In anticipation of the battle between defending champion Chris Froome and two-time winner Alberto Contador at this year’s Tour de France, we look at five classic yellow jersey duels from the past.
At the 1986 Tour de France Greg Lemond and Laurent Fignon engaged in one of the most memorable battles in professional cycling. Photo: Getty Images
1964 – Jacques Anquetil (FRA) beat Raymond Poulidor (FRA) by 55sec: This was the classic clash between time trial specialist Anquetil and the gravity-defying climber Poulidor. Anquetil, who was going for his fifth Tour crown, had the edge on Poulidor since the ninth stage in Monaco when he won a sprint finish to take a one minute time bonus on the line.
1971 – Eddy Merckx (BEL) beat Joop Zoetemelk (NED) by 9min 51sec: Although Merckx’s final winning margin was sizeable, the true battle took place between him and Luis Ocana until stage 14. Merckx was a twice former winner and overwhelming favourite but Ocana stunned everyone by winning the 11th stage in the mountains by more than 6min, taking more than 9min out of Merckx.
1987 – Stephen Roche (IRL) beat Pedro Delgado (ESP) by 40sec: Although neither seemed in the mix earlier in the race, Roche took the lead on the 19th stage, won by Delgado. But the next day on Alpe D’Huez he finished 15th as the Spaniard took the overall lead. The 21st stage was the pivotal one as Roche clawed back more than a minute on the better climber Delgado to lose only a few seconds on the stage.
1989 – Greg Lemond (USA) beat Laurent Fignon (FRA) by 8sec: The greatest ever finish to a Tour ended with Lemond breaking French hearts on the final stage time trial on the Champs Elysees. The race pitted twice former winner Fignon up against the 1986 champion, with the pair separated by less than a minute throughout the race. Since Lemond took the lead by 5sec on the fifth stage time trial, the lead changed hands four times.
2010 – *Alberto Contador (ESP) beat Andy Schleck (LUX) by 39sec: Although Contador would later be stripped of this win for doping, it was still a thrilling race. Schleck won stage eight and took the yellow jersey on the following stage from Cadel Evans. He led until stage 15 when on the climb of Port de Bales he dropped his chain. – AFP
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