June 19, 2009 – Laurent Fignon, a double winner of the Tour de France (1983, 1984) recently told French media that he was diagnosed with “advanced” cancer of the digestive tract. Fignon, 48, who also won the 1989 Giro, explained that the cancer has metastasized. “But I am an optimist,” Fignon explained. “We will win this battle.”

Fignon is the author of an upcoming book about doping in the peloton entitled “Nous étions jeunes et insouciants” (We were young and careless). Fignon received words of encouragement from fellow TdF champ (and cancer survivor), Lance Armstrong, via Twitter.

Full article (in French) here.