Overweight LeMond Off to Slow Start

Greg LeMond is behind in his training schedule, 15 pounds overweight and in the middle of perplexing contract problems.

But LeMond, who followed his second Tour de France victory last year with the world championship road title, is still too busy reveling in his second rise to the top of the cycling world to let such matters burden him.

LeMond, however, knows what to expect.

“I’m going to have a very slow start this season,” he said during a recent trip to Los Angeles to film a television commercial. “I’m not in the condition I planned on being in. I know I’m going to get hammered by the press in Europe.

“I’ve got the world champion jersey and I feel the responsibility to do well, but I’m not in good shape. . . .

“I’m going to be dying on every hill. But I don’t expect to get any results until maybe April.”

LeMond, who first won the Tour de France in 1986, begins his 10th professional season Feb. 7 when his new French-based Z team competes in the Ruta de Sol stage race in Spain. LeMond is now in Europe for his team presentation and two weeks of training in France and Spain.

LeMond won last year’s Tour de France with a frenzied, last-day assault on leader Laurent Fignon of France. His eight-second triumph was the closest margin of victory ever in the event.

Following the Tour de France, LeMond topped off his stunning 1989 season with a come-from-behind victory at the world championships in Chambery, France.

Within three weeks, LeMond signed a three-year, $5.5-million contract--the richest in cycling history--with the Z team, which is sponsored by French clothing manufacturer Roger Zannier.

LeMond’s new contract, however, prompted trouble with his former team, ADR of Belgium.

ADR Manager Francois Lambert has sued LeMond, claiming that his departure one year prior to his contract expiration hurt the team’s sponsorship potential and morale. LeMond has sued ADR for breech of contract, claiming unpaid fees.

LeMond, however, is letting his lawyers worry about his contract dealings and is focusing on upcoming competition.

“The cycling season has changed so much; everybody wants results so soon,” said LeMond. “It used to be that you could go to Europe out of shape, like I am, in February and you could get yourself back in shape with a few training races. Now everyone is starting to train in December.”