Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon has died at the age of 50 following a battle with cancer.
The Frenchman won the Tour in 1983 and 1984 and was second in 1989 when he lost by eight seconds, the smallest margin in the history of the race.
Fignon achieved 76 victories in his career, winning the Milan-Sanremo twice and the Giro d'Italia in 1989.
He announced in June 2009 that he had advanced cancer of the digestive system and was undergoing chemotherapy.
As a commentator with the France 2 television channel, he was present at the 2010 Tour despite his illness.
He passed away at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in Paris and his wife, Valerie Fignon, announced his death through a hospital statement on Tuesday.
Fignon's first victory in the Tour in 1983 was haided by the fall of leader Pascal Simon, but Fignon showed the win was no fluke by going on to win five stages and the race the following year.
The 1989 race, when his American rival Greg LeMond overcame a 50-second deficit on the final stage time trial, was arguably the most thrilling in Tour history.
More to follow.
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