Editing Laurent Fignon (section)

==Early life and amateur career==
Fignon was born in [[Montmartre]], Paris.<ref name="Tel obit">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/7973977/Laurent-Fignon.html|title=Laurent Fignon|publisher=Telegraph|date=31 August 2010|access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parismatch.com/People/Sport/Laurent-Fignon-Tour-de-France-1984-Jean-Cau-147812|title=Laurent Fignon par Jean Cau|author=Jean Cau|date=14 January 2010|work=ParisMatch.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Laurent Fignon profile|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme/CyclismeFicheCoureur1795.html|work=[[L'Équipe]]|access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> His family moved to [[Tournan-en-Brie]] in 1963, where he lived until he left for Paris at age 23.<ref name="Tournan">{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/tournan-pleure-laurent-fignon-01-09-2010-1050155.php|title=Tournan pleure Laurent Fignon|date=5 July 2015|work=leparisien.fr|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-date=22 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522200619/http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/tournan-pleure-laurent-fignon-01-09-2010-1050155.php|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="cyclingweekly">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/497582/laurent-fignon-my-way-or-the-fairway.html|title=Laurent Fignon: My way or the fairway|author=Pickering, Edward|date=31 August 2010|access-date=31 August 2010|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media Ltd.}}</ref>

Laurent Fignon's first sport was [[association football|football]], and he reached the level of playing for his ''{{lang|fr|département}}'' or area. However, friends persuaded him to try cycling, and in 1976, he participated in his first official race, which he won.<ref name="cyclingweekly" /> Despite his parents' opposition to his racing, Fignon continued to compete without their knowledge.<ref name="Tel obit"/> He won four more races in his first year, but only one in his second year. However, in his third year, he won 18 out of 36 races.<ref name="cyclingweekly" /> Eventually, Fignon's parents allowed him to race, though they still believed he should prioritize his studies.

Fignon enrolled at the [[Paris 13 University|University of Villetaneuse]], where he studied Structural and Materials Science.<ref name="Tel obit" /> Fignon was not interested in his studies, and was an indifferent student. His chief desire was to pursue cycling.{{#tag:ref|
Quote: I thought about cycling from morning until night.  And as soon as I woke up all I thought about was my bike.  In the evening I went to sleep dreaming about being on my bike. Cycling.  Nothing but cycling.<ref>Fignon p. 38</ref>|group=N}} He eventually informed his parents of his decision to leave university and join the army at the end of the year for his mandatory military service.<ref>Fignon p. 37</ref> He was posted at the Bataillon de Joinville, known for its sporting reputation.<ref>Fignon p. 40</ref> After this, Fignon was sure he wanted to pursue a professional career.<ref name="Tel obit" />

In 1981, Fignon rode the Tour of Corsica which allowed amateur cyclists to ride along with professional riders. Fignon rode an early stage attempting to hold the wheel of [[Bernard Hinault]], the top professional cyclist, and succeeded for much of the race.<ref name="Tel obit"/> [[Cyrille Guimard]] observed the young cyclist a few days later at the national 100&nbsp;km team time trial. Fignon did win on tenth of April 1981 the second stage during  [[Tour du Vaucluse]]. In May 1981 he offered him a place on his [[Renault–Elf–Gitane]] professional team from the following year.  Fignon joined the team in 1982, along with longtime friend and fellow junior rider Pascal Jules.  Fignon was 21 years of age.<ref name="cyclingweekly" />