1986 FLECHE WALLONNE The Badger's last year
La Flèche Wallonne aka "The Walloon Arrow" is the first of the two Belgian Ardennes classics.
50th Edition: April 16
BERNARD HINAULT (1954), nicknamed "le blaireau" or "the badger", is a French former road bicycle racer.
Hinault is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most versatile riders in history. He was the best time trialist of his generation and could beat the specialists uphill and even in the sprint.
His versatility is evidenced by the number of Grand Tours and cycling classics in which he triumphed. After Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx, Hinault was the third rider to win the Tour de France five times. This achievement was subsequently matched only by Miguel Indurain. And... surpassed by Lance Armstrong with seven wins....
In addition, Hinault won the Tour of Italy three times and the Tour of Spain twice. Hinault is also one of the few riders to win the Tour of Italy and France in one season. He even did that twice, in 1982 and in 1985.
His name appears several times on the roll of honor of the Walloon Arrow, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy. Hinault hated the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, but he also triumphed in that prestigious race in 1981.
(Photo Cor Vos, 1986, cycling news)
1986 FLECHE WALLONNE The Badger's last year
La Flèche Wallonne aka "The Walloon Arrow" is the first of the two Belgian Ardennes classics.
50th Edition: April 16
BERNARD HINAULT (1954), nicknamed "le blaireau" or "the badger", is a French former road bicycle racer.
Hinault is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most versatile riders in history. He was the best time trialist of his generation and could beat the specialists uphill and even in the sprint.
His versatility is evidenced by the number of Grand Tours and cycling classics in which he triumphed. After Jacques Anquetil and Eddy Merckx, Hinault was the third rider to win the Tour de France five times. This achievement was subsequently matched only by Miguel Indurain. And... surpassed by Lance Armstrong with seven wins....
In addition, Hinault won the Tour of Italy three times and the Tour of Spain twice. Hinault is also one of the few riders to win the Tour of Italy and France in one season. He even did that twice, in 1982 and in 1985.
His name appears several times on the roll of honor of the Walloon Arrow, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy. Hinault hated the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, but he also triumphed in that prestigious race in 1981.
(Photo Cor Vos, 1986, cycling news)