The 1992 Triathlon International de Grenoble
Although this was the seventh edition of the event, it was the first time that a triathlon had gone up L’Alpe D’Huez. The distances were 2.2km, 71km, 18km and and the winners were Jenny Alcorn and Ben Bright.
The Triathlon International de Grenoble or TIGRE was organised by Carol Gally, the future race director of the France Iron Tour. I’ve already done podcasts about the 1993 and 1994 versions of that event.
Grenoble, on 28th June, was between Nice on 14th June and Ironbridge on 18th July. Ben Bright raced all three. And I’m going to post a full 1992 Nice report tomorrow. So I won’t talk much about that here.
In fact, Ben has just appeared on YouTube with a video breaking down that day at Nice in 1992. It’s a must-watch for anybody interested in triathlon history. And I’m going to try and get him on the podcast.
Ironbridge was incredible. I was there. 17 year old Bright cycled away from Britain’s best. There was a report in the September issue of 220 magazine. It’s the only one from 1992 that I don’t have.
I didn’t know at the time that he’d also done a similar job three weeks earlier in Grenoble. Beating clients like Yves Cordier, Jean-Luc Capogna, Karel Blondeel, Nick Croft, Hugues Sarrazin and Pierre Houseaux.
Images: TED MAG (FR) Aout / Septembre 1992
Kudos to TED Magazine here. The race report above is from their first issue. The publication was launched by Max Malaurent. He’d previously worked as a journalist and photographer for Triathlete Magazine,
Unfortunately TED only lasted for 13 issues. I’ve got them all. If you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty keen on old triathlon magazines.
The TIGRE race report is epic. With some backstory, quotes from athletes and nine different mid-race time checks and position break-downs.
There’s also a list of gear-ratios used to climb Alpe D’Huez by some of the fastest men. 39*23 for Bright. And a grinding 39*18 for Jean-Luc Capogna.
Poor form with the women’s race though. Only one sixteenth of a page. When there’s two and half pages dedicated to the men.
I knew this already. But the prize differences were pretty shocking too. First man, a Peugeot 106 car. First woman, €750. Second man, €2300. Second woman, €600. Etc. Take a look. France!
I’m not sure how many years the TIGRE continued on for. But in 2006, Cyril Neveu, the 2002 World Long Distance Champion, launched the Triathlon de L’Alpe d’Huez. I’d like to check it out one day. And while I’m there, recreate the original course from the early-90s.
