The 17th stage of Tour de France in 1985 between Toulouse and Luz Ardiden was 209,5 km long and included also Aspin and Tourmalet. This was the very first time, that the race visited Luz Ardiden. Apparently, the main reason to include the climb into the program was its photogenic landscape.
Bernard Hinault (La Vie Claire) had a crash on the 14th stage, broke his nose and suffered from bronchitis since then. On the 17th stage, while ascendig Tourmalet, the team Renault-Elf was setting the pace trying to drop Hinault. According to Pedro Delgado (Seat-Orbea), when he saw Hinault yelling at Luis Herrera (Varta–Café de Colombia–Mavic), he decided to attack. Greg LeMond (La Vie Claire), Stephen Roche (La Redoute) and Fabio Parra (Varta–Café de Colombia–Mavic) followed him.
On Luz Ardiden LeMond and Roche were at the front, but the American got the order from the team car not to attack. Ironically, Roche heard this conversation too. To not allow LeMond to go for the yellow jersey was one of the most controversal moments in the history of Tour de France.
Anyway, the strange battle between LeMond and Roche allowed another riders to catch up with them.
Delgado attacked and won the stage.
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