Jean-François Bernard

Infobox Cyclist
ridername = Jean-François Bernard


fullname = Jean-François Bernard
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1962|5|2
country = FRA
height =
weight =
currentteam = Retired
discipline = Road
role = Rider
ridertype = All Rounder
amateuryears =
amateurteams =
proyears = 1984-1986
1987-1990
1991-1994
1995
1996
proteams = La Vie Claire
Toshiba
Banesto
Chazal
Agrigel-La Creuse
majorwins = Paris-Nice 1992
Criterium International 1992
updated = October 13, 2007

Jean-François Bernard (born May 2, 1962 at Luzy, Bourgogne, France) is a former French professional road bicycle racer. He became professional in 1984 in the French professional cycling team La Vie Claire of Bernard Hinault. Bernard was seen as Hinault’s successor as a winner of stage races from 1986 onward.

In the 1987 Tour de France, Bernard wore the maillot jaune and won two stages (both individual time trials, including Stage 18 finishing on Mont Ventoux) and finished the race third overall behind Stephen Roche of Ireland and Pedro Delgado of Spain.

The following year in the 1988 Giro d'Italia he won three stages. He was wearing the maglia rosa when he crashed in a poorly lit tunnel and had to abandon the race. In that crash, Bernard injured his back. The next year he developed fibrosis in his left knee and needed an operation and months of recuperation.

In 1990, a saddle sore and another operation forced him out of the 1990 Tour de France. [cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1995/04/06/bike.php|title=French hope says he'll never be a leader|publisher=International herald tribune|accessdate=2007-10-13] He would never again perform as a challenger in the Grand Tours and in 1991 he joined the strong Spanish professional cycling team Banesto which had at that time two leaders for stage races in Miguel Indurain and Pedro Delgado.

Bernard became a chief lieutenant of Miguel Indurain during Indurain’s dominance of the Tour de France. Bernard did win the 1992 edition of Paris-Nice.

Bernard retired at the end of 1996 with 52 professional victories. Bernard is now a consultant for L'Équipe, L'Équipe TV and Eurosport. In 2005 an amateur and open race was first organised called the la Jean-François Bernard in the Nièvre region of Bourgogne and part of the Trophy of Bourgogne, an Amateur French competition. [cite web|url=http://velo101.com/actualite/default.asp?Id=13365|title=Compte rendue de la Jean-Francois Bernard|publisher=Velo 101.com|accessdate=2007-10-13]

Palmarès

* Amateur road race champion 1983.
* Paris-Nice : 1992 (Second in 1987)
* Critérium International : 1992
* Tour méditerranéen : 1985
* Tour d'Emilie : 1987
* Coppa Sabatini : 1985
* Grand Prix de Rennes : 1987
* Ronde d'Aix en Provence : 1988
*Circuit de la Sarthe 1992, 1993
*Winner of 3 stages of the Tour de France
*Winner of 4 stages of the Giro d'Italia
*Winner of 1 stage in Vuelta a España

References

External links

* [http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.net/palmares/bernard_jean_francois.php Palmares of Jean Francois Bernard]