{"id":14497,"title":"Toujours Hinault","description":"The fact and fiction of how Hinault won the 1981 Paris-Roubaix. Bernard Hinault professed that he hated the cobbled races but that didn\u2019t stop him winning the Hell of the North. We look back at the myths that surround his victory.","content":"

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The fact and fiction of how Hinault won the 1981 Paris-Roubaix. Bernard Hinault professed that he hated the cobbled races, but that didn\u2019t stop him from winning the Hell of the North. We look back at the myths that surround his victory.<\/p>

\"BernardBernard Hinault. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

\"Hinault, Toujours Hinault\" (Hinault, always Hinault) clamours the breathless commentator. He can't hide his emotion as the finishing sprint ignites. Words tumble from his mouth in haste. Almost incoherently, finally, he can utter \"Merci Hinault\". France's 25-year wait for a winner is over.<\/p>

But how did the proud Breton win this prized monument of cycling? The story forms part of the folklore of the Hell of the North, as Paris-Roubaix is known. But what really happened that day and was his victory so significant?<\/p>

The Hinault legend<\/h3>

According to legend, Hinault crashed seven times on the way to victory. The last time occurred at either eight or thirteen kilometres, depending upon which version of history you read. The last time he allegedly hit a black Poodle by the name of Gruson.<\/p>

I have to confess I'm slightly sceptical of these accounts. If Hinault fell so many times on what was obviously a muddy day, how did he keep his white World Champion's jersey so remarkably clean? Perhaps it's the mark of a true champion!<\/p>

The Gruson incident<\/h3>

I've watched the 'Gruson incident' many times over. That there is a dog is obvious. Is it a poodle? I'm not sure. I think the dog, mesmerised by the intimidating presence of Hinault, just stands its ground. Hinault brakes heavily to avoid it, his back wheel locks up and down the Frenchman slides.<\/p>

\"Cycling<\/u><\/a>I don't suppose I'll ever find out, but I rather suspect that Gruson is the name of the place or the cobbled section rather than the dog. Gruson is the name of the commune that encompasses the infamous Carrefour de l'Arbre section of cobbles. The next sector is actually named Gruson. I think that Hinault fell on this section of cobbles, and confusion arose when the story was reported.<\/p>

Lone leader<\/h3>

What is indisputable is that with 30 kilometres left to the finish, one rider is at the head of the race. Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle holds a one-minute lead over the small pursuing pack. Alone into the wind after his erstwhile companion, Roger De Vlaeminck, had punctured. \"GilbertGilbert Duclos-Lassalle. Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

Behind the pace is ferocious. Hennie Kuiper, his jersey streaked with mud from an earlier crash, rides like a demon. Duclos-Lassale may be riding unaided, but he is a feared competitor. His second-place finish the year before marks him out as a dangerous threat.<\/p>

Disaster strikes Duclos-Lasalle<\/h3>

Disaster strikes the bold Frenchman. He is forced to stop when he too punctures. Gilbert is soon riding again, but he looks laboured now. His pursuers have him in their sights. Across the next set of cobbles, it is Hinault himself who hunts him down. He powers and bounces across the rough terrain in a huge gear.<\/p>

Misfortune strikes Hinault. He is down. Gruson has struck. The great champion gathers himself. He rides on and calmly adjusts his shorts. In seemingly no time at all, he is back with the leaders. It is an impressive catch. Down one second, thundering back to the group only a few moments later.<\/p>

\"FrancescoMoser leads Kelly and De Wolf Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

More pav\u00e9 and once again Hinault pushes the pace. Perhaps fuelled by anger, he stretches the group to breaking point. The weaker riders suffer to stay in contention, and there is palpable relief when he finally relents and freewheels.<\/p>

The six remaining contenders are still together as they pass under the red kite with a kilometre to go. A sprint is inevitable now. Francesco Moser has his teammate Kuiper to work for him, but the rest are individuals. It is Kuiper who leads the six into the Stade Velodrome Roubaix.<\/p>

\"Cycling<\/u><\/a>The opposition is formidable. Marc Demeyer, winner of the green jersey at the 1979 Tour de France. Francesco Moser, champion at the previous three editions of Paris-Roubaix. Roger De Vlaeminck has already won four editions of Paris-Roubaix and the year's De Brabantse Pijl. Guido Van Calster is the least fancied of the group. He'll never be considered a 'great' like the others, but he's more than an accomplished sprinter.<\/p>

\"GuidoVan Calster (left). Image: The Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/p>

Hinault takes the lead as the group hear the bell with one lap to go. Demeyer noses ahead but not for long. Hinault forces his way back to the front. From an impossibly long way out, he opens up the sprint. No one can pass him. He has written himself into the history books once again.<\/p>

It's bullshit<\/h3>

That Hinault had and probably continues to have a prickly personality is not in dispute. He is best described as pugnacious in character. Infamous for laying into striking workers, blocking the course of a race and ejecting protesters from the podium.<\/p>

Even the commentator on the day, having congratulated him, concedes, \"You have a character which is not easy\". Hinault's relationship with the press and the public is not helped when he claims that Paris-Roubaix is bullshit. His disdain for the cobbled classics is well known, believing they have no place in the sport.<\/p>

The claim is that, having won Paris-Roubaix, he no longer felt the need to prove himself. Again, I'm sceptical of this view. He rode to ninth place the following year in what would be his last appearance. By 1983, he had started to suffer from the knee problems that prevented him from riding Le Tour. In reality, his career was now in its slow decline. His knee continued to trouble him, and he was honest that he disliked training. He still managed to win the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and Giro Di Lombardia, but he wasn't the force he'd been.<\/p>

Legacy<\/h3>

Much was made at the time that he was the first French winner in 25 years since Louison Bobet in 1956. I think what is much more significant is that he was the last Tour de France winner to win Paris-Roubaix. His non-participation after 1982 reflects the ever-specialisation between classics and grand tour riders.<\/p>

The French may have won in 1955 with Jean Forestier, but you have to go back to 1945 for the previous French winner from an almost universally French field. Prior to that, you have to look all the way back to the 1920s to find a period when the French dominated their home monument.<\/p>

Since Hinault's victory in 1981, there have been only five French winners from 39 editions. It will come as no surprise to find that Belgium dominates with 16 victories.

Will we ever see a Tour de France winner take victory at Paris-Roubaix again? It seems as likely as the French dominating the Hell of the North as they did 100 years ago.<\/p>

1. HINAULT Bernard, Renault - Elf - Gitane, in 6:26:07<\/p>

2. DE VLAEMINCK Roger, DAF Trucks - Cote d'Or - Gazelle, ST.<\/p>

3. MOSER Francesco, Famcucine - Campagnolo, ST.<\/p>

4. VAN CALSTER Guido, Wickes - Splendor - Europ-Decor, ST.<\/p>

5. DEMEYER Marc, Capri Sonne - Koga Miyata, ST.<\/p>

6. KUIPER Hennie, DAF Trucks - Cote d'Or - Gazelle, ST.<\/p>

13 December 2021, Tim Costello<\/em><\/p>

All images and text are the copyright of Rijden unless stated otherwise.<\/em><\/p>

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