Fabrice Philippot has died at the age of 54. The Frenchman was the best young rider in the 1989 Tour de France and was later heavily used as a domestique for Miguel Indurain in the Banesto team.

French newspaper Le Bien Public (opens in new tab) reported that Filippo died Wednesday night in Semur-en-Aussois.

Born in Montbard, Burgundy, Filippo was a highly respected amateur athlete who won the Giro della Valle d'Aosta in 1987 before turning pro the following year with Bernard Tapie's Toshiba Look team.

Filippo showed his talent in the 1989 season, when he was part of an elite group with Sean Kelly, Pedro Delgado, and Phil Anderson at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April, finishing second behind the Irishman in the sprint competition.

The following month, he won a stage at the Midi Libre, finished fourth overall at the Dauphiné Libéré, and was 24th overall in his debut Tour de France.

These results were enough to earn Filippo the title of best young rider, but the feat may have been underestimated given that the Tour de France had stopped awarding the white jersey that year. The suspension of the Maillot Blanc lasted until 2000.

In 1990, Filippo moved to Castorama, where he finished 13th overall in the Giro d'Italia and 14th in the Tour, the highest finish by a Frenchman.

He signed with Banesto in 1991, when the Spanish team had notable French riders: Dominique Arnaud, Jean-François Bernard, and Armand de las Cuevas.

The Movistar team (formerly Banesto) paid tribute to the former rider on Thursday morning: "Abarca Sports would like to send a big hug to the family and friends of Fabrice Filipo. The French cyclist, who participated in three campaigns as Banesto (1991-93), has died at the age of 54. Farewell, my friends."

Filippo showed his talent in the 1989 season, when he was part of an elite group with Sean Kelly, Pedro Delgado, and Phil Anderson at Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April, finishing second behind the Irishman in the sprint.

The following month, he took a stage win in the Midi Libre and 4th overall in the Dauphiné Libéré, finishing 24th overall in his debut Tour de France. This feat may have been underestimated since the Tour de France stopped awarding the white jersey that year. The suspension of the Maillot Blanc lasted until 2000.

In 1990, Filippo moved to Castorama, where he finished 13th overall in the Giro d'Italia and 14th in the Tour, the highest finish by a Frenchman; in 1991, he signed with Banesto, and in 1991, he was awarded the Tour de France's first Tour de France jersey. At the time, French riders were prominent in the Spanish team: Dominique Arnaud, Jean-François Bernard, and Armand de las Cuevas.

Filippo raced his last season in the colors of Chazal MBK Koenig before retiring at the end of 1994 at the age of 29: "Abarca Sports would like to send a big hug to the family and friends of Fabrice Filippo. The French cyclist, who participated in three campaigns as Banesto (1991-93), has died at the age of 54. Farewell, my friend."