Greg LeMond's 1986 Tour de France victory wasn't historic just for his being the first American, non-European winner - it was a breakout moment for cycling sunglasses too. LeMond wore Oakley's Pilot Sunshades, catapulting the brand into the spotlight and onto the faces of pros and amateur cyclists alike. Road cycling fashion was changed forever.
Early road racers had worn modified flying goggles, but with the rise of paved roads with less dust and grit, some riders began wearing aviator-style sunglasses, which, popularised by Italian cycling legend Fausto Coppi, became the style of choice in the 1950s.
