1983 Tour | 1985 Tour | Tour de France Database | 1984 Tour Quick Facts | 1984 Tour de France Final GC | Stage results with running GC | The Story of the 1984 Tour de France

1984 Tour de France route

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David L. Stanley's book Melanoma: It Started with a Freckle is available as an audiobook read by the author here.

1984 Tour de France quick facts

The 1984 Tour had 23 stages plus a prologue that totaled 4020.9 kilometers.

It was ridden at an average speed of 34.906 km/hr.

170 riders started and there were 124 classified finishers.

Defending Tour champion Laurent Fignon displayed an incredible mastery over all his competitors in the 1984 edition. His teammate Vincent Barteau gained a huge amount of time in a 3-man break during stage 5.

With Barteau in yellow, Fignon had the luxury of riding conservatively and letting the other competitors, notably Bernard Hinault, try to take the lead.

As Barteau faltered in stage 17 with its hilltop finish at L'Alpe d'Huez, Fignon took over. Hinault desperately attacked Fignon in stage 18, but Fignon was riding in a state of grace.

At the end of Stage 16 he was in second place, down 6 minutes, 29 seconds. By the end of stage 18, he had carved a lead of 8 minutes, 39 seconds.

Greg Lemond's third place made him the first American to make the Tour's final podium.

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1. Laurent Fignon (Renault-Elf) 112hr 3min 40sec
2. Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire) @ 10min 32sec
3. Greg LeMond (Renault-Elf) @ 11min 46sec
4. Robert Millar (Peugeot) @ 14min 42sec
5. Sean Kelly (Skil-Reydel) @ 16min 35sec
6. Angel Arroyo (Reynolds) @ 19min 22sec
7. Pascal Simon (Peugeot) @ 21min 17sec
8. Pedro Muñoz (Teka) @ 26min 17sec
9. Claude Criquielion (Splendor) @ 29min 12sec
10. Phil Anderson (Panasonic) @ 29min 16sec
11. Niki Rüttimann (La Vie Claire) @ 30min 58sec
12. Rafael Antonio Acevedo (Colombia-Varta) @ 33min 32sec
13. Jean-Marie Grezet (Skil-Reydel) @ 33min 41sec
14. Eric Caritoux (Skil-Reydel) @ 36min 28sec
15. José Patrocinio Jiménez (Teka) @ 37min 49sec
16. Gerard Veldscholten (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 41min 54sec
17. Michel Laurent (Coop-Hoonved) @ 44min 33sec
18. Alfonso Florez (Colombia-Varta) @ 45min 33sec
19. José Antonio Aguldelo (Colombia-Varta) @ 49min 25sec
20. Bernard Gavillet (Cilo-Aufina) @ 51min 2sec
21. Pascal Jules (Renault-Elf) @ 51min 53sec
22. Luciano Loro (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 52min 37sec
23. Fédéric Vichot (Skil-Reydel) @ 53min 18sec
24. Guy Nulens (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 53min 25sec
25. Stephen Roche (La Redoute) @ 56min 36sec
26. Peter Winnen (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 58min 14sec
27. Luis Alberto Herrera (Colombia-Varta) @ 58min 30sec
28. Vincent Barteau (Renault-Elf) @ 1hr 0min 2sec
29. Gilles Mas (Skil-Reydel) @ 1hr 5min 38sec
30. Joop Zoetemelk (Kwantum) @ 1hr 6min 2sec
31. Jonathan Boyer (Skil-Reydel) @ 1he 7min 3sec
32. Samuel Cabrera (Colombia-Varta) @ 1hr 7min 17sec
33. Dominique Garde (Peugeot) @ 1hr 9min 58sec
34. Celestino Prieto (Reynolds) @ 1hr 10min 23sec
35. Marc Madiot (Renault-Elf) @ 1hr 13min 3sec
36. Jerôme Simon (La Redoute) @ 1hr 16min 33sec
37. Marc Durant (Système U) @ 1hr 17min 22sec
38. Robert Alban (La Redoute) 1hr 18min 3sec
39. Federico Echave (Teka) @ 1hr 22min 59sec
40. Henk Lubberding (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 1hr 23min 52sec
41. José Luis Laguia (Reynolds) @ 1hr 24min 2sec
42. Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande (Splendor) @ 1hr 24min 13sec
43. Beat Breu (Cilo-Aufina) @ 1hr 25min 21sec
44. Pierre Le Bigaut (Coop-Hoonved) @ 1hr 26min 51sec
45. Francisco Rodriguez (Splendor) @ 1hr 28min 35sec
46. Yvon Madiot (Renault-Elf) @ 1hr 29min 39sec
47. Alain Vigneron (La Vie Claire) @ 1hr 29min 49sec
48. Marc Sergent (Boule d'Or) @ 1hr 31min 13sec
49. Charly Berard (La Vie Claire) @ 1hr 33in 15sec
50. Kim Andersen (Coop-Hoonved) @ 1hr 33min 23sec
51. Anrique Aja (Reynolds) @ 1hr 33min 53sec
52. Julian Gorospe (Reynolds) @ 1hr 37min 23sec
53. Carlos Hernandez (Reynolds) @ 1hr 37min 30sec
54. Dominique Arnaud (La Vie Claire) @ 1hr 37min 50sec
55. Pierre-Henri Menthéour (Renault-Elf) @ 1hr 38min 51sec
56. Hennie Kuiper (Kwantum) @ 1hr 39min 30sec
57. Ludo Peeters (Kwantum) @ 1hr 39min 59sec
58. Urs Zimmermann (Cilo-Aufina) @ 1hr 40min 39sec
59. Theo De Rooy (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 1hr 42min 20sec
60. Herman Loaiza (Colombia-Varta) @ 1hr 43min 55sec
61. Antonio Ferretti (Cilo-Aufina) @ 1hr 47min 24sec
62. Maurice Le Guilloux (La Vie Claire) @ 1hr 48min 38sec
63. Guy Gallopin (Skil-Reydel) @ 1hr 49min 7sec
64. Raimund Dietzen (Teka) @ 1hr 49min 31sec
65. Alfonso Lopez (Colombia-Varta) @ 1hr 49min 59sec
66. Antonio Coll (Teka) @ 1hr 52min 4sec
67. André Chappuis (Système U) @ 1hr 52min 4sec
68. René Martens (Teka) @ 1hr 52min 25sec
69. Yvan Frebert (Système U) @ 1hr 53min 58sec
70. Glauco Santoni (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 1hr 54min 28sec
71. Jesus Hernandez (Reynolds) @ 1hr 55min 17sec
72. Lucien Didier (Renault-Elf) @ 1hr 56min 39sec
73. Bernard Vallet (La Vie Claire) @ 1hr 58min 23sec
74. Alfons De Wolf (Boule d'Or) @ 1hr 58min 36sec
75. Leo Van Vliet (Kwantum) @ 1hr 58min 52sec
76. Bruno Leali (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 2hr 3min 40sec
77. Marco Antonio Chagas (Sporting Lisboa) @ 2hr 8min 15sec
78. Isreal Corredor (Colombia-Varta) @ 2hr 9min 31sec
79. Patrick Clerc (Skil-Reydel) @ 2hr 11min 29sec
80. Pascal Poisson (Renault-Elf) @ 2hr 11min 37sec
81. Giancarlo Perini (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 2hr 12min 8sec
82. Jean-François Rault (La Vie Claire) @ 2hr 12min 17sec
83. AlainDithurbide (Sporting Lisboa) @ 2hr 13min 2sec
84. Erich Mächler (Cilo-Aufina) @ 2hr 15min 23sec
85. Patrick Bonnet (Système U) @ 2hr 17min 18sec
86. Bernard Bourreau (Peugeot) @ 2hr 20min 29sec
87. Anastasio Greciano (Reynolds) @ 2hr 20min 51sec
88. Hendrik Devos (Splendor) @ 2hr 23min 55sec
89. Frédéric Brun (Peugeot) @ 2hr 25min 8sec
90. Eric Vanderaerden (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 2hr 26min 14sec
91. Sean Yates (Peugeot) @ 2hr 26min 41sec
92. Ludo De Keulenaer (Panasonic-Raleigh) @ 2hr 28min 49sec
93. Czeslaw Lang (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 2hr 29min 21sec
94. Manuel Zeferino (Sporting Lisboa) @ 2hr 29min 26sec
95. Allan Peiper (Peugeot) @ 2hr 31min 28sec
96. Patrick Moerlen (Skil-Reydel) @ 2hr 31min 33sec
97. Jean-Louis Gauthier (Coop-Hoonved) @ 2hr 34min 10sec
98. Bernardo Alfonsel (Teka) @ 2hr 35min 25sec
99. Alain Bondue (La Redoute) @ 2hr 36min 45sec
100. Frank Hoste (Boule d'Or) @ 2hr 38min 8sec
101. Jacques Hanegraf (Kwantum) @ 2hr 44min 4sec
102. Jacques Bossis (Peugeot) @ 2hr 44min 26sec
103. Gerrie Knetemann (Boule d'Or) @ 2hr 47min 58sec
104. Marc Dierickx (Boule d'Or) @ 2hr 49min 20sec
105. Francis Castaing (Peugeot) @ 2hr 51min 59sec
106. Ferdi Van Den Haute (La Redoute) @ 2hr 52min 48sec
107. Henri Manders (Kwantum) @ 2hr 59min 1sec
108. Ad Wijnands (Kwantum) @ 3hr 1min 1sec
109. Luc Govaerts (Boule d'Or) @ 3hr 1min 39sec
110. Christian Levavasseur (La Redoute) @ 3hr 3min 4sec
111. Régis Simon (La Redoute) @ 3hr 4min 25sec
112. Hubert Linard (Peugeot) @ 3hr 6min 24sec
113. Valerio Lualdi (Carrera-Inoxpran) @ 3hr 6min 50sec
114. Claude Moreau (Coop-Hoonved) @ 3hr 7min 34sec
115. Patrice Thevenard (Sporting Lisboa) @ 3hr 9min 16sec
116. Paul Sherwen (La Redoute) @ 3hr 24min 48sec
117. Michel Charreard (Sporting Lisboa) @ 3hr 25min 18sec
118. Eduardo Manuel Correia (Sporting Lisboa) @ 3hr 25min 37sec
119. José Antonio Xavier (Sporting Lisboa) @ 3hr 27min 26sec
120. Modesto Urrutbeazcoa (Teka) @ 3hr 30min 11sec
121. Dominique Gaigne (Renault-Elf) @ 3hr 35min 39sec
122. Carlos Alberto Marta (Sporting Lisboa) @ 3hr 40min 5sec
123. Marcel Russenberger (Cilo-Aufina) @ 4hr 0min 30sec
124. Gilbert Glaus (Cilo-Aufina) @ 4hr 1min 17sec

 

 

 

Climbers' Competition:

1. Robert Millar (Peugeot): 284 points
2. Laurent Fignon (Renault-Elf): 212
3. Angel Arroyo (Reynolds): 140
4. Luis Alberto Herrera (Colombia-Varta): 108
5. José Patrocinio Jimémez (Teka): 92

Points Competition:

1. Frank Hoste (Boule d'OR): 322 points
2. Sean Kelly (skil-Reydel): 318
3. Eric Vanderaerden (Panasonic-Raleigh): 247
4. Leo Van Vliet (Kwantum): 173
5. Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire): 146

 

Team GC:

1. Renault-Elf: 336hr 31min 16sec
2. Skil-Reydel @ 46min 44sec
3. Reynolds @ 57min 58sec
4. Peugeot @ 1hr 1min 57sec
5. La Vie Claire @ 1hr 15min 59sec

Best Young Rider: Greg LeMond

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Prologue: Friday, June 29, Montreuil - Noisy le Sec 5.4 km Individual Time Trial. Stage and GC places and times are the same.

1. Bernard Hinault: 6min 39sec

2. Laurent Fignon @ 3sec

3. Alan Peiper @ 9sec

4. Phil Anderson s.t.

5. Sean Yates @ 10sec

6. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 11sec

7. Stephen Roche @ 12sec

8. Joop Zoetemelk s.t.

9. Greg LeMond s.t.

10. Gerrie Knetemann @ 14sec

 

Stage 1: Saturday, June 30, Bondy - St Denis, 148.5 km

1. Frank Hoste: 3hr 27min 18sec

2. Jean-François Rault s.t.

3. Alan Peiper s.t.

4. Eddy Planckaert s.t.

5. Sean Kelly

6. Vincent Barteau s.t.

7. Gilbert Glaus s.t.

8. Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande s.t.

9. Greg LeMond s.t.

10. Frederic Vichot s.t.

 

GC after Stage 1

1. Ludo Peeters: 3hr 33min 48sec

2. Frank Hoste @ 4sec

3. Alan Peiper @ 8sec

4. Bernard Hinault @ 9sec

5. Jacques Hanegraaf @ 11sec

6. Laurent Fignon @ 12sec

7. Phil Anderson @ 18sec

8. Sean Yates @ 19sec

9. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 20sec

10. Stephen Roche @ 21sec

 

Stage 2: Sunday, July 1, Bobigny - Louvroil, 249.5 km

1. Marc Madiot: 7hr 31sec

2. Kim Andersen @ 2sec

3. Stephen Roche @ 3sec

4. Rudy Rogiers s.t.

5. Eric Vanderaerden @ 7sec

6. Francis Castaing s.t.

7. Sean Kelly s.t.

8. Noel Dejonckeere s.t.

9. Frank Hoste s.t.

10. Alan Peiper s.t.

 

GC after Stage 2

1. Jacques Hanegraaf: 10hr 34min 17sec

2. Adrie Van Der Poel @ 1sec

3. Kim Andersen @ 8sec

4. Marc Madiot s.t.

5. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke @ 9sec

6. Ludo Peeters s.t.

7. Alan Peiper @ 13sec

8. Frank Hoste s.t.

9. Greg LeMond @ 14sec

10. Phil Anderson @ 15sec

 

Stage 3: Monday, July 2, Louvroil - Valenciennes 51 km Team Time Trial

1. Renault-ELF: 1hr 3min 54sec

2. Panasonic @ 4sec

3. Kwantum s.t.

4. Peugeot @ 32sec

5. Carrara @ 32sec

6. Boule D'Or @ 40sec

7. La Vie Claire @ 55sec

8. COOP-Hoonved @ 1min 15sec

9. Skil @ 1min 22sec

10. Cilo-Aufina @ 1min 39sec

 

GC after Stage 3:

1. Jacques Hanegraaf: 11hr 38min 15sec

2. Adrie Van Der Poel @ 1sec

3. Marc Madiot @ 4sec

4. Ludo Peeters @ 9sec

5. Greg LeMond @ 10sec

6. Laurent Fignon @ 13sec

7. Phil Anderson @ 15sec

8. Eric Vanderaerden @ 23sec

9. Joop Zoetemelk @ 30sec

10. Pascal Jules @ 33sec

 

Stage 4: Monday, July 2, Valenciennes - Béthune, 83 km

1. Ferdi Van Den Haute: 2hr 19min 3sec

2. Noel Dejonckeere @ 1min 2sec

3. Adrie Van Der Poel s.t.

4. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

5. Frank Hoste s.t.

6. Jean-François Rault s.t.

7. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

8. Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande s.t.

9. Phil Anderson s.t.

10. Francis Castaing s.t.

 

GC after Stage 4:

1. Adrie Van Der Poel: 13hr 58min 11sec

2. Phil Anderson @ 8sec

3. Jacques Hanegraaf @ 9sec

4. Marc Madiot @ 13sec

5. Ludo Peeters @ 18sec

6. Greg LeMond @ 19sec

7. Laurent Fignon @ 22sec

8. Eric Vanderaerden @ 32sec

9. Joop Zoetemelk @ 39sec

10. Pascal Jules @ 42sec

 

Stage 5: Tuesday, July 3, Béthune - Cergy Pontoise, 207 km

1. Paolo Ferreira: 4hr 49min 45sec

2. Vincent Barteau s.t.

3. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1sec

4. Bernard Vallet @ 17min 41sec

5. Eddy Planckaert @ 17min 42sec

6. Sean Kelly s.t.

7. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

8. Frank Hoste s.t.

9. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

10. Jean-François Chaurin s.t.

 

 

GC after Stage 5:

1. Vincent Barteau: 18hr 47min 53sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 33sec

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 3min 13sec

4. Adrie Van Der poel @ 17min 45sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 17min 53sec

6. Jacques Hanegraaf @ 17min 54sec

7. Marc Madiot @ 17min 58sec

8. Ludo Peeters @ 18min 3sec

9. Greg LeMond @ 18min 4sec

10. Laurent Fignon @ 18min 7sec

 

Stage 6: Wednesday, July 4, Cergy Pontoise - Alençon, 202 km

1. Frank Hoste: 5hr 15min 13sec

2. Eddy Planckaert s.t.

3. Gilbert Glaus s.t.

4. Noel Dejonckeere

5. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

6. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

7. Francis Castaing s.t.

8. Adrie Van Der Poel s.t.

9. Frederic Vichot s.t.

10. Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande s.t.

 

GC after Stage 6:

1. Vincent Barteau: 24hr 2min 58sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 1min 41sec

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 3min 21sec

4. Phil Anderson @ 17min 33sec

5. Adrie Van Der Poel @ 17min 53sec

6. Eric Vanderaerden @ 17min 55sec

7. Jacques Hanegraaf @ 18min 2sec

8. Marc Madiot @ 18min 6sec

9. Ludo Peeters @ 18min 11sec

10. Laurent Fignon s.t.

11. Greg LeMond @ 18min 12sec

12. Frank Hoste @ 18min 21sec

 

Stage 7: Thursday, July 5, Alençon - Le Mans 67 km Individual Time Trial

1. Laurent Fignon: 1hr 27min 33sec

2. Sean Kelly @ 16sec

3. Bernard Hinault @ 49sec

4. Stephen Roche @ 1min 7sec

5. Gerard Veldscholten @ 1min 11sec

6. Phil Anderson @ 1min 24sec

7. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 53sec

8. Gerrie Knetemann @ 1min 58sec

9. Kim Andersen @ 2min 3sec

10. Greg LeMond @ 2min 8sec

 

GC after stage 7:

1. Vincent Barteau: 25hr 35min 48sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 3min 7sec

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 9min 57sec

4. Laurent Fignon @ 12min 54sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 13min 40sec

6. Bernard Hinault @ 14min 23sec

7. Gerard Veldscholten @ 14min 33sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 15min 3sec

9. Roberto Visentini @ 15min 41sec

10 Stephen Roche @ 15min 45sec

 

Stage 8: Friday, July 6, Le Mans - Nantes, 192 km

1. Pascal Jules: 4hr 18min 55sec

2. Ludo Peeters @ 9sec

3. Bruno Leali s.t.

4. Pedro Delgado @ 12sec

5. Eric Vanderaerden @ 15sec

6. Francis Castaing s.t.

7. Frank Hoste s.t.

8. Jan Raas s.t.

9. Sean Kelly s.t.

10. Jean-François Rault s.t.

 

GC after Stage 8:

1. Vincent Barteau: 29hr 54min 58sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 3min 7sec

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 9min 57sec

4. Laurent Fignon @ 12min 42sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 13min 40sec

6. Bernard Hinault @ 14min 23sec

7. Gerard Veldscholten @ 14min 33sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 15min 3sec

9. Ludo Peeters @ 15min 19sec

10. Kim Andersen @ 15min 39sec

 

Stage 9: Saturday, July 7, Nantes - Bordeaux, 338 km

1. Jan Raas: 9hr 40min 11sec

2. Bruno Leali s.t.

3. Marc Madiot @ 3sec

4. Sean Kelly @ 5sec

5. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

6. Francis Castaing s.t.

7. Noel Dejonckeere s.t.

8. Frank Hoste s.t.

9. Jean-Philippe Vandenbrande s.t.

10. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

 

GC after Stage 9:

1. Vincent Barteau: 39hr 35min 14sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 3min 7sec

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 9min 57sec

4. Laurent Fignon @ 12min 30sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 13min 28sec

6. Bernard Hinault @ 13min 43sec

7. Gerard Veldschotten @ 14min 33sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 15min 3sec

9. Ludo Peeters @ 15min 19sec

10. Kim Andersen @ 15min 39sec

 

Stage 10: Sunday, July 8, Langon - Pau, 198 km

1. Eric Vanderaerden: 4hr 51min 2sec

2. Marc Dierickx s.t.

3. Sean Kelly @ 2min 31sec

4. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

5. Frank Hoste s.t.

6. Jean-François Rault s.t.

7. Francis Castaing s.t.

8. Yvan Frebert s.t.

9. Ad Wijnands s.t.

10. Jean-René Bernadeau s.t.

 

GC after Stage 10:

1. Vincent Barteau: 44hr 28min 47sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 3min 7sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 12min 30sec

4. Paolo Ferreira @ 13min 19sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 13min 38sec

6. Bernard Hinault @ 13min 43sec

7. Gerard Veldscholten @ 14min 33sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 15min 3sec

9. Ludo Peeters @ 15min 19sec

10. Sean Kelly @ 15min 36sec

 

Stage 11: Monday, July 9, Pau - Guzet Neige, 226.5 km

Major Ascents: Portet d'Aspet, Core, Latrape, Guzet Neige

1. Robert Millar: 7hr 3min 41sec

2. Luis Herrera @ 41sec

3. Pedro Delgado @ 1min 1sec

4. Jean-René Bernaudeau @ 1min 47sec

5. Gerard Veldscholten @ 2min 5sec

6. Angel Arroyo @ 2min 13sec

7. Laurent Fignon s.t.

8. Pierre Le Bigaut @ 2min 49sec

9. Alfonso Flores @ 3min

10. Niki Ruttimann @ 3min 5sec

 

GC after Stage 11:

1. Vincent Barteau: 51hr 36min 38sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 7min 37sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 10min 33sec

4. Gerard Veldscholten @ 12min 28sec

5. Bernard Hinault @ 12min 38sec

6. Phil Anderson @ 13min 29sec

7. Robert Millar @ 14min 24sec

8. Sean Kelly @ 14min 31sec

9. Greg LeMond @ 14min 35sec

10. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 37sec

 

Stage 12: Tuesday, July 10, St. Girons - Blagnac, 111 km

1. Pascal Poisson: 2hr 39min 46sec

2. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

3. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

4. Bernard Vallet s.t.

5. Frank Hoste s.t.

6. Jean-Louis Gauthier @ 8sec

7. Frederic Brun @ 12sec

8. Guy Nulens @ 14sec

9. Henri Manders @ 56sec

10. Kim Andersen @ 57sec

 

GC after Stage 12:

1. Vincent Barteau: 54hr 17min 18sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 7min 47sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 10min 25sec

4. Gerard Veldscholten @ 12min 28sec

5. Bernard Hinault @ 12min 38sec

6. Phil Anderson @ 13min 29sec

7. Greg LeMond @ 14min 23sec

8. Sean Kelly @ 14min 31sec

9. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 37sec

10. Robert Millar @ 14min 47sec

 

Stage 13: Wednesday, July 11, Blagnac - Rodez, 220.5 km

1. Pierre-Henri Mentheour: 6hr 3min 23sec

2. Dominique Garde @ 1sec

3. Kim Andersen @ 3sec

4. Sean Kelly @ 6min 55sec

5. Frank Hoste s.t.

6. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.

7. Jean-Philippe Vendendrande s.t.

8. Patrick Bonnet s.t.

9. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

10. Bernard Hinault s.t.

 

GC after Stage 13:

1. Vincent Barteau: 60hr 27min 39sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 8min 7sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 10min 25sec

4. Gerard Veldscholten @ 12min 28sec

5. Bernard Hinault @ 12min 38sec

6. Phil Anderson @ 13min 29sec

7. Pierre-Henri Menthrour @ 14min 18sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 14min 23sec

9. Sean Kelly @ 14min 31sec

10. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 37sec

 

Stage 14: Thursday, July 12, Rodez - Domaine du Rouret, 227.5 km

Major Ascent: Côte des Vignes

1. Fons De Wolf: 6hr 45sec

2. Laurent Fignon @ 17min 40sec

3. Bernard Hinault s.t.

4. Phil Anderson s.t.

5. Peter Winnen s.t.

6. Patrick Bonnet @ 17min 45sec

7. Frank Hoste @ 17min 46sec

8. Eric Vanderaerden @ 17min 48sec

9. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

10. Jean-François Rault s.t.

 

GC after Stage 14:

1. Vincent Barteau: 66hr 46min 16sec

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 8min 7sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 10min 13sec

4. Fons De Wolf @ 11min 42sec

5. Bernard Hinault @ 12min 26sec

6. Gerard Veldscholten @ 12min 28sec

7. Phil Anderson @ 13min 17sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 14min 23sec

9. Sean Kelly @ 14min 27sec

10. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 37sec

 

Stage 15: Friday, July 13, Domaine de Rouret - Grenoble, 241.5 km

Major Ascents: Rousset, Chalimont

1. Frederic Vichot: 7hr 5min 42sec

2. Michel Laurent @ 15sec

3. Laurent Fignon @ 21sec

4. Sean Kelly s.t.

5. Vincent Barteau s.t.

6. Bernard Hinault s.t.

7. Pascal Jules s.t.

8. Greg LeMond s.t.

9. Celestino Prieto s.t.

10. Dominique Garde s.t.

 

GC after Stage 15:

1. Vincent Barteau: 73hr 52min 19sec

2. Laurent Fignon @ 10min 13sec

3. Bernard Hinault @ 12min 26sec

4. Gerard Veldscholten @ 12min 28sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 13min 17sec

6. Greg LeMond @ 14min 23sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 14min 27sec

8. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 37sec

9. Robert Millar @ 14min 56sec

10. Peter Winnen @ 15min 42sec

 

Stage 16: Sunday, July 15, Les Echelles - La Ruchère 22 km Individual Time Trial

1. Laurent Fignon: 42min 11sec

2. Luis Herrera @ 25sec

3. Pedro Delgado @ 32sec

4. Bernard Hinault @ 33sec

5. Julian Gorospe @ 41sec

6. Angel Arroyo @ 1min 9sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 1min 21sec

8. Robert Millar @ 1min 26sec

9. Phil Anderson @ 1min 30sec

10. Beat Breu s.t.

 

GC after Stage 16:

1. Vincent Barteau: 74hr 38min 14sec

2. Laurent Fignon @ 6min 29sec

3. Bernard Hinault @ 9min 15sec

4. Phil Anderson @ 11min 3sec

5. Gerard Veldscholten @ 11min 16sec

6. Pedro Delgado @ 11min 25sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 12min 4sec

8. Greg LeMond @ 12min 33sec

9. Robert Millar @ 12min 50sec

10. Angel Arroyo @ 14min 31sec

 

Stage 17: Monday, July 16, Grenoble - L'Alpe d'Huez, 151 km

Major Ascents: St Pierre de Chevreuse, Le Coq, Laffrey, L'Alpe d'Huez

1. Luis Herrera: 4hr 39min 24sec

2. Laurent Fignon @ 49sec

3. Angel Arroyo @ 2min 27sec

4. Robert Millar @ 3min 5sec

5. Rafael Acevedo @ 3min 9sec

6. Greg LeMond @ 3min 30sec

7. Bernard Hinault @ 3min 44sec

8. Pascal Simon 2 3min 58sec

9. Pablo Wilches @ 4min 10sec

10. Pedro Munoz @ 4min 12sec

 

GC after stage 17:

1. Laurent Fignon: 79hr 24min 56sec

2. Vincent Barteau @ 4min 22sec

3. Bernard Hinault @ 5min 41sec

4. Robert Millar @ 8min 25sec

5. Greg LeMond @ 8min 45sec

6. Gerard Veldscholten @ 9min 3sec

7. Angel Arroyo @ 9min 40sec

8. Phil Anderson @ 11min 9sec

9. Luis Herrera @ 11min 12sec

10. Pedro Delgado @ 13min 13sec

 

Stage 18: Tuesday, July 17, Bourg d'Oisans - La Plagne, 185 km

Major Ascents: Galibier, Madeleine, La Plagne

1. Laurent Fignon: 6hr 12min 45sec

2. Jean-Marie Grezet @ 1min 4sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 1min 7sec

4. Pedro Delgado @ 1min 27sec

5. Robert Millar @ 1min 44sec

6. Pascal Simon @ 2min 12sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 2min 30sec

8. Pedro Munoz @ 2min 33sec

9. Claude Criquielion @ 2min 45sec

10. Bernard Hinault @ 2min 58sec

 

GC after stage 18:

1. Laurent Fignon: 85hr 37min 41sec

2. Bernard Hinault @ 8min 39sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 9min 52sec

4. Robert Millar @ 10min 9sec

5. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 40sec

6. Pascal Simon @ 15min 45sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 16min 31sec

8. Angel Arroyo @ 18min 12sec

9. Niki Ruttimann @ 21min 4sec

10. Claude Criquielion @ 21min 7sec

 

Stage 19: Wednesday, July 18, La Plagne - Morzine, 186 km

Major Ascents: Cormet de Roseland, Saises, Aravis, Colombière, Joux-Plane

1. Angel Arroyo: 6hr 16min 25sec

2. Sean Kelly @ 1min 14sec

3. Phil Anderson s.t.

4. Bernard Hinault s.t.

5. Laurent Fignon s.t.

6. Pascal Simon s.t.

7. Pedro Munoz s.t.

8. Greg LeMond s.t.

9. Robert Millar @ 1min 21sec

10. Peter Winnen @ 1min 23sec

 

GC after Stage 19:

1. Laurent Fignon: 91hr 55min 20sec

2. Bernard Hinault @ 8min 39sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 9min 52sec

4. Robert Millar @ 10min 16sec

5. Pascal Simon @ 15min 45sec

6. Sean Kelly @ 16min 58sec

7. Angel Arroyo @ 16min 58sec

8. Pedro Delgado @ 17min 37sec

9. Pedro Munoz @ 21min 11sec

10. Niki Ruttimann @ 22min 54sec

 

Stage 20: Thursday, July 19, Morzine - Crans Montana, 140.5 km

Major Ascents: Corbier, Crans Montana

1. Laurent Fignon: 4hr 9min 16sec

2. Angel Arroyo @ 11sec

3. Pablo Wilches @ 17sec

4. Pascal Jules @ 34sec

5. Julian Gorospe @ 49sec

6. Pedro Munoz @ 1min 7sec

7. Antonio Agudelo @ 1min 8sec

8. Sean Kelly @ 1min 10sec

9. Pascal Simon s.t.

10. Bernard Hinault @ 1min 17sec

 

GC after stage 20:

1. Laurent Fignon: 96hr 4min 36sec

2. Bernard Hinault @ 9min 56sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 11min 9sec

4. Robert Millar @ 11min 49sec

5. Pascal Simon @ 16min 55sec

6. Angel Arroyo @ 17min 9sec

7. Sean Kelly @ 17min 31sec

8. Pedro Munoz @ 22min 18sec

9. Claude Criquielion @ 25min 12sec

10. Niki Ruttimann @ 26min 28sec

 

Stage 21: Friday, July 20, Crans Montana - Villefranche en Beaujolais, 320.5 km

1. Frank Hoste: 9hr 28min 8sec

2. Jacques Hanegraaf s.t.

3. Sean Kelly s.t.

4. Bernard Hinault s.t.

5. Henri Manders s.t.

6. Gilbert Glaus s.t.

7. Francis Castaing s.t,.

8. Ad Wijnands s.t.

9. Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke s.t.

10. Phil Anderson s.t.

 

GC after Stage 21:

1. Laurent Fignon: 105hr 32min 44sec

2. Bernard Hinault @ 9min 56sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 11min 5sec

4. Robert Millar @ 11min 45sec

5. Sean Kelly @ 16min 35sec

6. Pascal Simon @ 16min 51sec

7. Angel Arroyo @ 17min 5sec

8. Pedro Munoz @ 22min 18sec

9. Claude Criquielion @ 25min 12sec

10. Niki Ruttimann @ 26min 28sec

 

Stage 22: Saturday, July 21, Villié Morgon - Villefranche en Beaujolais 51 km Individual Time Trial

1. Laurent Fignon: 1hr 7min 19sec

2. Sean Kelly s.t.

3. Bernard Hinault @ 36sec

4. Greg LeMond @ 41sec

5. Phil Anderson @ 1min 24sec

6. Angel Arroyo @ 2min 17sec

7. Robert Millar @ 2min 57sec

8. Julian Gorospe @ 2min 59sec

9. Frederic Brun @ 3min 6sec

10. Jean-Marie Grezet s.t.

 

GC after Stage 22:

1. Laurent Fignon: 106hr 40min 3sec

2. Bernard Hinault @ 10min 32sec

3. Greg LeMond @ 11min 46sec

4. Robert Millar @ 14min 42sec

5. Sean Kelly @ 16min 35sec

6. Angel Arroyo @ 19min 22sec

7. Pascal Simon @ 21min 17sec

8. Pedro Munoz @ 26min 17sec

9. Claude Criquielion @ 29min 12sec

10. Phil Anderson @ 29min 16sec

 

 

23rd and Final Stage: Sunday, July 22, Pantin - Paris, 196.5 km

1. Eric Vanderaerden: 5hr 23min 37sec

2. Pascal Jules s.t.

3. Frank Hoste s.t.

4. Bernard Hinault s.t.

5. Sean Kelly s.t.

6. Gilbert Glaus s.t.

7. Phil Anderson s.t.

8. Jacques Hanegraaf s.t.

9. Henri Manders s.t.

10. Leo Van Vliet s.t.

Complete Final 1984 Tour de France General Classification

---

The Story of the 1984 Tour de France

 

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will make the purchase easy.

Sports are cruel. L'Équipe describes the 1984 Tour as an intergenerational conflict. Fignon at 23 represented the new guard and Hinault, at the ripe old age of 29 was of an older demographic cohort, close to being ready for the ashheap.

Fignon is an interesting character. He was nicknamed "The Professor" because of his scholarly appearance with his oval wire-framed glasses and his time in college. When interviewed in later years about his cycling accomplishments, he is strangely diffident, saying that what he did wasn't terribly important. He's rather like Marlon Brando in this way. When Brando talked about acting he would ask why there was so much fuss about such an unimportant pursuit. Both men had striven for years to become the best in the world at their craft, yet both were often oddly dismissive of the entire source of their reputations and fame. A pose? In Fignon's case, I think not. Fignon is an intelligent, thoughtful man who always had a prickly edge to his personality.

But for a couple of years, god, could he ride a bike, his own oblique, non-denial of drug use in later years notwithstanding.

Coming to the Tour, he was sporting the tricolor jersey of the Champion of France. He came in second in the Giro, losing the leader's Pink Jersey to Francesco Moser on the final day, a time trial. The Giro was clearly stolen from Fignon. The highest mountain stage was cancelled in order to keep Moser from losing gobs of time to Fignon, the superior climber. The Giro organizers claimed that snow was blocking the pass, but pictures were produced showing clear roads. Then in the time trial, Fignon was the victim of another outrage. The television helicopter flew low and in front of Fignon, creating a headwind, while Moser was followed by the helicopter, creating a tailwind. The numerous pushes Moser received from the fans when he was climbing in the high mountains were also ignored by the officials.

And that, in a nutshell, explains why the Giro is only an important regional race and the Tour de France is the Holy Grail of cycling.

Hinault switched teams. He left Cyrille Guimard and Renault and went to a new team, La Vie Claire, which sported very distinctive Mondrian-inspired jerseys. After his knee operation Hinault had told Renault to choose between himself and the team manager Cyrille Guimard. With Guimard's stunning record as a manager, they intelligently made the long-term decision to stick with Guimard. Hinault said that a major reason for the change was the desire to have a greater say in team management. Given the strong-willed Breton's temperament, this is not hard to believe. Further, either Hinault or Fignon had to change teams. It would be impossible for 2 of the finest racers in France to be on the same team, competing for the same victory. That never works, as we will see in a couple of years.

Hinault's spring racing seemed to say that he had not returned with his old punch. The time out of competition while his knee was repaired was not without cost. Returning to the highest levels of sporting fitness takes time. He did win the 4 Days of Dunkirk, but he came in second in the Dauphiné Libéré and third in Paris–Nice. His Classics placings weren't inspiring either.

Round 1: Hinault. Hinault won the Prologue for the fourth time, beating his former teammate Fignon by 3 seconds. Jacques Anquetil said that if he were Hinault, he would not have tipped his hand and let the others know that he was in such fine form by winning something as unimportant as a Prologue. For Hinault, I don't think there was ever an unimportant Tour win.

Fignon riding to second place in the Prologue.

But wait, who's this at ninth with the same time as Zoetemelk and Stephen Roche? American racer Greg LeMond finished only 12 seconds behind the finest living time trialist and beat one of the only men to ever best Hinault in a time trial when he was at the top, Gerrie Knetemann. LeMond was riding his first Tour this year and was on Guimard's Renault team with Laurent Fignon. Showing signs of first-Tour jitters, LeMond had forgotten the mandatory sign-in and was still tightening his toe straps when the starter finished his countdown.

LeMond had entered his time of glory. The year before he won the Dauphiné Libéré in the spring, and in the fall became World Champion. His victory in the Worlds was a stunning solo win after more than 7 hours of racing. He showed both extraordinary strength and endurance and the ability to read a race. LeMond often displayed a superb understanding of the psychology of the peloton. He could also be caught strangely unaware and flat-footed, a defect that would cost him dearly later in his career.

Round 2: Renault and Fignon. Renault won the stage 3 team time trial. Hinault's La Vie Claire team was a distant seventh at 55 seconds. The stage victory wasn't enough to give a Renault rider the Yellow Jersey, but it put Renault riders Fignon, Madiot and LeMond well up in the General Classification. The Colombian team, inexperienced in the highly technical and precise event, was last in the 51-kilometer stage. Their manager joked that the Colombian team fell apart in the final 50 kilometers.

The General Classification after the team time trial stood thus:

1. Jacques Hanegraaf

2. Adri van der Poel @ 1 second

3. Marc Madiot @ 4 seconds

4. Ludo Peeters @ 9 seconds

5. Greg LeMond @ 10 seconds

6. Laurent Fignon @ 13 seconds

Stage 5 had one of those dopey early breaks that no one expects to succeed, unless success is defined as time on the world's televisions. 3 riders took off in search of TV time: Paolo Ferreira, Maurice Le Guilloux and Vincent Barteau. Ferreira was a member of the unimportant (to this story, at least) Sporting Lisboa team. But Le Guilloux was a member of Hinault's La Vie Claire squad and Barteau was a Renault. The 2 most important teams in the Tour were neutralized because they would not chase down their own team members. Moreover, the politics of Northern European racing had created an intense rivalry between the Raleigh-Panasonic team and Kwantum. This intensity paralyzed them and strangely prevented their chasing the break because neither had a rider up the road and they often, as in this case, only worried about each other. The break's lead grew. At the end of the stage they were 17 minutes, 42 seconds ahead of the listless peloton. It was thought that Barteau would easily win the sprint but Ferreira stunned everyone by crossing the line first.

The stage 5 winning break. From the left, Paolo Ferreira, Vincent Barteau (leading) and Maurice Le Guilloux.

This gave the crafty Guimard (and he was probably racing's finest tactician) another card to play. His Vincent Barteau was now the Yellow Jersey. Le Guilloux was 1 minute, 33 seconds behind Barteau. Round 3 to Guimard.

Stage 6 was a sprinter's stage but it did have a lasting effect. Sean Kelly threw an elbow at Gilbert Glaus in the sprint and was relegated to one-hundred-fortieth place. The loss of the second-place points in the Green Jersey competition cost him dearly. At the end of the Tour, Frank Hoste ended up beating Kelly by only 4 points for the Green Jersey. With a cleaner sprint in stage 6 Kelly would have had the 1984 Green Jersey in his collection.

The first real contest to see who was ready to race was the 67-kilometer individual time trial of stage 7. Riding better than he had dared hope, Fignon beat Hinault where he lived, winning the stage and putting Hinault another 49 seconds back. The General Classification was already starting to sort itself out.

1. Vincent Barteau

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 3 minutes 7 seconds, already faltering

3. Paolo Ferreira @ 9 minutes 57 seconds

4. Laurent Fignon @ 12 minutes 54 seconds

6. Bernard Hinault @ 14 minutes 23 seconds

8. Greg LeMond @ 15 minutes 3 seconds

Hinault's third place in the time trial (Sean Kelly also finished ahead of him) brought about a change to Hinault's attitude and tactics. He understood that this Tour would be tough to win. He started to fight hard for the intermediate sprint bonus seconds. In stage 9, Hinault and Kelly had dueled for the third of the intermediate sprints. After Hinault had won the sprint they looked back at the peloton and saw that they had created a sizable gap. They put their heads down and pressed on with several other riders who had also detached themselves in the sprint. Caught napping because they expected the sprinters to slow and rejoin the peloton were LeMond, Fignon, Zoetemelk and Stephen Roche. A chase was organized and the 2 groups hammered down the road to Bordeaux at 60 kilometers an hour. Finally, facing a headwind and realizing that the gain would be too small for the effort, the Hinault/Kelly group sat up. But Hinault had once again shown that he was always willing to attack any time and any place. And Guimard, with his young team, had also proven that he could respond to the Badger's best efforts.

No one expected Barteau or his breakaway companions to come out of the mountains with their lead intact. But Barteau had some steel in his spine.

	Colombian climber Luis Herrera came in second in the stage 11 visit to the Pyrenees, 41 seconds behind the winner, Robert Millar.

There was only 1 Pyrenean stage, 226 kilometers that went over the Portet d'Aspet, the Core, Latrape and a first category ascent to Guzet-Neige. Robert Millar was the angel with wings, winning stage 11 and leaving his closest follower, the Colombian Luis Herrera, 41 seconds behind. LeMond, getting over a cold that had been bothering him, had trouble and got dropped on the first climb. Being a superb descender he regained contact and through sheer determination, managed to finish sixteenth, not far behind Hinault. Fignon, sensing weakness in Hinault, wanted to attack well before the finish. Guimard, wary of the Badger, told Fignon to hold his fire until 3 kilometers from the summit, thus making it unlikely that Hinault would be able to regroup and respond. It worked perfectly and Fignon took almost a minute out of Hinault. Barteau stunned almost everyone by finishing only a little behind LeMond. He was still in Yellow.

Stage 11 results:

1. Robert Millar

7. Laurent Fignon @ 2 minutes 13 seconds

13. Bernard Hinault @ 3 minutes 5 seconds

16. Greg LeMond @ 3 minutes 42 seconds

19. Vincent Barteau @ 4 minutes 10 seconds

That left the General Classification thus:

1. Vincent Barteau

2. Maurice Le Guilloux @ 7 minutes 37 seconds

3. Laurent Fignon @ 10 minutes 33 seconds

5. Bernard Hinault @ 12 minutes 38 seconds

9. Greg LeMond @ 14 minutes 35 seconds

Round 4 to Renault.

Barteau was proving to be rather strongly attached to the Yellow Jersey. He survived the Pyrenees with a loss of only 2 minutes. With their teammate in Yellow, Fignon and LeMond could sit on. If someone wanted to take the Yellow from Barteau, he would have to attack and get past Fignon, who was riding as he normally did, coolly, with no unneeded expenditure of energy.

Hinault now seemed unworried about such plebian concerns as conserving his strength for the best possible, most efficient moment to take back the needed time and went on the offensive. He has often said that his normal way was to attack if he felt weak or at a loss. It's a noble sentiment, but sometimes, just as when Lee sent Pickett and his brave Confederates to charge men in a fortified position, nobility on those terms can be suicidal. As Tour founder Henri Desgrange said, it's la tête et les jambes (head and legs). It didn't seem that Hinault had the legs and he damn sure wasn't using his head.

Stage 14 went through the rolling countryside of the Massif Central. Faded Belgian hope Fons de Wolf, in an extraordinary exploit, went on a long solo break. At one point he had put 25 minutes between himself and the peloton. By the time the stage was over he still had 17 minutes, 40 seconds and had temporarily lifted himself to fourth place in the General Classification. The next day he paid for his effort and finished 23 minutes behind the stage winner Frédéric Vichot.

While Hinault may have been riding with a touch of an air of desperation, Fignon had also changed. He seemed to be getting stronger and was obviously growing more confident. On the day that de Wolf won, Hinault had attacked hard for second place in the stage. Fignon easily sped by the Badger causing Raymond Poulidor to pronounce himself astonished at Fignon. The next day Fignon won the field sprint.

The coming days held a 22-kilometer time trial and the Alpine stages. Even though he was riding in a state of grace, Fignon said that with only a 2-minute lead over Hinault, the slightest weakness would cost him dearly.

Stage 16 was an individual time trial with a tough 800-meter climb in the final half. Seeming to fly up the final kilometers of the mountain, Fignon beat Hinault, this time by 33 seconds.

Stage 17 was when things really got sorted out. It was a trip to the top of l'Alpe d'Huez passing over 3 other highly rated climbs on the way. Hinault had hoped that he could wear down his young rival. This seemed like an empty hope as Fignon was demonstrating a mastery that was Hinault's only a few years ago.

Hinault attacked 5 times on the penultimate climb, the Laffrey. Each time Fignon rode back to him. After the fifth assault Fignon was without teammates and the front group had been reduced to the climbing elite of the Tour. Then it was Fignon's turn. Fignon and Luis Herrera separated themselves from the others. They did this without specifically attacking. They just rode faster than any other rider could. Over the top and on the descent Hinault chased like a madman. Riding through the valley leading up to the steep hairpins of l'Alpe d'Huez Hinault caught the duo. Like a shark with the smell of blood in the water, the furious Hinault attacked and put some distance between himself and the Fignon/Herrera pair.

Looking back, Fignon said that the attack in no way concerned him. He said he thought Hinault's effort laughable. Herrera set a blistering pace up the mountain with Fignon, Millar and Arroyo on his wheel and caught Hinault. As Herrera raced for the summit, Fignon was the last man dropped by the flying Colombian. Looking at the stage results below, one can see that Robert Millar was over 3 minutes behind Herrera. Fignon's superiority to a specialist climber like Millar on what should be his ideal terrain gives an idea of the magnificent form Fignon enjoyed in 1984.

Round 5 and the fight to Fignon. Herrera’s stage win was the first by a Colombian, non-European, and amateur.

Stage 17 results:

1. Luis Herrera

2. Laurent Fignon @ 49 seconds

3. Angel Arroyo @ 2 minutes 27 seconds

4. Robert Millar @ 3 minutes 5 seconds

5. Rafael Acevedo (another Colombian) @ 3 minutes 9 seconds

6. Greg LeMond @ 3 minutes 30 seconds

7. Bernard Hinault @ 3 minutes 44 seconds

The consequences of the stage were immense.

Barteau's dream was over. He had to give up the Yellow Jersey to Laurent Fignon.

Luis Herrera became the first Colombian in Tour History to win a stage. Herrera was having a fabulous year with a near win in the Red Zinger Classic. After his L'Alpe d'Huez stage victory the president of Colombia called him. The entire country had watched the stage at night (Colombian time) as their countryman showed that he was as good as Europe's best. Since then, Herrera's life in today's war-ravaged Colombia has been tough. He's been kidnapped twice and has to pay protection money regularly just to be left alone.

The angry, raging Hinault had lost 3 minutes to Fignon, but he was in no way subdued. He was looking for another opportunity to try to savage his competitors. Fignon, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy tormenting Hinault in press interviews. Samuel Abt put Fignon's attitude nicely, "If you couldn't kick a man when he was down, when could you kick him?"

The General Classification after stage 17:

1. Laurent Fignon

2. Vincent Barteau @ 4 minutes 22 seconds

3. Bernard Hinault @ 5 minutes 41 seconds

4. Robert Millar @ 8 minutes 25 seconds

5. Greg LeMond @ 8 minutes 45 seconds

The next stage was challenging. It included the Galibier, the Madeleine and a finish at La Plagne. All 3 were Hors Category climbs. Hinault was soon dropped by the leaders and chased back on. By this point Hinault was so reduced in circumstances that he, the Patron of the peloton, attacked in the feed zone. He was soon brought up short for that move by Fignon and LeMond's Renault team. He was again dropped on the Madeleine and chased back on the descent

Ever the patient man, Fignon assumed command on the final climb to La Plagne, dropping everyone, even the Colombians. This was the last element Fignon needed both to put the icing on the cake of this Tour and to silence those critics who carped that Fignon had not yet won a high mountain stage. He did this time, completely dominating his competitors. Hinault finished the stage in tenth place, almost 3 minutes behind Fignon. LeMond finished third in the stage, lifting him from fifth to third place in the Overall, only 1 minute, 13 seconds behind second place Hinault. Hinault trailed the flying Fignon in the General Classification by a giant 8 minutes, 39 seconds.

Two days later Fignon did it again, winning stage 20 alone on the hilltop finish at Crans-Montana.

Stage 22, the Tour's penultimate stage was a 51-kilometer individual time trial. Fignon won again, although Sean Kelly, when the times were rounded to the nearest second, finished with the same time. Hinault lost another 36 seconds.

The final General Classification of the 1984 Tour de France:

1. Laurent Fignon (Renault-ELF): 112 hours 3 minutes 40 seconds

2. Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire) @ 10 minutes 32 seconds

3. Greg LeMond (Renault-ELF) @ 11 minutes 46 seconds

4. Robert Millar (Peugeot) @ 14 minutes 42 seconds

5. Sean Kelly (Skil) @ 16 minutes 35 seconds

Climbers' Competition:

1. Robert Millar: 284 points

2. Laurent Fignon: 212 points

3. Angel Arroyo: 140 points

Points Competition:

1. Frank Hoste: 322 points

2. Sean Kelly: 318 points

3. Eric Vanderaerden: 247 points

Bernard Hinault earned the admiration of cycling fans for his refusal to give up. Every day he went out looking for some chink in Fignon's armor, some way to break his young rival. It wasn't to be. In 1984 Laurent Fignon was vastly superior to any other rider and was never seriously challenged. With complete command of the race, he could and did ride patiently, opening up time on his rivals when it suited him.

.