Professeur

8 seconds. Only 8 seconds. The most famous seconds in cycling history. In 1989 Le Professeur could win his 3rd Tour de France. However, in the final stage, a time trial into Paris, he was, in his yellow jersey, beaten. He became runner-up, at only 8 seconds of the winner. Le Professeur was a great cyclist. He won the Tour de France twice, the Giro d’Italia once. He collected titles by the dozen in classics and stages in big cycle races. Up till know he has been the second last French winner of the Tour de France. He died in 2010 at the age of fifty and was buried in Paris.