Very sad. I didn't care much for his personality but he was a great competitor and made that '89 tour one I will always remember.
From the linked ESPN story -
Quote:
In the book, Fignon admitted to doping, describing drug-taking in the 1980s as widespread. He said it was recreational rather than performance-enhancing -- aided by the strong Colombian involvement in cycling at the time and accompanied by large quantities of cocaine.
He said doping in cycling was revolutionized by the arrival of the blood-booster EPO in the early '90s. Fignon said he refused to take it and retired from competition in 1993 when he realized that mediocre riders were now keeping up with him.
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I fully believe what he says about doping - and I don't think there is/was a single rider in the peloton who is NOT doping.