Throwback to the 1989 Tour de France. This is a summary of the early stages, from the prologue to Stage 16. Relive the stages that set up arguably the most exciting finale of the Tour de France and the closest ever finish.
Links to the other stages:
Stage 17 https://youtu.be/KL8VLuivl4A
Stage 18 https://youtu.be/-aXIsbtP704
Stage 21 https://youtu.be/0RFkhOZRxa0
Transferred from a VHS recording of the 1989 Tour de France coverage. The recording was made on July 23, 1989.
I think for me if I’m top 20 I’m going to it’s going to be a very successful tour to France for me. Having entertained thoughts of quitting just a month before Greg Lamont began the tour to France. Fourth in the prologue was encouraging. The defending champion Pedro Delgado was late for his start by 2 minutes and 42 seconds. an amount that would haunt him the entire race. In stage five, the Britany Coast scenery was powerful and so was Delgado, who began his comeback charge, setting a tough time to beat in an individual time trial. Lamond trailing the leader of the race, Accassio Dilva of Portugal by 3 minutes and 28 seconds, took up the challenge. Lauren Finon, who trailed by 2 and 1/2 minutes, joined the chase. The two are on the rain slick road simultaneously. In the end, Le Man took the lead of the race, wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in three years. They were separated by 5 seconds and constantly rode side by side. But the Frenchman was becoming increasingly agitated by Lamont’s lack of yellow jersey leadership as the Pyrenees drew near. The race was very tough on the climb to a desolate place called Super Bonier. Finon dropped Lam Man near the finish to grab a 7-second lead. Delgado 2, according to Form, had a great day. His deficit once 10 minutes was less than three. Lemon in the end just couldn’t keep up. Fon’s comeback was now complete as well. In stage 13 near Marseilles, Fon tried to show what the leader should be doing, but his breakaway attempt was snuffed by the pack, which was led by Lemon. The aura of Fenon was damaged. They headed to the Alps. Elgato down by 3 minutes. Lamand and Fin separated by 7 seconds. Now we’re satisfied in the top five. Maybe top three, maybe top two. Maybe first. In the time trial of stage 15, the tension of the race was apparent. It was a 24 mile one man at a time charge up a mountain a mile high. With each mile, Lamont grew faster than his ponytail pursuer. And at day’s end, he had the yellow jersey back, leading by 40 seconds. As they race into the final week, there were 447 miles to go. Following a day off, it was time for the tour to head deep into the Alps, and they would do so by departing a place called Gap. The day off, though, was not appreciated by everyone. For Pedro Delgado, this is a day to make a big mountain move. He has said he wants to shave his deficit in half. Andy Hamson’s deficit has been growing, as is the strength of the doubts about his chances. Lauren Finon begins what he hopes will be the effort which will allow him to regain the jersey. Stage 16 follows the mountain roads of southeastern France from Gap along the man-made lake 108 mi to Brial Song. Altitude 4,400 ft. There are two vicious mountain climbs and route. At the start, Andy Hamston snuggles up next to Greg Lamond, fueling rumors that the two may soon be 7-Eleven teammates. But for now, they go their separate ways. The vision of Lamond and yellow is still startling. Even he didn’t expect to be wearing the yellow jersey this late in the race. The first few miles and the Pelaton cruises along the valley floor. After a day off, this is a day to work out the kinks. The crossing of the lake is pretty, but it only means the mountains are closer. Stage 16 is one of the most grueling. Culivar 7,000 ft. Then Ciswois at almost 8,000 ft. Lammond and Delgado climb the culdev. The American unsure of his endurance. The Spaniard concerned that no matter how well he rides, he may not be able to make up the time he needs. They say if you enjoy good days in the Pyrenees, you may not do well in the Alps. And Lauren Finon on the Culavar loses ground along with Charlie Mate and the Scotsman Robert Miller. The Mons. Finan is on the defensive riding 30 seconds back. Finan relies on an aura of psychological superiority. Anything you can do, I can do. But in this climb, he has been weak and he can’t disguise it. Finally, he reaches the top. Reaching the peak, Fion has shaved 4 seconds off what was once a 30-se secondond deficit. 4 seconds may not seem like much, but seconds have meant everything so far in the tour. On the descent, Greg Leman tries to gather support to pick up the pace, an idea which is not shared by everyone in the pelaton. Fenon is a clever rider. Time lost on the way up can be regained on the way down. He’s a fearless descender and together with fellow Frenchman Charlie Mate, he chases the leaders at 60 mph. Pedro Delgado is nearing the spot where his break must come. Trailing by as much as he is, he must try and go. Lemon will have to try and stay close while Fenon used a masterful descent to join the group so that he can try and be part of whatever is about to happen. Andy Hamston losing time. A stomach virus has hit his team and weakened Andy at the exact moment in the race he had hoped to attack. Pascal Rishard of Switzerland is 7 minutes in front of the leaders of the race. It is a break which is not a threat because he trails by so much. Leand and the group climb Kuisois. Fon is still within attacking range. Kiswois where the trees can’t even grow but hopes of winning the tour to France certainly can. Coldizoir is regarded as the second toughest mountain in this year’s tour to France. Leading the stage still is Pascal Rishard now by 5 minutes ahead of Le Man, but he is no threat to the yellow jersey. This is where the race is for Pedro Delgado. The moment is now. This is the break and the test. If he can get away, he can continue to chop away at his deficit. The break would be great. If he can’t, he’ll realize he is in for a tougher fight than many thought. The test would prove bad and result. For a while, Lamont is 20 yd back, but is sending Delgato a message. as he stays right with Delgato. Pedro joins Folon in having his powerful image turned back a notch on the peak of Kiswis. This breakaway attempt has failed. And so for the second time today, Finan struggles to hold the pace on a mountain alongside him the Dutchman Steven Rook’s second last year. So on a long dangerous twisty descent, Lorfinon has to try and catch back time. Forced to take great risks on the descents, Fenon is again up for the challenge while Steven Rooks almost joins the scenery. Andy Hamston, a long day gets longer. It is clear Pascal Rishard will be the first to reach Bri song, but it won’t change the overall race for that is here. Greg Lamond, Pedro Delgado, and Lauren Fion have consistently seen every moment as a chance to gain seconds on the other two. In this instance, Greg Lamond has tagged along with Charlie Mote, who’s one of the best descent men in the business. 10 seconds back is Delgado. No Swiss rider has won this race since 1951. And the Swiss bad luck continued last year when Pascal Rishard in his first tour crashed and received a concussion. But today he wins stage 16. And for a day the Swiss can be proud. Pñon has remained a challenger in this tour today because he rides with his brains as well as his legs. He’s lost time going up and gained it going down. The one mistake now he’s made is this race today finishes going up. Frank Lamont races to the finish just behind Charlie Mote and with Pedro Delgado. It is now clear that he will increase his lead over Lauren Finon by ticks of the clock which have proven precious to this point. line. That’s the damage in time. But what of the damage to the confidence? That will only be measured in the next stage. For Pedro Delgado 2, the ability to attack at any time, which had been virtually assumed, was nowhere to be seen. He is still handicapped by the deficit of the first day. Paris, the home of Lauren Fion, is now 108 mi closer. His plan to regain the lead in these Alps may not be working out. Greg Leman has survived the latest tests that Finnon and Delgado have thrown at him. As a result, he has taken the picture of frustration that was him a month ago and replaced it with one that is quickly developing into one of a winner. The Swiss champion wins the stage. Lamond and Delgado finish with the same time, but Fenon loses 13 seconds. As a result, Lamond almost leads by a minute. Mate at 216 gains nothing. Andy Hamson loses a little bit more. Post-race comments from Greg Lemon with Al Duez ahead. I realize the Alz cannot be underestimated, but at the end of today, you’re almost a minute ahead of Pon and you’re still almost 3 minutes ahead of Pedro Delgado. Paris must seem a lot closer. No, it’s a lot closer, but uh you know, I’m still waiting for tomorrow. You look tired. I’m tired. I’m I’m Yesterday was not a rest day. It was extremely stressful and I I think I woke up this morning more tired than uh from racing and I I’ve got to, you know, eliminate the outside pressures from the press and the journalists and uh spectators and that I have to, you know, rest and recuperate. It’s hard enough to race your bike, but to try to do everything outside is gets to you. 100 miles away, the cruel twisting roads that lead to Aldoz are already lined with people. This is the site of stage 17 and a place which maybe has beaten more men than any other in the history of the tour. Lauren Finon spends time planning what to do to get back the lead with cycling guru Sirill Gimar who discovered Greg Leman. Gimar is smart. He hates to lose which is a passion he shares with Fion. They both wear red as they head to the hotel and red may be the color that they are seeing.