(Photo: LeMond Fitness)
Greg LeMond, the Nevada-born bike racer who endeared himself to millions as the first American to win the prestigious Tour de France, is set to make an appearance in Portland this Thursday (9/22).
LeMond, who won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990 and is now CEO of LeMond Fitness, will be in town to participate in the Hood River edition of the Echelon Grand Fondo which takes place this Saturday. Packet pick-up for the event is at West End Bikes (1111 SW Stark St) and event organizers say LeMond will be at the shop between 5:30 and 7:00 pm Thursday night.
Executive Director of the Echelon Grand Fondo Hunter Ziesing says LeMond was at their Palo Alto event last weekend and was, “a blast to be with.” “He’s personable (practically met every participant), very funny, and admittedly out of race shape, so come hang with him this weekend.”
If you can’t make it to West End Bikes, you can catch LeMond in Hood River where he’ll sit down with fans at a $75 a plate “casual dinner” on Friday night at 3 Rivers Grill (601 Oak Street). Far from just a social outing for LeMond, he’ll also be turning the pedals on Saturday as a participant in the CrossMountain event. (More details here.)
For the uninitiated the “gran fondo” concept originated in Italy (it translates into “big ride”) and they’ve become increasingly popular in the U.S. The Echelon Gran Fondos are 60 or 100 mile rides on “epic” courses. In Hood River, riders will have a “cross mountain” option which will be a detour from the route over gravel and dirt roads and trails. All the rides meet back in town for a big party and festival.
For more info and to RSVP and register for these events, check out EchelonGranFondo.org.
Watched Greg stomp the Ruskies on the Morgel-Bismark in Boulder 30 years ago.
Promoter predicted Greg would win le Tour one day.
Go Greg!
Man…I wish Greg would bring back his bikes to the market. I love the ride of my 05 Fillmore. Sad that the bikes got stuck in the politics of bike racing and drugs.
Greg never had bikes. He sold his name to other companies who made his bikes. Trek being the last one to do be doing this, and he bit the hand that fed him with a lawsuit.
Hold on there grumpy.. In case you are not aware, few cycling champions are bicycle fabricators. History has had a few it is true, but I digress. Greg LeMond”s assoc. with the frame builders and engineers was filled with as much input and in many ways re-thought as any cycling athlete before him. He was an innovator and in many observers opinions brought quite a few things to the playing field that perhaps even Mr.L.A. would have never dreamed of. IMO you are a bit off base with your broad stroke criticism, Trek and to a certain end L.A. along with every one in the pro peloton were able to base many of their current tech standards on things Greg started. Please don’t get me started about Trek. geeeeez. P.S. did you ever see him race? I did. I will never forget it.
FYI. Greg started his bicycle company in 1986. Made bikes in Italy and his carbon bikes in Reno Nevada. LeMond bikes was the first American bike company to win the Tour de France and Paris Roubaix. 99% of Treks bikes are made in China by Giant. The Trek models that are made in the USA are for marketing purposes only. And for you guy’s that think LeMond is bitter check this out. http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/7000881/lance-armstrong-paid-banned-doctor-via-front-company
Looks like the Justice Department is closing in on our hero.
Dave, hope your response was directed at “meh”. Thanks for adding to the info on his industry involvement. If people would just spend 20 mins. reading on the www what we waited for in black&white print through snail mail for 30 years ago, they would begin to have some insight. As far as “our hero” goes, I for one, along with many racers in the Texas cycling scene in the early eighties were skeptical of the spoiled brat junior from Austin. All one has to do his seek out the video of Lance’s first appearence at UCI awards dinner announcing neo-pros that year. What an ass. From the start (for me at least) he has been an embarresment to the sport. He is not my hero. And to further the thought by others here, Portland would do good to greet G.L. this week and butt out of that whole topic! Go ride with Greg and have fun!!!
I, like many others followed and enjoyed Greg’s great success throughout his cycling career. He certainly has done much to bring cycling awareness in the US to new levels in his time.
Unfortunately, I think Greg diminished his stature in more recent times with his attacks on Lance Armstrong which were based on speculation and not facts. I would respect Greg more if he didn’t try to diminish others to try and keep his name in the headlines.
I will not be attending this one. Still (kinda) love ya Greg!
I see your point but, as far as Lance is concerned, I’m not sure if we’ll ever know the “facts”.
Yeah…I hope anyone that attends, won’t ask LeMond about Armstrong. I’ve always liked to believe that Armstrong has been straight up and clean, but in spite of everything he’s said, whether he actually has been remains disputable. It was initially dispiriting that LeMond would suggest Armstrong was playing the game, but having related experience from having himself been in the same professional sport, it’s probably just as well he chose to make those accusations. It appears to be an unending, possibly unresolvable controversy though. I hope people will use their time with LeMonde for more constructive questions.
That pic of LeMond gamely riding a bike despite being in dress clothes and dress shoes is class. By the way…what bike might that be? Looks to be vintage for sure…non-aero brakes…probably steel frame…quill pedals with clips…gumwall tires…downtube shifters.
It’s nice to hear about Angry Greg coming to visit our fair city.
Helmet?
No way, a simple cycling cap would be way more appropriate.
…on what’s likely to have been, or is supposed to have appeared to be an impromptu spin, considering what he’s wearing…a summer weight snap-brim cap, brim turned to the back.
… or, dare I say… facing front with the bill flipped up? There are not many who can pull off that look (or should even attempt it), but certainly LeMond and “The Cannibal” are two men who can.
I want to say hi. awesome !
Toe clips! Exposed brake cables! DT shifters! –Could this be the start of a new trend? I’m with ya, Greg…
Lemond is one of the classiest bike racers of all time. I’ll swing down on Thurs. for sure.
I LOVE the modifier “prestigious” before Tour de France. While the rest of America thinks of cyclists as a bunch of Spandex-clad Lance wannabes, apparently in tweed-clad Bak-fiets riding PDX cyclists need a friendly reminder that some competitive ventures may not warrant knee-jerk scorn. (smiley face)
LeMond? Isn’t that french?
think he’s from Nevada City, California, not the state of Nevada
Nah, he’s from Reno.
I had the great opportunity to climb along side Greg LeMond during last weeks Fondo in Palo Alto, CA. He’s a great guy who really does give a lot of time to each person he meets. He stood and talked to my wife for so long I felt bad for the people behind us, but I know everyone got the same treatment.
You guys in the Hood River Fondo will have a great experience. The Palo Alto Fondo was first class IMO.