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Stage 19
Armstrong completes time trial treble
By Francois Thomazeau
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Overall leader Lance Armstrong of the U.S.
strains on his way to win the 19th stage of the Tour de France cycling race, a
57-kilometer individual time trial around the Futuroscope theme park near
Poitiers, western France, Saturday, July 24, 1999. (AP Photo/Laurent
Rebours)
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FUTUROSCOPE, France, July 24 (Reuters) - Lance Armstrong extended his Tour
de France lead on Saturday when he dominated the penultimate stage, a 57-kms
individual time trial.
The victory completed a treble of 1999 Tour time trials and is now just 24 hours
and 143.5km away from becoming the second American to win the race.
``It's a very special day with my mother and lots of friends being here,'' he said
after completing the course in one hour eight minutes and 17 seconds to stretch his
overall lead to seven minutes 37 seconds.
``This was my last tour de force in this Tour de France. Tomorrow, all the team
will look after me. It's almost won,'' he added.
The 50.085 kph victory over Switzerland's Alex Zuelle and U.S. Postal team mate
Tyler Hamilton in the flat but windy stage crowned a perfect Tour for Armstrong,
who became the first rider since Miguel Indurain in 1992 to win all three time
trials.
The 27-year-old Texan took the prologue, the first time trial over a similar
distance in Metz two weeks ago, the first mountain stage in Sestriere and now this
penultimate stage around the futuristic theme park near Poitiers, in one hour, eight
minute and 17 seconds.
Assuming he avoids injury or disaster on Sunday's ride to the Champs-Elysees --
no rider has lost the Tour on the last day since 1989 -- Armstrong will be the first
final winner since Laurent Fignon in 1984 to win four stages.
The only time since the war a race leader has lost on the last day was in 1989,
when American Greg LeMond won the second of his three Tour crowns, beating
Fignon by eight seconds after a time trial on the Champs-Elysees.
There was some though that Armstrong might let Zuelle take a consolation prize
in letting him win on Saturday.
Zuelle, the only man to threaten him in Metz, again came close, riding a faster
second half of the course. But Armstrong clearly wanted the victory and came
home nine seconds faster.
Followed in a car by his mother Linda, the American did not take any risks, and
Zuelle had to be content with ousting Spanish climber Fernando Escartin from
second place overall.
The Swiss rider lay only one minute and fourteen seconds behind Escartin at the
start of Saturday's time trial and Escartin, not really at ease on flat roads, lost
more than four minutes to him on the day.
Escartin, however, maintained his place on the podium after finishing fifth two
years ago. He trails Armstrong by over 10 minutes overall.
Zuelle now looks certain to finish second overall, 7:37 behind the American. In
1995 he was runner up to Indurain.
He will certainly have some regrets in Paris as he looks back to the first stage
when he lost six minutes after a crash.
Time trial world champion Abraham Olano of Spain had another disappointing
day.
The Spaniard, fourth overall in 1997 when he won the final time trial at
EuroDisney, had to be content with clocking the sixth-best time on Sunday, 2:19
behind Armstrong.
Last year's Vuelta winner, Olano lies sixth in the overall standings, 16:47 behind
Armstrong.
Sunday's stage should as usual be a gentle ride in the sun for 100 kms before the
bunch reach Paris and the Champs-Elysees, where sprinters should again steal the
show.
For Armstrong, the only concern now will be to avoid a crash and to make it
safely to the finish line.
Leading placings in the 19th stage, a 57 kms time trial, of the Tour de France
on Saturday:
1. Lance Armstrong (U.S.) U.S. Postal 1 hour 8 minutes 17 seconds
2. Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) Banesto 9 seconds behind
3. Tyler Hamilton (U.S.) U.S. Postal 1:35 behind
4. Angel Casero (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 1:37
5. Rik Verbrugghe (Belgium) Lotto 2:03
6. Abraham Olano (Spain) ONCE 2:18
7. Wladimir Belli (Italy) Festina 2:23
8. Alvaro Galdeano (Spain) Vitalicio Seguros 2:28
9. Jens Voigt (Germany) Credit Agricole 2:45
10. Stuart O'Grady (Australia) Credit Agricole 2:47
11. Andrea Peron (Italy) ONCE 2:53
12. Santos Gonzalez (Spain) ONCE 3:04
13. Gilles Maignan (France) Casino
14. Laurent Brochard (France) Festina both same time
15. Chris Boardman (Britain) Credit Agricole 3:29
16. Christian Vandevelde (U.S.) U.S. Postal 3:41
17. Daniele Nardello (Italy) Mapei 3:43
18. Stephane Heulot (France) La Francaise de Jeux 3:51
19. Erik Dekker (Netherlands) Rabobank 3:52
20. Fabian Jeker (Switzerland) Festina 3:55
Overall standings in the Tour de France after 19 stages:
1. Armstrong 87 hours 54 minutes 37 seconds
2. Zuelle 7 minutes 37 seconds behind
3. Fernando Escartin (Spain) Kelme 10:26
4. Dufaux 14:43
5. Casero 15:11
6. Olano 16:47
7. Nardello 17:02
8. Richard Virenque (France) 17:28
9. Belli 17:37
10. Peron 23:10
11. Kurt van de Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto 23:32
12. David Etxebarria (Spain) Kelme 26:41
13. Hamilton 26:59
14. Heulot 27:58
15. Roland Meier (Switzerland) Cofidis 28:44
16. Benoit Salmon (France) Casino 28:59
17. Alberto Elli (Italy) Telekom 33:39
18. Paolo Lanfranchi (Italy) Mapei 34:14
19. Carlos Contreras (Colombia) Kelme 34:33
20. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Telekom 37:10
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