Conference noted::bicycle

         Maybe for some people who know much more about professional
    cycling than I do LeMond was not much or never reached his 
    maximum potential.  As a citizen of the USA, given our anemic history
    of modern cycling accomplishments, LeMond is the greatest cyclist that
    I know of.
    
          Abe;

     Abe, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Anyone who does not recognize
     GL as one of the greats is simply caught in their nationlistic (or
     other) groudless biased.
    
     I do believe that GL d-i-d reach his potential, but it was just not
     physically sustainable. He did lose his prime years. While saddened,
     I'm also grateful that his condition (while chronic) is not life
     threatening.
    
     If GL had not lost those years my guess is that he would have
     continued to get stronger, wiser, and a wider base of respect.
    
     Chip

Subject: Lemond Retires

- ---- Source: Bicycling Magazine Online ---------------------------
LeMond Announces Retirement
Sidebar: LeMond's Lifetime Record

By Tim Maloney
December 3 marks the end of an era in American cycling. At a press conference
at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles today, Greg LeMond announced his
retirement from the sport of competitive cycling.

LeMond, a 3-time Tour de France winner, 3-time World Champion, and arguably
the greatest cyclist America has ever produced, has been definitively
diagnosed with mytochondrial myopathy, a muscle disorder.

As LeMond's race performances continued to deteriorate over the past two
seasons, his measured physical ability did too. For example, LeMond's
excercise physiologist, Dan Zieman, found that Greg's Maximum VO2 had
decreased 30% between February and July of 1994. It became clear that
something was physically wrong with the 33-year-old American racer. Lead
poisoning from pellets remaining from a gunshot wound suffered in a hunting
accident in 1987 has been suspected as a factor, and may have something to do
with LeMond's problems. 

In August of this year, after dropping out of the Tour de France and
returning to the U.S.,  LeMond's physician, Dr. Rachel Taube of Minneapolis,
Minn. ordered a muscle biopsy for Greg as one in a series of tests. After
examination under the electron microscope, LeMond's biopsy indicated that he
was affected with mitochondrial myopathy. This condition is includes a
pathologic change in the appearance of the muscle mitochondria. Mitochondria
is the part of the muscle that is responsible for energy production by
producing a substance caled ATP, without which muscle contraction cannot
occur. Dr. Taube stated that LeMond's condition was an exceedingly rare
disorder and had never been seen before in a healthy person. Mytochondrial
myopathy more typically occurs in pediatric patients, but in LeMond's case,
the adult form of the condition allows a good prognosis for Greg's future.

LeMond said he would miss the thrill of competition, but it was time to make
a change in the direction of his life and retire from cycling. He thanked his
wife Kathy, his first coach Eddy B, Cyrille Guimard (his French directeur
sportif from his days on the GITANE team), and Jose de Cauwer (his ADR
directeur sportif who guided his comeback in 1989. He also saluted his
long-time soigneur, Otto Jacome, and mechanic, Julien DeVries. LeMond didn't
mention his father, Bob LeMond, nor his Z/GAN directeur sportif, Roger
Legeay. In fact, he singled out the GAN team for its lack of support over the
past two years.

LeMond said he would have preferred to retire after the '96 Olympics, but
couldn't continue in his present condition.

LeMond's physical condition is still good, although he can no longer perform
as a world-class athlete. He has a long ski trip planned this winter, as well
as fly fishing, more involvement with his bike company, and more time with
his family.

Copyright (C) 1994, Bicycling Magazine Online. All rights reserved.

Greg LeMond's Record
Birth Date: June 26, 1961
Birthplace: Lakewood, California

- --1977--
A 16-year-old LeMond, in his Della Santa jersey, bursts onto the U.S.
national scene, giving the likes of the Stetinas, Bob Cook, Thurlow Rogers,
and Alexi Grewal a scare, and winning a few major races. "I would like to win
something really big, like the Tour," LeMond told reporter Ed Pavelka. "I
want to be a star."

- --1978--
*Bronze medal, junior world championships 70-km TTT (with Greg Demgen, Ron
Kiefel, and Jeff Bradley) Washington, D.C. USA

- --1979--
*Gold medal, junior world road championships, Buenos Aires, Argentina. LeMond
was in a two-man breakaway and was chased by the entire Russian TTT squad on
the last lap. "I looked back and saw all the red jersies of the Russians at
the front chasing us," he said. "I had it in my 12 and put my head down and
thought to myself  'first, second or last.'"
*Silver Medal, 3,000-meter pursuit, senior worlds
*Bronze Medal, 70-km TTT, senior worlds (with Jeff Bradley, Mark Frise and
Andy Hampsten)

- --1980--
*1st: U.S. Olympic trials road race
*1st overall: Circuit de la Sarthe (His first pro win. This was a three-stage
pro-am event, and LeMond was still an amateur.)
*The U.S. boycotts the Olympics, denying LeMond a shot at Olympic gold. He
has always longed for an Olympic medal, and was talking about doing the new
Olympic road individual time trial as late as the spring of 1994.

- --1981--
*1st overall: Coors Classic (beat the Russians)

- --1982--
*Silver medal,  pro world championship road race (England)
*1st overall: Tour de L'Avenir

- --1983--
*Gold medal, pro world championship road race (Switzerland)
*Super Prestige Trophy (now World Cup)
*1st overall: Dauphine Libere

- --1984--
*3rd overall, Tour de France

- --1985--
*2nd overall, Giro D'Italia (behind Hinault)
*2nd overall, Tour de France (behind Hinault)
*Tour de France stage win (1)
*Silver medal, pro world championship road race
*1st overall, Coors Classic

- --1986--
*1st overall, Tour de France
*Tour de France stage win (1)
*4th overall, Giro d'Italia
*3rd overall, Tour of Switzerland

- --1989--
*1st overall, Tour de France
*Tour de France stage wins (3)
*Gold medal, pro world championship road race

- --1990--
*1st overall, Tour de France

- --1991--
*7th overall, Tour de France

- --1992--
*1st overall, Tour DuPont (his last victory)
*Tour de France (did not finish)

- --1994--
*Tour de France (did not finish)

Year: Number of Wins: Team
1981  4   Renault
1982  5
1983  7
1984  1
1985  3   La Vie Claire
1986  7
1987  0   Toshiba
1988  0   PDM
1989  10  ADR
1990  3   Z
1991  1
1992  2
1993  0   Gan
1994  0
___________________
TOTAL: 43 victories

Last victory: Tour DuPont (May 17th 1992)

UCI points ranking (starting in 1987 as FICP-ranking):
1987   18
1988   346
1989   7
1990   9
1991   21
1992   54
1993   227
1994   384

- ---Fred Zahradnik--
(Thanks to Bruce Hildenbrand and Lode Goukens for assistance in compiling
LeMond's record.)

Copyright (C) 1994, Bicycling Magazine Online. All rights reserved.


Transmitted:  94-12-03 19:43:57 EST


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    He is certainly a great cyclist.  I also found his candor during
    interviews and quiet yet fiercely competitive manner to be very
    refreshing in these days of spoiled, arrogant professional athletes.
    
    Jim

>     Abe, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Anyone who does not recognize
>     GL as one of the greats is simply caught in their nationlistic (or
>     other) groudless biased.
 
    And of course, that comment is not the result of *your* nationalistic
    groundless bias... :-)
       
    No, at the end of the day he will have his name down as one the greats,
    3 Tours and 2 WCs see to that if nothing else. I just think that Lemond
    suffered from an over-zealous American public who tried to build him up
    as THE great (generalising, I know, but...). The problem was that
    America was by and large new to the sport and so didn't have the same
    understanding of what the Merckxs and Coppis really were. It's
    understandable that Europeans over-reacted to that...
    
    One thing that I think sums up the importance of this year is two of
    the most notable riders bowing out. Lemond was the first big name of
    the new approach to cycling, while Sean Kelly is the last of the old
    school of cycling with the old values and hard 'animal' attitude...
    
    Point of interest, with Kelly's retirement, Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle is
    the only pro cyclist still in competition that has raced against both
    Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault.
    
    Graham.