The Comeback: Greg LeMond, the True King of American Cycling, and a Legendary Tour de France

by Daniel de Visé

Overview

A true American hero, Greg LeMond’s career was punctuated by dramatic fame, devastation, and ultimately redemption. In July 1986, LeMond stunned the sporting world by becoming the first American to win the Tour de France, the world’s pre-eminent bicycle race, defeating French cycling legend Bernard Hinault. Nine months later, LeMond lay in a hospital bed, his life in peril after a hunting accident, his career as a bicycle racer seemingly over. And yet, barely two years after this crisis, LeMond mounted a comeback almost without parallel in professional sports, again winning the 1989 Tour—arguably the world’s most grueling athletic contest—by the almost impossibly narrow margin of 8 seconds over another French legend, Laurent Fignon. It remains the closest Tour de France in history. From the heights of global fame, LeMond would then crash during a calamitous confrontation with Lance Armstrong over allegations the latter was doping. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Daniel de Visé reveals the dramatic, ultra-competitive inner world of a sport rarely glimpsed up close, and builds a compelling case for LeMond as its great American hero.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802147189
Publisher:	Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Publication date:	05/21/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	686,215
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Daniel de Visé is an author and journalist. A graduate of Wesleyan and Northwestern universities, he has worked at the Washington Post and Miami Herald, among other newspapers. He shared a 2001 Pulitzer Prize and has garnered more than two dozen national and regional journalism awards. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show and coauthor of I Forgot To Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia. He lives in Maryland with his wife and children.

Read an Excerpt

On a small patch of unoccupied blacktop in a crowded plaza near the grand palace of Versailles, two riders pedaled bicycles in a warm-up exercise around a tiny oval, riding counterclockwise at opposite poles, like horses on a carousel. Their eyes never met. The two figures were almost mirror images—blond-haired, muscular and taut. After twenty days and three thousand kilometers of racing, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon were fifty seconds apart in the standings of the 1989 Tour de France. They had traded savage attacks over the three previous weeks, neither man ever leading the other by more than mere seconds. The lead had changed hands three times. Greg had worn the maillot jaune, the race leader’s yellow jersey, for seven days; Laurent had worn it for nine. Now, the jersey hung on Laurent’s back. Greg sat in second place. By day’s end, the Tour would be decided. And no matter who won, this would likely be the closest finish in the seventy-six-year history of le Tour.

On this July afternoon, the circling cyclists readied for a final twenty-five-kilometer dash downhill from the royal château to the finish line on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This was the time trial, cycling’s Race of Truth, in French the contre la montre—literally, “against the watch.” Savvy observers had surveyed the course and reckoned a middling rider could complete it in about twenty-nine minutes. A great one might win it in twenty-eight. Greg needed to reclaim those fifty seconds from his French rival on this final day of racing, to pull back two seconds for every kilometer raced, in order to win the Tour.

Both Greg and Laurent were men of twenty-eight—young adults in the broad scheme of life, yet aging journeymen in the brief and brutal career of cycling. Each had conquered le Tour before, Laurent in 1983 and 1984, Greg in 1986, each, in turn, enjoying a brief reign atop the precarious pecking order of professional cycling. Then each cyclist had abruptly lost his “form,” a term invoked by cycling writers to describe a rider at his peak. Both had dwelt for years in cycling’s wilderness, missing races, abandoning them, or finishing at the back of the pack. Now, at the signature event of the 1989 cycling season, each man had miraculously recovered his form. Greg and Laurent were back on top—both of them, at exactly the same time, a most inconvenient coincidence. Neither knew how long the second wind might last. If there was to be another victory at the Tour for either of them, the time was now.

As the clock wound down to Greg’s 4:12 p.m. start, television commentators interviewed cycling experts and one another, all asking the same question: Could LeMond catch Fignon?

“It will be close,” predicted Paul Sherwen, a former professional cyclist turned broadcaster, speaking on the live ITV transmission in Britain. “But I think, logically, it’s got to be Fignon.”

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

The Gift 5

The Wheelmen 15

LeMonster 20

The Pilgrimage 32

Le Parisien 50

L'Américain 62

Le Tour 85

Le Grand Blond 91

The Deal 118

The Betrayal 133

Twenty Minutes 150

The Comeback 172

The Battle 188

Eight Seconds 211

The Sequel 224

The Decline 238

The Texan 263

The Feud 285

The Last Breath 299

Amends 311

Author's Note 329

Photo Credits 337

Notes 339

Index 361

Editorial Reviews

Praise for The Comeback:

“[A] blend of chaos, kindness and cruelty typifies the scenes that journalist de Visé brings to life in this sympathetic-verging-on-reverential retelling of LeMond’s trailblazing career (first American to enter the tour, first to win it) . . . As an author in quest of his protagonist’s motivation, [de Visé] subjects it to extreme torque.”—Allan Fallow, Washington Post

“Most American fans of the Tour de France focus on the now discredited achievements of Lance Armstrong [but The Comeback] sets the record straight. With Armstrong’s victories invalidated, LeMond is the only American to capture the Tour de France, winning in 1986, 1980, and 1990 . . . The new book documents LeMond’s significant contributions to the sport, maybe underestimated by casual racing fans . . . Other books have profiled LeMond’s achievements, but The Comeback offers more depth.”—Lou Dzierzak, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The real hero, the name everyone should know, is Greg LeMond, the first American to win the Tour de France and the man who came back from a terrible hunting accident to win it for a third time by eight seconds, the closest finish in race history . . . De Visé keeps his focus on LeMond while writing a second biography of Laurent Fignon, LeMond’s rival in the 1989 race and a compelling, complicated figure in the history of cycling.”—Jeff Baker, Seattle Times

“A great book . . . Well written and thoroughly researched . . . Engrossing and hard to put down. If you’re a Greg LeMond fan, The Comeback is a must read because it’s a detailed accounting of his career and—more importantly—his life and person off the bike. It’s also an important reminder that American cycling did not begin and end with Lance Armstrong.”—PEZ

“A thoroughly well-researched work about Greg LeMond’s cycling exploits from childhood races, impressive pro career, postcareer life, and business pursuits . . . [The Comeback] documents LeMond’s entire career, not just his heroic comeback from a near fatal hunting accident . . . De Visé’s account stands out owing to its depth of coverage, captivating prose, and variety of historical and contemporary news sources. An impressive read for anyone interested in cycling.”—Library Journal

“Veteran journalist de Visé takes on a big story with that of LeMond . . . [De Visé] sometimes writes with the techno-geekery of the bicycle acolyte and sometimes with the breeziness of a practiced sportscaster . . . It’s a pleasure to ride in the peloton alongside LeMond, who emerges from this account as America’s once-and-future cycling great.”—Kirkus Reviews

“De Visé provides detailed accounts of a dizzying number of races throughout LeMond’s career . . . Vivid description of the sport as one of physical torture . . . [De Visé] lays bare the undeniable facts of Greg’s amazing talent. That he achieved all he did without the benefit of doping, without the support of an American cycling team, and with a catastrophic injury in mid-career, is remarkable. Greg’s life is a story worth understanding and his name is one worth knowing, especially in light of the string of discredited riders who followed him.”—New York Journal of Books

“The story of LeMond, the first American to win the Tour de France, is one of extreme rises and falls—physically, emotionally and publicly—and yet Armstrong emerged as the media darling, both during his high-profile career and the epic fallout from his doping scandal. For author and journalist Daniel de Visé, the disparity in recognition was vexing, and with his new biography, he hopes to promote the legacy of the true king of American cycling.’”—La Crosse Tribune

“Greg LeMond was Lance Armstrong before Lance Armstrong—and he won his three Tours de France WITHOUT cheating. The Comeback is the story of a true hero and his remarkable comeback to win arguably the most dramatic Tour de France in history. This is a must read if you believe in miracles.”—John Feinstein, bestselling author of A Season on the Brink and The First Major

“The Comeback is an eye-popping ride, sweeping the reader through the extreme eccentricities of endurance cycling. But the heart of the story, the charismatic spirit and recrowning of America’s authentic cycling champion Greg LeMond, is what makes you cheer through the pages.”—Diana Nyad, author of Find a Way and the only person to swim between Cuba and the United States

“Once in a blue moon a sports book comes along appealing to a such a broad audience that it becomes a perennial favorite of neighborhood reading groups—Boys in the Boat and Seabiscuit being prime examples. Now make way for The Comeback by Daniel de Visé, a superbly well-crafted narrative. For devotees of the sport of bicycle racing, and for those with little knowledge of it, this book will satisfy in every way.”—Paul Dickson, author of Bill Veeck and Leo Durocher

“Greg LeMond is an American sporting hero whose story would surely be rejected by Hollywood as too fanciful. It includes taking on and beating the French at their own game, a near fatal shooting, a career in apparently terminal decline, an extraordinary comeback, and a bitter feud with his successor. Remarkably, it’s all true, and The Comeback is the first book to document the full LeMond story in all its astonishing, scarcely credible detail.”—Richard Moore, author of Slaying the Badger: Greg LeMond, Bernard Hinault and the Greatest Tour de France and host of The Cycling Podcast

“Daniel de Visé explores one of cycling’s epic duels, on the final day of the 1989 Tour de France when America’s Greg LeMond had recovered from a life-threatening shotgun blast to score a heroic come-from-behind triumph over France’s Laurent Fignon. In The Comeback, de Visé portrays the complex personalities of LeMond and Fignon in a narrative freighted with nuanced analyses, thorough research, and a narrative that rocks.”—Peter Joffre Nye, author of Hearts of Lions and The Fast Times of Albert Champion

“Daniel de Visé’s meticulously researched story of the professional and personal life of LeMond is an epic saga of America’s preeminent cyclist’s rise to the sport’s pinnacle followed by his near death from a hunting accident and amazing return to capture his second and third Tour de France victories. De Visé also chronicles the rise of doping in professional cycling near the end of LeMond’s racing career. LeMond’s reputation was at considerable risk as he challenged Lance Armstrong’s denials and duplicity and fought to clean up a sport that had been severely damaged by the almost universal use of banned drugs for too many years. Even those with little familiarity with the often arcane aspects of bicycle racing will be caught up in the drama, excitement and nuances of the sport. Highly recommended!”—Bob Bowen, President, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame

Praise for Andy & Don:

“A lilting labor of love, a book that captures a golden moment in modern Americana. You'll not only return again to Mayberry, you'll feel as though you've never left.”—Tom Shales, Pulitzer Prize-winning television critic and author of Live from New York

“An intimate look into the lives of two thoroughly unique human beings who became not only household names but icons. What a thrill to take a peak down the alleys of Mayberry and beyond.”—Billy Bob Thornton

“Well-researched and discerning, Andy and Don shows us Griffith in both darkness and light: a haunted, powerful actor as well as the gentlest of comic straight men.”—Scott Eyman New York Times bestselling author of John Wayne

“A delightful, affectionate tribute to the show, and to the two stars whose unique chemistry, both on and off the screen, was the key to its enduring appeal.”—Richard Zoglin, author of Hope

“This is the book about The Andy Griffith Show you didn't know you needed. De Visé shows that Griffith and his equally famous sidekick were far more complicated, troubled—and interesting—than their public personae ever let on.”—Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, author of Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted

“The true story of Andy Griffith's and Don Knotts's incredible friendship. A penetrating and moving tribute.”—James Carville, political consultant

“A rewarding dual biography that is the definitive story of their friendship . . . As a story about a TV show and a creative partnership, Andy and Don satisfies. It’s also a lively look inside the entertainment industry in the latter half of the 20th century. But more than anything, it’s the story of a beautiful friendship.”—News & Observer

“An engaging, well-researched portrait of what made one of the great comedy duos of the television age tick.”—News & Record

“The perfect holiday gift for your aunt, uncle, grandma, or hipster niece, this well-written, often eloquent chronicle is just what fans of the show have waited for every fan of The Andy Griffith Show–and the great actors and writers who made it come alive–will treasure it.”—Missoulian

“Andy and Don will be a must for any Andy Griffith Show fan and anyone with a taste for showbiz gossip.”—Star-News

“This is the story of their friendship, filled with laughter and stories about this classic TV pair. Andy and Don is a must read for any Andy Griffith Show fan.”—Grand Forks Herald

“[A] delightful book . . . A well written, respectful, and informative look at a classic TV show and the two friends who made it great. Delicious comfort food for boomers and, really, anyone with cable.”—Booklist (starred review)

“[A] tender tribute . . . De Visé offers an intimate look at the lives of these two stars, and his access is invaluable to understanding their lifelong friendship. He captures the complexity of both men and the intimacy of their friendship with extreme detail and sensitivity.”—Publishers Weekly

“This book by a Knotts in-law shows how the magic was created . . . De Visé examines the childhood, early careers, and outsize ambitions of both men, explaining why their chemistry made them click. By turns humorous, informative, and poignant.”—Library Journal

“Veteran journalist de Visé returns with a plethora of memories about actors Andy Griffith and Don Knotts.”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

04/09/2018
In this thorough biography, De Visé (Andy and Don) uses Greg Lemond’s razor-thin victory over Frenchman Laurent Fignon in the 1989 Tour de France as a framing device to tell the life story of the first great American road cyclist of the modern era. De Visé describes LeMond’s childhood in California with a supportive family, which was clouded by years of sexual abuse by a neighbor. He picked up cycling at age 14 in 1974, and by the time he was 17, the international cycling world began taking notice. In 1986, he became the first American to win the Tour de France, defeating Frenchman Bernard Hinault. His opportunity to repeat that feat was cut short when he was accidentally shot by his brother-in-law while hunting in 1987. Two years after his injury, LeMond made his comeback, and De Visé brings that race vividly to life as LeMond and Fignon go neck and neck to the finish line. In LeMond’s later career and retirement, he became the “conscience of professional cycling” as the most vocal critic of the sport’s doping scandals and Lance Armstrong, whose malice toward LeMond extended for years until his comeuppance. De Visé offers a thrilling read and exciting history for cycling and noncycling fans alike. (June)

Publishers Weekly

2018-04-11
"It's not the bicycle…it's the legs": a sprint through a big swatch of bicycling history, focusing on racer Greg LeMond's triumphant return from disaster.Veteran journalist de Visé (Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show, 2015, etc.) takes on a big story with that of LeMond, who, in the mid-1970s, came roaring out of a bicycle racing scene that "resembled Grateful Dead concerts, albeit on a smaller stage." Nicknamed "Lemonster," the determined young man came along at just the time that the U.S. bicycling scene was emerging from its backwater doldrums, a flowering celebrated in the contemporary film Breaking Away. LeMond famously went on to become the first American to win the storied Tour de France competition in 1986. The following year, while recuperating from an injury, he was accidentally shot while hunting and nearly bled to death, necessitating a long program of recovery. He survived to win twice more, in 1989 and 1990, when he "seemed…more nervous about his chances now than in 1989, when his odds were indeed slim, and more fearful of some mishap than in 1986, when the Tour director himself had fretted for Greg's safety." The author, who sometimes writes with the techno-geekery of the bicycle acolyte and sometimes with the breeziness of a practiced sportscaster, makes clear that LeMond accomplished all this largely through sheer determination. His opposite in all this, apart from a few diabolical French opponents, is Lance Armstrong, who "possessed the raw talent to become an elite athlete" but exhibited all the arrogance and weakness of character that would later lead to his expulsion from the sport for doping. In that matter, LeMond, now in his late 50s, has emerged as an advocate for racing reforms that include ending the practice of allowing cyclists to change bikes midrace.It's a pleasure to ride in the peloton alongside LeMond, who emerges from this account as America's once-and-future cycling great.

Kirkus Reviews