1989 World Cycling Championships Finish

[1RadNomad]

Bikes of steel. balls of steel. Proper cycle racing.

[thisisobvious]

I can't believe Phil was a commentator way back then, and he still sounds and talks exactly the same.

[zuzupetals1999]

Lemond said afterward that he felt lousy all day and took the race one lap at a time. He said he didn't feel better until the last two laps. He also broke a rear spoke on the last lap, which he didn't have time to change. He loves circuit races and the harder the better. This race suited him perfectly. The amount of pure talent racing in the late 80's was incredible. Lemond, Fignon, Kelly, Rooks, Roche, Delgado, Bugno, the list goes on. Great time to be a cycling fan.

[dugfriendly]

No helmets. Those were crazy days.

[arniemost]

Saronni went by Boyer like he was parked!

[dachicagoan]

It would have been nice to see Steve Bauer not get that flat, it would have made for a really exciting last 2 miles.

[lifereguard]

the leading group was averaging 90 k's on the descent, what speed was Kelly doing to catch them? Amazing ride. But, Lemond was the man on the day.

[arklat]

LeMond spent a week with me and my buds at the Encino Velodrome, learning how to sprint. His coach told him that if he wanted to succeed in Europe as a pro, he needed to master the sprint finish. He was a very fast learner. He was also keen to learn from the same guys who beat him in many criterium field sprints. That, and track sprinting, was our specialty. It seems that It was a week well spent! I think he was only 18 at the time. We were lucky to have crossed the line ahead of him a fewtimes

[xxxseXierIkAF4Grlxxx]

RIP fignon!

[oceanplanet602]

@numero96 I think Kelly cooked himself to get up to the final lead group. Actually pretty amazing that he got there at all, being a sprinter! Heroic effort in his last bid for the world's, but LeMond was not to be denied that year.

[dan32113]

@oceanplanet602 Kelly wasn"t just a sprinter! he was world number 1, for 6yrs running. 3rd in the all time list classics winner. Paris- nice 7yrs running, Vuelta 88, go on wiki & look at his palmares. Sean Kelly is an all time great & Legend..

[colmmagoo]

@numero96 Kelly didn't F. up, imho he did as well as he possibly could have, for two reasons:

(1) he was 33, a good 3 years past his prime. The sprinting kick had faded, he was

no longer winning 20+ races per season.

(2) Lemond was in awesome form. He beat Kelly in the sprint for 3rd place for the GP Montreal (remember that, a great hilly race) just before this race, which gave him confidence. At this particular point in time Greg LeMond was operating on another level of awesomeness.

[DHTCF]

@colmmagoo Good points. Greg's sprinting was under-estimated. If the race was tough enough to get the field down, he was very hard to beat in a sprint.

[soobeng]

WHAO. what a race. all the cycling greats together.

[mattsnow81]

RIP Fignon, courage until the end!

[Bhousm76]

rest in peace Fignon

[arklat]

Why do most people never mention Greg LeMonds FIRST World Championship Gold Medal? Venezuela, Junior Road Race. He was the main animator(Again!), and won a gold, silver, and bronze medal in that championship. He was beaten to the line by a top-tier Belgian road racer, Kenny Demartlier. But, he was disqualified for dangerous riding, after hooking GL off the course. Even if he had gotten the silver, he still did fantastic.

[hagenar]

2:48 poor Bauer. Looking back on his career he said that was one he would have liked to have back. He liked his chances in a sprint against that group.

[arklat]

What a race! Tough conditions, attack after attack, just what great cycling should be. everyone taking a chance, launching an attack, recovering, and racing over and over! I would have given the best chance to Kelly, but LeMond really wanted that title! Again!

[Bhousm76]

i really wish i was around in 89 to watch cycling..

[DHTCF]

Would be nice if someone posted Greg's 83 win.

[klawetter]

Lemond chases down every flyer and stills out-sprints everyone for the win - impressive effort. '89 was quite a year for him.

[PatriceauQuebec]

Lemond-fignon an exciting duel. Both are champions. Courage Laurent.

[oleo36]

Post deleted. how lame and undemocratic is that? To You Tube and the nay-sayers: Disagreeing is not offensive; it's just a difference of opinion. Giving comments a thumbs down because you don't agree with them and deleting is pathetic.

As it happens I'm a big fan of Kelly's, but I just don't think he was in the same league as the likes of Lemond or Hinault -world champions and TdF winners. Head-to-head sprinting, Kelly usually (always?) lost against these guys. Specially in the big races.

[kvmusic]

posts don't get deleted. if you get 6 thumbs down, they just disappear. you can still see them if you click "show" or "reply"

[oleo36]

@kvmusic

Thanks for clarifying that. I still think it is an odd policy: only positive or neutrally valued posts are visible.

[rmrooster01]

@oleo36 Actually, Sean Kelly usually won the sprints against Lemond, Fignon. Sean Kelly was a 1 day classic specialist. Won Paris Nice 7 straight times. Milan San Remo, Paris Robaiax, and many others that Lemond never won. Lemond said in his book on page 200 "I could train for sprinting 7 times as much as Kelly, and he could beat me 7 out of 10 times in a dead heat." This 1989 World Championships was one of the rare exceptions. Kelly was the greatest sprinter of the 1980's.

[oleo36]

And I'll invite a few more thumbs down with this probably (but that's tough): Being under-geared was something Kelly himself said. This took away from Lemond's fine and deserved win. Kelly had the ideal position but lacked the power to pass Lemond (as in 1982).

As to Boyer's 1982 chances, maybe watch the video again and see just how much power Saronni put down. An awsome display of power and tactical nouse. Boyer's lead just helped control the pace and counter-attacks on the climb

[oleo36]

Sorry kvmusic, but much as I would have liked to see Kelly win the World's, I cannot agree with you: he just wasn't in the same class as Lemond. He is clearly the dominant rider, chad=sing down Fignon, closing the gaps on the run-in and leading out the sprint to win.

[kvmusic]

oleo36,

we were not talking about 1989 here, we were talking about 1982.

lemond was a better tour racer, kelly was a better classic racer. lemond did get a few one day race wins (2 world championships, which is amazing). kelly won a lot of tours, 7 paris-nice, 1 vuelta, 2 tours de suisse.

if you compare their palmares, kelly is WAY above lemond. there is just no comparison. kelly beat lemond many times in the classics. also, kelly rode all year, lemond did not. anyway, they were both great.

[DHTCF]

@kvmusic to say that Kelly's one-day palmares is better than LeMond's is like saying his stage race palmares is better because he won Paris-Nice 7 times and a Vuelta, whereas Greg only (!) had 3 Tours and 1 Dauphine. Kelly won many classics and Greg none, but the 1 single-day race that everyone wants to win, kelly only had 2 bronzes whereas Greg had 2 golds and 2 silvers.

Not to diss Kelly, both great riders.

[jackmeadow1]

I heard Sean Kelly in an interview years after losing this race say that he made a mistake with his gear choice. He was not expecting LeMond to start the sprint from so far out and picked too low a gear to catch him. Also, at that point in Kelly's career he was not so good at sprinting because he spent so much time training to climb. He did win a Tour of Spain and only missed out on winning a second Tour of Spain as he had to retire because of a medical problem.

[DHTCF]

@jackmeadow1 Interesting. I've read LeMond say that he started the spring early because he thought that, if Kelly started sprinting before him, he'd never catch him.

[oleo36]

Kelly was a great rider: a champion. But he wasn't a Campionissimo. And whatever gear he had or didn't have, he was simply beaten by a more powerful man who had the form of his life. Kelly lost several key sprints to in his career to great riders who were also all-rounders: Hinault came past him on the Champs Elysees famously and this was the second time Lemond outrode him to a World's podium.

[vre13]

Ha Ha Fignon attacking on his teammate

[CanadianMonarchist1]

I was only a year old when this took place, the Tour De France is the one sports event I look forward to every summer

[xxbondsxx]

thanks for the fast forward hahahaah

[toronto68]

Poor Steve Bauer. What a time to flat.

[xxbondsxx]

@toronto68 i know seriously. only lame thing about cycling is mechanical failures ruining races

[STKKCYC]

This is the World Championship Kelly should have. I thought he had it when he caught the leaders. Kelly was not in a high enough gear when Le Mond made his move. This was cycling at it's best, with no radios, as it should be, hope they ban them soon. Thanks to socalrider for posting this. Have you more feeds regarding the one day classics? Real racing, more exciting than the borefest that is the Tour de France.

[kvmusic]

Agree, i still can't believe kelly did not win

[surfocaster]

Sean Kelly usually got the best of LeMond in the one day classics but Greg denied Kelly a rainbow jersey. Greg you are the man!

[mpmcd81]

It must have sucked to have been Fignon in 1989!

[espada9]

Well he DID win the Giro that year!

[DHTCF]

3 Tour wins & 2 podiums, 2 golds & 2 silvers in the Worlds, GL knew how to race the big ones.

[jblynnpowpow]

awesome ride from the first great American champion

[jatojo]

Well produced television - and it's back in 1989.

[elrodracing]

This still gives me chills like when I watched it on TV. How about when Sean Kelly comes out of nowhere at about 2k!!

[LEXPIX]

Nice footage.

[arnoldinerith]

Also not too keen on Lemond for choosing this one race to beat Sean in a sprint. A superb race, except the outcome!!

[arnoldinerith]

Got to say Lemond was a great rider especially returning after the terrible injuries he suffered BUT never liked him after watching him chase down and lead the bunch upto his "teammate (Jonathon Boyer) at the 1982 world road race in England with about 300 metres to go just to see Saronni jump away to win.

[kvmusic]

yeah, i remember that one very well. that was lemond's worst move ever. had he not chased boyer selfishly, boyer would have wonin 82!

[Ingwe416]

@kvmusic

Boyer was being overtaken by Saronni and company. He was cooked. Lemond came off of the chasers. He did not lead a chase. Watch the video dipstick

[kvmusic]

@Ingwe416

dipstick yourself.

i suggest YOU watch the video (providing you know which one i am talking about. Lejaretta and Vandervelde are cooked but Boyer is still doing fine. however Lemond makes is move past L and V with Saronni right in his wheel.

he had 2 other options, give Boyer a little more chance or let Saronni make the move and pass him in the final meters.

[ta1920]

@kvmusic Boyer was never going to win that race.  Boyer was a good rider but that finishing climb was for a world class rider like Lemond or Saronni, one way or another Boyer would have lost. Can't fault the better rider (lemond) for not letting Saronni have it on a silver platter.

[surfocaster]

Awesome. I don't care how many times I have seen this it still blows me away. What a race and Greg LeMond, you still ARE the man.

[warren09121971]

Greg rules!!!!!

[elizbethwhalen]

Yeah he does. Thanks to socalrider909 for posting this.

[KO67148]

Thanks so much...I have never seen this race. Here in the U.S. it was not televised. What a great race...Lemond was a beast...chasing down the attacks and outsprinting everyone.

[HayateAce]

Not televised LIVE, but it was televised in the US. I have a scratchy old VHS copy of this.

:)

[KO67148]

Is it the whole race?...I would love to see that!!!!

[thorsteele69]

Whether you like Lemond or not (like Lance, people seem to either love him or hate him), you have to admit that Lemond opened a can of "whoop-ass" in this race, after beating Fignon earlier that year in the greatest Tour de France finish ever. This was the best World Championship ever!

[lmacorp]

One of the greatest races --- ever

[speedoflite1]

Way to TAKE over a race by the throat and win!

[drexelur1]

Riding 60mph, downhill, on a wet road??? SHE-IT!!!!!

[dahgutone]

ahhhh..Fignon, his ugly haircut still haunts me.

[lmacorp]

I was there, on the course with the American team---even in the Mavic car for a few laps...the team was dropping like flies and Hampsten was destroyed and there were still a couple laps to go...it was electric atmosphere...and at the press conference --- Greg was shocked that he won...was amazing

[noshtrilz]

one of the hardest ever world championships I think - totaly brutal

[mangicake]

What chances Kelly must have taken (on the wet road) to bridge to the break ... Lemond was so strong ... covered all the moves and lead out the sprint ... shivers down the spine each time

[Tweekerhead]

Is that Brian Dribble...doing the announcing w/ Phil baby ????/

[drexelur1]

Going downhill, on a wet road, at 60mph? SHEEE-IT!!!

[decker1215]

Lemond is the Greatest ever!!

[corbinrowe]

Lemond's second finest moment aside from last stage in 1989 TdF.

[gerloughnanne]

cote de montagnole. Liggett mentions it 30 seconds in

[0132222]

What a race. Def one of the all time greats. The difference between Kelly and Roache was the nouse that Roche possed otherwise this should have been Kelly's finest hour. Can anyone tell me the name of the climb outside Chambery? I'm there next summer and want to dream...

[gerloughnanne]

Could this be the greatest worlds ever.I think so. As an Irishman it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth the fact that Kelly lost this one.Was he undergeared,I think so but Lemond was riding in a state of grace that day.Could Kelly have beat him. I like to imagine he could. The look on kellys face as he crossed the finish line is heartbreaking. Look at the calibre of men at the end Lemond Fignon(who won the Giro that year)Rooks Bauer.Greatest era in cycling Kelly forever. Lemond = pure class

[danincan]

I remember at the start of that season saying to a riding buddy that if Lemond somehow comes back he'll be real lion-thanks Greg for making me look like a genius!

[sprintbass]

god this brings back memories..i was 16 when lemond made his comback..seeing them in this race was awesome..both of these guys at that point in thier career they had wona few tours between them and both had thier own fan base..this was a cool time in my life because i was really into the sport..I still am..but compared to today..the 80s were the golden years..i hope the day comes when we can be treated to another rider vs rider battle..i still have a system u jersey!

[rataplan88888]

Great race, I was there at the time. I also met Greg Lemond on training the days before. This climb was really steep, something you don't notice on the images.

[proteanview]

Love it!

[Kicksmeintheshowers]

Lemond could have had a great 5 year stretch of major wins if he didn't get shot! That was a great win though. He rode for a smaller Belgian team that year and still kicked ass! On Bottecchia bicycles no less!

[JohnnyFavorite222]

mais laurent fignon!!!!

[CrazyTrevor]

Ahh the days when doping wasnt as wide spread/easy to do. All the guys tried to push the envelop but in the early 90s it all changed.

Lance was the best at the Tour de France but thats it. NOT the greatest cyclist but a really really good one.

[socomcorky]

Sean Kelly used to be the fastest sprinter in the 80s. LeMond really earned that medal.

[ABOMBKICKSARSE]

greg is the man !

lance is awesome but greg is a better rider.

[zuzupetals1999]

When Lemond attacks Fignon on the climb and reaches down to shift up a gear, Fignon knew it was all over for him. That is the greatest move to break someone's spirit. Works every time!

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[CarlFargman]

And watch Sean Kelly come out of nowhere....CLASSIC!!!!

[CarlFargman]

this is still the greatest finish I have ever seen....

[largefallingicicles]

Go Finion! Strange how 2 guys can dominate like that, shows how much more competitive our sport has become these days. Scary decent wow. Flat tire going around corners that guy is awsome! Less than 50 finishers wow... These days even John Leiswen could finish Worlds!

[sjl62]

Other Worlds with very few finishers: only about 20 in 1995; only 15 in 1980!

[NikkenMagboy]

idol! lemond rules. lemond kicks armstrong's ass.

[chanrobi]

NOoooo bauer!

[Shadowboost]

unbelievable, 90 kph in the wet!

[youzebe]

The great, the legend, the best, Lemond.

[wanmaker]

lol me to love it

[rahsaanbahati]

this made me go out and train my 5 hr in the rain. Great finish and thanks for posting.

[rickbowker]

this was a fantastic world champs and tour de france,lemond could have won many more races if it had not been for his shooting [ hunting ]accident, remember he was left with lead pellets close to his heart!by 1989 he was being poisoned by the lead getting into his bleed stream ! LOOK at him in the 1986 tour when he was at his best, awesome !but to win the 89 tour and world champs was an amazing comeback and showed true guts and determination.and i feel he is a guy who never used drugs.

[makeroftoys]

I lost to Greg in every race, and was somehow honored to do so. Greg Lemond is a great great cyclist and a great great man.

[semo2010]

you're a pro cyclist ?

[makeroftoys]

No. I wish. I was an amateur back when Greg was. Mostly he rode category 1 when he was a junior, but sometimes he slummed it with us.

[tkez64]

What a great race! Lemond was on top of it. Attacking...dropping Fignon...chasing down all the attacks then starting and winning a sprint from about 300 out. Poor Fignon...just getting owned by Lemond again!

[lladnoj]

lemond is a bad ass.

[jk6115]

aquéllo sí era ciclismo, no la mariconada de ahora.

[ZambiziDiscoII]

I can't believe anyone would suggest Lance was the best ever. That's insane and smacks of cycling ignorance. Eddy was beyond a doubt the most dominant rider ever to turn a crank. Lemond was a joy to watch and an amazing rider. Lance was a touching story fit for a movie of the week. A bore to watch.

[babbsiscool]

i agree that merckx was the greatest but armstrong was much more fun to watch then lemond.

[fignon]

lance was exciting to watch but was a one race a year man after his come back, even indurain won a giro tour double

[brigader4heart]

as i said before,armstrong only started racing in april(2 months after pro season started!) and finished his season on the champs elysees at end of tout in july)others in pro peloton rode into october to fulfill the sponsors and promoters field,s otherwise there would be no promoters!.

i cannot recall armstrong ever riding a giro d'italy,vuelta d'espagne nor a six day?,anyone know any different?.

[babbsiscool]

he did he rode all of those but he never went for the win he once got 4th in the vuelta but he concentrated on france that was the greatest race so thats the only thing he wanted.

[brigader4heart]

i saw jean pierre (jempy)monsere win world champs at mallory park leicester about 1970 youngest world champ until lance armstrong,but the greatest cyclist ever?,eddie merckx without a doubt!,he rode all the classsic races,the tour de france and giro d'itala the six days season with patrick sercu as well!.

armstrong only rode from april till tour de france!,if merckx had ridden such a tailored season he would have have won 12 tour de france titles!.

[babbsiscool]

armsttrong rode all year long just to win the tour he put all year into that race and he was able to compete in other races as well but he only put stock in the tour.

[mikethern]

Lemond never did drugs. Armstrong probably did. Lemond's only mistake was turkey hunting. Doesn't feel so good to be on the other side of the shotgun, does it, Greg?

[therainmaker84]

Cyclism IS Marco Pantani.

Remember him.

[drmarthacastro]

I think Lance Armstrong is D BEST cyclist EVER. But not because I love Lance Armstrong with all my heart I'm blind to see that there are many other cyclist who deserve praise too, just like Greg Lamond.

The point being is that cycling is my passion and all cyclists, pro and amateur deserve admiration.

Gave 5 stars to this video.

[bustedbojangles]

Classic

[MDHS1974]

Amen, jp44.

Lemond was one of the best ever, and without a doubt he was the best ever from the USA, by far, proven time and time again against the best in the world, and in a day when the man who won the race really was the best in the world- and not merely the best at cheating.

He was the most worthy champion, and perhaps the last worthy champion.

Long live the memory of his greatness, in a world and a sport in which true greatness has been lost.

Thanks, Greg.

[babbsiscool]

you know what greg lemond was great but hes fat now, unlike armstrong who continues to train even after he has retired. Eddy Merckx has been the same way and yes Merckx is a little flabby now but its been a long time as for Lemond its been a mere 18 years since this race and just look at him. I'm sorry but its not just about the race.

[bunglebear2084]

So you judge him on how beefy he is now? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard.

And as for Eddy Merckx, up until recently he was really overweight, and he was the best ever so your argument doesn't stand up.

[babbsiscool]

cycling is all about physical mastery so even though one may race well its all about remaining in the best physical shape you can be he was a great champion but all im saying is i am dissapointed as for merckx he is pretty old so getting beefy didnt really matter now that he has it off is another testament of his greatness.

[jmplays44]

That was an amazing race. Look at the credentials of the top 6 guys in that final sprint. LeMond was the man, plus he was clean unlike Dope Bloodstrong.

[pumpkinsloop]

ok

i like this

[lotusibanez]

I always liked Fignon even though a lot of people didn't. He would have looked good in the rainbow jersey.

[babbsiscool]

ya fignon was a really good rider i think people didnt like him as much because he didn't look very nice you know and lemond looked like this nice kid who could be a friend to every body but Fignon was still a very good rider.

[gadolfg]

not compares all the cyclist from the past with drug armstrong, they were better that a junkie cyclist

[babbsiscool]

armstrong is clean thats all i gotta say and lemond was way bad we are watching lemond lets talk about htat.

[zuzupetals1999]

Comparing Lance Armstrong to Greg Lemond is like comparing Larry Holmes to Muhammad Ali. The were both champions but Ali beat the greatest fighters of all time (Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton). Larry Holmes fought bums like Trevor Burbick. Armstrong never raced against the caliber of talent that Lemond did. Lemond raced against the toughest group of cyclist in history and Armstrong defeated a field of domestiques.

[babbsiscool]

what about ullrich and pantani they were bad there were alot of great cyclists but no matter we are watching lemond lets talk about lemond.

[zuzupetals1999]

I remember watching this race in 1989.  This truly was the greatest time for cycling. Lemond, Fignon, Bugno, Kelly, Roche, Delgato, Indurain, Rooks, Konishev, Claverolet. The list goes on and on. Lemond truly was the greatest champion. Armstrong is nothing compared to these guys. How would you like to start a stage everyday against riders like that. All were former Tour, Giro or Worlds winners. I really miss those days.

[Boberelli]

My friend, winning the tour seven times is not trivial. Name someone else that even won it six times.. :)

[glengarryleads]

A good doping program is the only thing that allows a man to be so dominant.

[johnnymossville]

Just gearing up for this year's Tour de France and came across this video. I am SOOOOOOO happy I found it. This has to be one of the great finishes ever. Greg was just so amazing. I hope to get a chance to meet him one day.

Thanks for posting it, it made my day.

[DMellow]

How's the down hill speed?! Unbelievable! Huge balls.

[lesmcluffalot]

Kewlios

[mambobici]

That was Fignon's dumbest finish sprint.

[uucp]

Knowing the outcome in advance doesn't make this any less tense or exciting. What an amazing race. Great footage too.

[zuffle87]

Superb, I feel the riders nerves as they watch each other in the last 1km. Sean Kelly reckoned he was under geared, but with Lemond so determined, there was only gonna be one winner.

[bbypy123]

Greg was pretty strong that day. His rear wheel was busted and rubbing against the brakes on the last lap.

[sulfolobious]

Amazing, just amazing.

Incredible!

[BattleofTours732]

I was at this race...I spoke with Kelly before the race and he was so calm... Americans were dropping like flies...Hampsten was in shock....When they drove him away, he was just staring into the distance...LeMond truly shocked the world..At the press conference, the European media was in disbelief and awe of what LeMond did that year....and especially at that race...The whole race week was amazing and this race was like a dream...just how it feels in this video...Great one...Thanks

[lemond234]

Classic

[rennesdinan]

Thank you for this! Yeah.. incredible race. Funny to see in the middle a little glimpse at LeMond's father, and the reaction of LeMond's soigneur, Otto Jacome, in the end is priceless.. running and screaming.

[joaquim525]

incredible racing. Lemond was.......such a great champion.

[erolorhun]

Epic.

[stoicloic]

Jesus fucking Christ...90ks on wet roads...ballsy mother fuckers. I miss these days of racing so much.

[luclablanc]

I agree with Stoicloic, I REALLY, REALLY miss these days of cycling!

[lotusibanez]

Claveyrolat was good also. Too bad he's no longer with us.

[mtb3r]

power, just pure power... thanks for posting, i guess i don't have to export my copy from my betamax anymore, i'll just save this one and watch it over and over again!

[sjta66]

exciting - great video! Worth watching all the way through for sure! Go Greg!

[uucp]

superb race. videos like this show the greatness of these riders; the incredible determination to counter attack after attack.

[hockinsk]

Kelly must've steamed down that descent to catch the leaders who wern't exactly hanging around at 87kph ether! Great race, but I always felt sorry for Fignon. Why he did that last half-hearted attack just before the line is beyond me. Easy looking back to say all this though I guess?

[ab763]

Love it!a remember seeing this on tv one of my favourite finishes ever.

[ChiefWiggum76]

An awesome race from an era when the World Championships used to be GOOD! They really should move the Worlds back to August and throw in some decent mountains..

[PartisanRanger]

Sweet video, thanks for uploading it. Lemond looked extremely strong that day.

[sandranian]

This is the best finish to a bicycle race ever. They have to change the date of the Worlds again to have this kind of racing.... The best is Fignon's double-take when Lemond closed the gap. Also great is another one of Phil Liggett's calls which is just dead wrong. How did that guy become the voice of cycling, anyhow????

[kiz29]

Sean Kelly the Eric Zabel of the 80's?!? You know nothing about cycling! Two times the winner of Paris roubaix, Liege, and Milan san Remo; Three Tours of Lombardy, a Vuelta, Paris Nice SEVEN times in a row, four tour green jerseys out of a total of 193 career victories- a record only Merkx can better. More like the Bettini, Boonen and Valverde of the 80's. Rolled into one that is.

[sjl62]

Reread what I said -- I was talking about the Worlds, not his whole career. Kelly, like Zabel, should have won the Worlds, and always came really close, but could never quite pull it off.

[kdubphoto]

Wow thank you for all the old World Championships videos! I have never seen any of them and very excited to see them posted so I know what happened. Thanks for keeping some of the memorable cycling history alive!

[sjl62]

Kelly really was the Erik Zabel of the '80s Worlds -- always the favorite, always so close . . . but always watching some bozo squeak by at the last second.