Row over handlebars
NZPA-Reuter Brussels Frenchman Laurent Fignon withdrew from the Eddy Merckx grand prix cycling race yesterday after a row over the special low-slung handlebars which cost him victory in this year's Tour de France. Briton Sean Yates won the event after Fignon quit having been told by race officials he had to remove from his bike the two-piece triathlete’s handlebars which allow riders to crouch lower in better aerodynamic positions.
The handlebars were similar to those used by American Greg LeMond in the closing time trial of this year’s Tour which he won to snatch a dramatic and historic eight-second over-all victory over Fignon. The American said afterwards the handlebars had won him the race.
Yates dominated a string of time trial specialists to win the 59km race in one hour 11 minutes 57 seconds — two minutes 19 seconds faster than' last year’s winner, Edwig Van Hooydonck of Belgium. Another Belgian, Johan Museeuw, finished third 3:08 behind.
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Press, 5 September 1989, Page 48
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159Row over handlebars Press, 5 September 1989, Page 48
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