The 1987 Avignon Triathlon
I’ve already looked at the Avignon Triathlon in 1985, 1986 and 1988. Not sure why I skipped 1987. But here it is.
I don’t like using superlatives at The Streak. Yet the 1987 Avignon Triathlon was probably the first appearance of aero-bars in Europe.
The Americans had them. And Glenn Cook had sourced a pair in California. He could have ridden them in Les Mureaux or Marseille. But it’s not mentioned in either race report. And I think they would have turned some heads.
Allen, Tinley and Moss were back for the thrid time. And they’d brought former J-David team-mate George Hoover with them. The French challengers were Yves Cordier. Of course. Jean-Luc Capogna. See epic handlebar bag and tri-suit from 1985. And Herve Niquet. Who’d become the first French athlete to podium at Nice later in the 1987 season.
Yogi Hoffman was there. He’d won the 1986 Le Coq Sportif European Series. Loads more info on that coming soon. And Glenn Cook was also in town. Would 1987 be the year he started to show his world-class credentials?
Julie Moss had won the women’s race in 1985 and 1986. But with Sarah Coope toeing the line. She finally had a serious challenger.
But the triathletes weren’t the only Americans in the region. As the night before there was a Cowboy Rodeo in Nimes! These old-school race reports are brilliant. I really need to do a full translation. Coming soon!
It’s interesting that the report says it’s not often you get the best in the world on the same start-line. Americans and Europeans. Nice and Hawaii of course. And the Perth race that happened in January. But in 1987 the sport was needing a governing body to put on true World Championships!
Mark Allen had already decided not to do Nice in 1987. To try and win his 6th title. So he could focus 100% on Hawaii. A race he’d not yet won.
But Perth showed that the Americans could finally be beaten. However, Mark was still repeating the “out of season” excuses from back then. While doubling down by explaining that he’d won in Dallas the week before Avignon. Where Perth winner, Rick Wells, got third.
The swim is downstream in the Rhone as usual. With the fastest route in the middle of the river. Through the 4th arch of the famous bridge.
There’s also a pollution kerfuffle. As some athletes had been ill recently after river swims. Capogna, Cordier and Hoffman took pre-race
anti-diarrhea tablets just in case.
Mark Allen crashes in transition trying to get his feet into his shoes. Yes, yes. We used to ride in transition. Allowing Glenn Cook to overtake him. And begin the pursuit of Yves Cordier.
Due to the downriver swim the gaps are not large. Hoffman is slowed by a cold and Tinley is having rear wheel problems. But Coope is flying. Note. No Scott DH for her. Weird. I’m pretty sure she had some.
Allen, Cook, and Cordier lead. Keeping, it seems, 100m apart. Allen and Cook are the better climbers. Cordier catches up on the descents. Tinley fixes his wheel and is moving forward. So is Capogna.
The athletes are now afoot and it’s raining. Allen is worried because Cook has a reputation as a fast runner. He’s not scared of Cordier though. However, it only takes a few kilometres for Allen to drop Cook.
Excellent run by Tinley. He gets 3rd. Cordier hangs in there for 5th. And Sarah Coope wins easily. I think the times in the results are wrong.
There’s definitely some very cool photos below.
Shirtless Tinley on a Raleigh with the new Scott DH and Oakley Eyeshades. Mark Allen on the steel Schwinn with the blue and grey iconic Nike kit. Also wearing a Bell Stratos. Glenn Cook with Cinelli head-fairing, Scott DH, Oakley Frogskins and a Le Coq Sportif tri-suit.
I’ve also posted the results. Note. Rodolphe Von Berg down in 14th.
Images: Tri-Athlete (FR) Juillet 1987
