Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

8-28-89 Greg LeMond did it again. Five weeks after winning his second Tour de France in a heartstopping finish, he won his second World Cycling Championship—in France, by coincidence. This time it was a one-day road race, but no less exciting for that. LeMond caught the leaders less than a mile from the finish line and outsprinted them in a driving rain to the tape. His average speed for the 161.07 miles was 23.80 miles per hour. Laurent Fignon, whom LeMond nipped in the Tour de France, finished sixth, three seconds behind the winner, and the 1988 Tour de France winner, Pedro Delgado, finished twentieth, forty-six seconds behind LeMond. What makes the victory impressive is that LeMond wasn’t feeling well. He said that he almost dropped out of the race with fourteen miles to go, but decided to stay in and make the best of it. Though I don’t know LeMond personally, I can tell that he is psychologically strong like me. In his four Tours de France, he has finished third (1984), second (1985), first (1986), and first (1989). He missed the 1987 and 1988 tours because of a hunting accident and an appendectomy. He’s also, evidently, a proud person, one who cannot tolerate mediocrity in himself. Any other rider would have been content with a top-ten finish in the Tour de France this year, especially after coming back from such severe injuries. But not LeMond. He gave it his all, knowing that he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t. Some day I’d like to meet and talk to him.