Bernard Hinault: The Last Patron

Bernard Hinault emerged in the late 1970s as France's answer to Merckx. Breton like Bobet but harder-edged, Hinault combined physical talent with tactical intelligence and intimidating personality. His five Tour victories (1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985) restored French pride while establishing him as the last patron—a champion whose authority extended beyond results to controlling racing's unwritten rules.

The Badger's Bite

Hinault's nickname, "The Badger," captured his fierce nature. Unlike diplomatic champions who avoided conflict, Hinault thrived on confrontation. He organized rider strikes over dangerous conditions, faced down race organizers over prize money, and enforced peloton justice against riders who violated etiquette. This combativeness made him feared and respected in equal measure.

His racing style reflected his personality—aggressive, calculated, decisive. Hinault attacked to inflict damage, choosing moments when rivals were vulnerable. The 1980 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, raced in blizzard conditions, exemplified his approach. While others complained about weather, Hinault attacked repeatedly, winning alone and frost-bitten. Such hardness defined his era.

The LeMond Partnership

Hinault's relationship with American teammate Greg LeMond became cycling's most analyzed partnership. Hired by the La Vie Claire team to support Hinault, LeMond possessed talent that made subordination difficult. Their dynamic—mentor and protégé, patriarch and challenger—created tensions that exploded during the 1985 and 1986 Tours.

The 1986 Tour saw their relationship's breaking point. Hinault, ostensibly supporting LeMond after promising to help him win, repeatedly attacked his teammate. Whether testing LeMond's worthiness or pursuing personal glory remained debated. LeMond's eventual victory, achieved despite his team leader's ambiguity, marked American cycling's arrival and French cycling's symbolic passing of authority.