American cyclist Greg Lemond: biography, sports career

While the whole world is watching the international Olympic Games taking place in Rio, former athletes and coaches silently recall the times of glory. One such is the famous professional rider from America Greg Lemond. Let's plunge together in a series of wonderful memories of the triple winner of the Tour de France.

Information from the athlete's biography

Gregory James Lemond, better known as Greg, was born June 26, 1961 in California. Since childhood, the future athlete has become addicted to cycling. At that time, he did not yet have a desire to become a real rider. It was just a little hobby: he was racing with the same boys living nearby. However, the parents insisted that he try to engage in cycling at a more serious level. And when the case turned up, the young American was identified in the group of juniors. Here Greg Lemond and continued to do his favorite thing, but already under the aegis of professional coaches.

The first successes in the career of the rider

Since the first day, as Greg began serious training with the coach, he was pursued by an incredible desire for victory. It is said that by 17 years the future world champion had already prepared a clear plan, in which he described his victory at the Junior World Championships and the Olympics held among juniors. By the age of 22, he planned to win gold at the prestigious World Cup, and to 25 - to win the Tour de France. However, Lemond was not just a dreamer. He did not sit idly by, and for a long time and strenuously walked to his goal, daily training up to the seventh sweat. And, finally, his works were rewarded. The athlete became one of the best juniors and even managed to attract the attention of the national cycling team of America. That was Greg Lemond. The height, weight and other information about this athlete you will learn further.

What was the height and weight of the cyclist?

It is noteworthy that the athlete was quite high. His height was 1.78 m. Taking into account this figure, we can say that he weighed a little - only 67 kg. To some extent, this did not prevent, but helped him to achieve such tangible results, of which we are speaking today.

Participation in the World Cup and the first serious victory

In 1977, Greg Lemond (his biography contains a lot of interesting facts) became the US champion among juniors. And exactly two years later he finally confirmed his status of the winner, having got the title of the fastest and strongest cyclist in America. At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that he literally destroyed his opponents on almost every bike race.

Throughout the year, the promising young man did not lose his vigilance and quickly gathered his uniform. As it turned out, he was preparing to conquer a new peak, which for him was the World Cup, held in 1979 in Argentina. Without delay, he entered his name in the already existing list of juniors. To the surprise of the spectators and all the relatives of the young man, he managed not only to win in the group road race, but also to get just three medals: gold, silver and bronze.

After this stunning victory, the media and representatives of the sports community started talking about him as a future champion, gaining momentum with rapid strength. Moreover, he was selected to participate in the upcoming 1980 Olympic Games. However, for a number of reasons, the athlete was never able to take part in them.

Moving to Europe and getting to know the future rival

In 1980, there was an incredible and significant event - a five-time winner of the Tour de France - French cyclist Bernard Ino - and his sports director Cyril Guimar drew attention to the young athlete. Perhaps this was the very sign of fate that many people have to wait for many years. And everything happened during the victory of the young athlete in the cycling "Circuit de la Sart", held in France. At that time, Greg acted as part of the national team, which managed to bypass many famous bike tours from Eastern and Western Europe.

Frankly, the first responded to the young talent of Bernard Ino, known in velokrugah under the moniker Badger. He got it for an incredible way to fight during the competition. By the way, Bernard did not even know that in the person of his protege he would find a strong and worthy opponent. At that moment Ino pointed to Greg his director and advised to look at the guy more closely. In the end, not thinking for a long time, Cyril Guimard held a series of meetings and persuaded the athlete to sign a contract and go to Europe. Flattered by the attention of the rider with experience, Greg Lemond, did not hesitate, agreed. So, at the end of the year he left his family and went to conquer Europe.

Rapid career athlete in the team of Cyril Guimard

Once in the big world of sports, Greg did not lose his head. And, of course, was not lost among the huge number of strong and famous racers. Despite his young age, he has already won a certain prestige even among cyclists with experience. To the surprise of Cyril Guimard himself, his chosen one was persistent, strong and enduring. Therefore, he often had to compete with those riders who were much older than him. At the same time, he was not inferior to them, which, in fact, was very similar to Bernard Ino at the time of the beginning of his stellar career.

In 1981, the American cyclist was honored with one of the strongest French teams - Renault-Elf-Gitane. It included Bernard Ino himself. In the same year at the Dauphiné Libéra, the young talent received its serious trophy - the third place. And exactly one year later, Lemond became the winner of the Tour de l'Avenir and won silver in the World Championship. In 1983, he managed to confirm this title and consolidate it with new victories and medals.

A series of stunning victories

In 1984, the cyclist began a series of stunning victories. So, he won two bronzes at once: one at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the other at the Dauphiné Liberé Criterion. At the same time, the cyclist for the first time took part in the Tour de France, where he took third place and, as the best young athlete, received the so-called white jersey.

Discord in the team and the transfer of Greg to La Vie Claire

Seeing this opponent in the person of Greg, Ino finally quarreled because of him with his director and left his team. In contrast to Guimaru, Bernard created his own group, which he named La Vie Claire. Here he invited and Lemond, who was supposed to speak on his behalf. However, to be on the sidelines of an ambitious American did not like. During each of his competitions, he followed his mentor and at the same time rivaled the command of the nostril into the nostril. Because of what they often quarreled and argued. And then on July 20, 1986 Greg Lemond, finally, walked around Ino and won the Tour de France.

In 1987, Lemond suffered a serious injury due to an accident during the hunt. For the same reason, he had to miss two rounds of the competition. But after the recovery Greg won in the honorary international tournament two more times in a row: in 1989 and 1990. For this he became the "Sportsman of the Year" and received a number of other honorary titles and awards.

Greg Lemond: his trademark bike and care from the sport

After a cycle of incredible victories, Greg completed his sports career in 1994. At the same time he was waiting for a new career businessman in LeMond Bicycles. He founded the company in 1990, but managed to unleash it only after he left cycling. From that moment he signed a contract with Trek and started selling professional bicycles under the LeMond logo. Later, Lemond opened LeMond Fitness and the restaurant Tour de France on France Avenue.