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By Barry Boyce CyclingRevealed Historian
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Hinault Crashes, LeMond Follows Team Orders
A record tying fifth Tour de France victory was the burning desire for Bernard Hinault. Defending champion Laurent Fignon did not enter the Tour because surgery on his left ankle. Hinault’s team owner Bernard Tapie invested a substantial amount of money to bolster the team around his French star. Tapie gave large contracts to talented young riders, Niki Ruttimann (Sui), Kim Andersen (Den), Steve Bauer (Can), and young star Greg LeMond (USA). LeMond commanded the salary of a number one rider, but was hired to support the efforts of Hinault. The expenditure proved to be great insurance for the Badger.
The master of the ITT, Hinault won the 75 km Stage 8 by 2’20” over Stephen Roche (Ire) and 2’34” over teammate Greg LeMond. Hinault was back in the Maillot Jaune as the Tour entered the tough climbing stages in the Alps.
Hinault riding conservatively matched the pace of his rivals and allowed only small groups to breakaway for the stage wins. His effort expanded the overall lead by small amounts of time. He led LeMond by 5’23” going into a rest day in Autrans.
Stage 14 from Autrans to Saint Etienne will not be remembered for its aggressive racing, but for the severe crash of the race leader. The one major climb of the day, L’Oeillon, gave Colombian climber Luis Herrera the launching pad for the solo breakaway stage win. During the field sprint Hinault touched wheels with another rider and fell heavily to the pavement. Because the crash happened inside the final kilometer, Hinault would not lose any time, provided he crossed the finish line. His nose broken and face covered in blood, the Badger courageously remounted his bicycle and slowly crossed the finish line. The race leader held on to the Maillot Jaune.
When the Tour entered the Pyrenees Mountains, Hinault’s broken nose severely hindered his breathing. Pedro Delgado (Spa) escaped the peloton and rode solo to the final climb to Luz Ardidan. Stephen Roche also seized the moment and attacked the struggling race leader. Roche was quickly joined by Eduardo Chozas and Greg LeMond. Hinault trailed the Roche group by more than a minute and LeMond sensed the opportunity to gain control of the race. He wanted to attack his chase group, but team director Paul Koechli prohibited the move. LeMond was ordered back to the Hinault group. Delgado climbed to the stage win, while a furious LeMond lashed out at Koechli and Hinault. Spirits of the team were calmed after Tapie enters the discussion. LeMond announced his full support of the French team leader.
During the remaining 5 stages, LeMond worked diligently and helped Hinault take his record tying fifth Tour de France victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: The victorious Hinault, on the podium in Paris, pledged to support LeMond in the 1986 Tour. It was a promise the Badger would not keep.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue PLUMELEC, 6.8 km ITT |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 1 VANNES-LANESTER, 256 km |
Rudy Matthijs (Bel) |
Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) |
Stage 2 LORIENT-VITRE, 242 km |
Rudy Matthijs (Bel) |
Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) |
Stage 4 FOUGERES-PONT AUDEMER, 239 km |
Gerrit Solleveld (Ned) |
Kim Andersen (Den) |
Stage 5 NEUFCHATEL EN BRAY-ROUBAIX, 224 km |
Henri Manders (Ned) |
Kim Andersen (Den) |
Stage 6 ROUBAIX-REIMS, 221 km |
Francis Castaing (Fra) |
Kim Andersen (Den) |
Stage 7 REIMS-NANCY, 218 km |
Ludwig Wijnants (Bel) |
Kim Andersen (Den) |
Stage 8 SARREBOURG-STRASBOURG, 75 km ITT |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 9 STRASBOURG-EPINAL, 174 km |
Maarten Ducrot (Ned) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 10 EPINAL-PONTARLIER, 204 km |
Jorgen Pedersen (Den) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 11 PONTARLIER-MORZINE /Avoriaz, 195 km |
Luis Herrera (Col) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 12 MORZINE-LANS EN VERCORS, 269 km |
Fabio Parra (Col) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 13 VILLARD DE LANS, 38 km ITT |
Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 14 AUTRANS-ST ETIENNE, 179 km |
Luis Herrera (Col) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 15 ST ETIENNE-AURILLAC, 237 km |
Eduardo Chozas (Spa) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 16 AURILLAC-TOULOUSE, 247 km |
Frederic Vichot (Fra) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 17 TOULOUSE-LUZ ARDIDEN, 209 km |
Pedro Delgado (Spa) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 18a LUZ ST SAUVEUR-COL D'AUBISQUE, 53 km |
Stephen Roche (Ire) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 18b LARUNS-PAU, 83 km |
Regis Simon (Fra) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 19 PAU-BORDEAUX, 203 km |
Eric Vanderaerden (Bel) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 20 MONTPON MENESTREL-LIMOGES, 225 km |
Johan Lammerts (Ned) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 21 CIRCUIT DU LAC DE VASSIVIERE, 46 km ITT |
Greg LeMond (USA) |
Bernard Hinault (Fra) |
Stage 22 ORLEANS-PARIS/Champs Elysees, 196 km |
Rudy Matthijs (Bel) |
 Bernard Hinault (Fra)
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 Luis Herrera (Col)
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 Sean Kelly (Ire)
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| TdF June 28 - July 21, 1985 |
| 4,113 Km |
1.
Bernard HINAULT (Fra) 113h24'23" |
2.
Greg LeMond (USA) +1'42" |
3.
Stephen Roche (Ire) +4'29" |
| Starters: 180 |
| Finishers: 144 |
| Average Speed: 36.215 km/h |
TdF 1984
TdF 1986
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72nd Tour de France 1985
