The Badger always bites. At 70, Bernard Hinault is not the type to feel the weight of the years. And to complain about it. “As long as you don’t have any health problems… It’s a joke! »he blurted with a capital smile. The Costarmorican, visiting the editorial staff of West France recently, on the occasion of his birthday, blew out his candles, this Thursday, November 14, with the energy that we have (almost) always known him. “I did cardiac tests, and I’m at 175% compared to the average for my age… So yes, the engine is fine! »he laughs. In this interview where it is a question of the passing of time, the Breton speaks about death, about the end of life, and his pain at seeing people suffer while“we could stop right now”.
Bernard Hinault, before talking about your 70th birthday. What is your childhood memory?
I was a fighter. Every day, when I came home from school, there had to be a fight behind the church. This may be the start of my career. There always had to be something in front of me for me to move forward. I had parents who loved me, who told me: “If you want to play sports, you make do.” You want something, you go get it, and you work. Until I was 14, I did cross country in the winter, athletics, then Cycling like my cousin. The first race I did, I told my mother in the morning: “I’ll bring you a bouquet”. And my mother answered me: “You innocent guy”. And then when I came home, I had a bouquet… Cycling, for me, was pleasure.
Afterwards, then, you quickly become a hope of French cycling…
I always wanted to play. Cycling has never been a career for me. I wanted to have fun. When I arrive at Ghent-Wevelgem, the first important race that I win, I have teammates who tell me: “Okay, we’re not in too good shape, do what you want.” I find myself in front and I will seek victory. And from there, you say to yourself: “It’s not so bad after all, maybe we could do a little better”. And then four days later, you win Liège-Bastogne-Liège. And there it begins. It’s really starting to be some great moments. You continue with the Dauphiné, the progression, the planning with Cyrille Guimard for the 1978 Tour de France, it was off…
“I couldn’t see my ass in an office”
And the legend was shaped…
But what does becoming a legend mean? You don’t care at all… You, you’re there to have fun, you’re there to race, to win. And they are very different things each time, new stories. Well, at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Cyrille Guimard (his sports director) told me: “Take off your raincoat.” I said: “You idiot.” Have you seen how cold it is? » But when you’re cold, what do you do? You ride, you warm up. As I was already in good physical condition, I left and that was it… The others didn’t come back. There were still 80 km left. The 1980 world championship,…
