The final podium of the 1989 Tour de France - Fignon forces a smile
(Image credit: Cor Vos)

Well over 20 years ago, the most exciting Tour in history had cycling fans enthralled. It had everything - a brilliant route, drama, attacking riding and an unpredictable two-way battle which swung backwards and forwards from the Grand Départ in Luxembourg, all the way to the final metres of the Champs Elysées. Greg LeMond's final eight second victory over Laurent Fignon remains the closest margin in the event's history.

The Cycle Sport August 2009 issue celebrated the anniversary of this greatest of all Tours with a special 20-page feature. There were interviews with the protagonists, an extract from runner-up Laurent Fignon's new book, unseen pictures, eyewitness accounts from journalists who saw it first hand and a special bonus feature by award-winning journalist Paul Kimmage, whose retirement as a professional cyclist came during that Tour. You can read the full feature here>>

To run in conjunction with the Cycle Sport feature, we've uploaded the original, contemporary race reports from the Cycling Weekly archive, written by Keith Bingham, who followed the Tour from start to finish. We've got an exclusive picture gallery from renowned cycling photographer Graham Watson, and video extracts from ‘Never So Close', the DVD of the 1989 Tour, which is available from the Cycling Weekly shop.

THE FULL STORY OF THE 1989 TOUR

Stage reports, pictures, videos, analysis and an extract from Cycle Sport's special feature on the 1989 Tour.

The Greatest Tour - extract from Cycle Sport August 2009

How the 1989 Tour happened

Graham Watson's pictures from the 1989 race

Video highlights of the race, from the race DVD, Never So Close!

Never So Close: Introduction

Never So Close: Stage five, Rennes TT

Never So Close: Stage nine, Cauterets

Never So Close: Stage 10, Superbagnères

Never So Close: Stage 17, Alpe d'Huez

Never So Close: Stage 21, Paris TT

Never So Close! 1989 Tour DVD available from the Cycling Weekly Shop

Cycling Weekly's contemporary reports of the race

Start list

1989 Tour de France prologue: Breukink in yellow

1989 Tour stage one: Da Silva takes all the jerseys

1989 Tour stage two: Super-U win TTT

1989 Tour de France stage three: Alcala's victory in Spa

1989 Tour de France stage four: Nijdam's late attack

1989 Tour de France stage five: LeMond's resurrection

1989 Tour de France stage six: Pelier's long break

1989 Tour de France stage seven: De Wilde wins sprint

1989 Tour de France stage eight: Earley to rise

1989 Tour de France stage nine: Indurain's mountain win

1989 Tour de France stage 10: Millar wins at Superbagneres

1989 Tour de France stage 11: Hermans takes sprint

1989 Tour de France stage 12: Tebaldi's 21-minute win

1989 Tour de France stage 13: Bastille Day glory for Barteau

1989 Tour de France stage 14: Nijdam repeats in Gap

1989 Tour de France stage 15: LeMond back in yellow

1989 Tour de France stage 16: LeMond increases lead

1989 Tour de France stage 17: Theunisse wins Alpe d'Huez

1989 Tour de France stage 18: Fignon's solo attack

1989 Tour de France stage 19: The great escape

1989 Tour stage 20: sprint win for Fidanza

1989 Tour de France stage 21: LeMond crushes Fignon

1989 Tour: Results

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Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.