moment in post-competition life. "I have time in my life," he said, despite getting "650th place" and "impressed even I finished". LeMond continued, "I decided that day that no one would stop me from cycling, not Tracks, not Armstrong, not Verbruggen, no one." At that time, LeMond alluded to a series of public and private disputes related to anti-doping advocacy that hampered his cycling pleasure. Particularly significant is the appearance of LeMond as a witness of USADA in the case of Floyd Landis doping. There, on the eve of LeMond's testimony in May 2007, the business manager of Landis called and threatened to publicly disclose that LeMond was a childhood sexual abuse victim, should he appear in court as scheduled the next day. Undeterred, LeMond took a stand and testified, before admitting to the world that he had been persecuted.
A few weeks later, LeMond and his wife, Kathy, gave an extensive interview to Paul Kimmage from The Sunday Times. LeMond provided additional details about the state of his apology in 2001 to Armstrong, stating that Old Trek, manufacturer and distributor of LeMond Racing Cycles, had threatened to end the relationship on Armstrong's orders. He describes two years after a forced apology as the worst of his life, characterized by self-destructive behavior that eventually led him to expose his sexual abuse to his wife and seek help. LeMond also describes how being a victim of persecution has affected his racing career and his life since then.
In September 2007, Greg LeMond became a founding board member of the nonprofit organization 1in6.org, whose mission is "to help men who have unwanted or abusive sexual experiences in childhood healthy living, happy lives".
LeMond had a car accident the morning of January 30, 2013. He drove past winter and cold to a dentist in Wayzata, Minnesota, when he lost control of his car. LeMond suffered a concussion and was left without memory of the incident. According to the Associated Press, a Plymouth police report said LeMond left the road, crashed into fences and bushes, and then crashed into a dike before ending in the backyard. LeMond may have lost consciousness before the accident, according to his wife Kathy, and he suffered a compression fracture on his back and had to wear a brace for three months. The accident limited LeMond's public appearances in the first half of 2013, but he made a full recovery.
Career achievements
Primary results
Grand Tour and World Championships result overall time
Awards
- Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year: 1989
- Jesse Owens International Trophy: 1991
- Korbel Lifetime Achievement Award: 1992
See also
- Yellow jersey stats
- List of companies named after people
- List of French Americans
- List of Grand Tour classification winners
- List of multi-sport athletes
- List of people from Minnesota
- List of sports competition
- List of winners of the Tour de France general classification
- List of winners of the Tour de France secondary classification
- United States at UCI Street World Championship
References
Note
Quote
Bibliography
External links
- Official website
- LeMond Composites
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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