Tour de France : Colombian Cyclist Wins Difficult 11th Stage Through the Mountains

MORZINE-AVORIAZ, France AP--Colombian Luis Herrera, maintaining his team’s reputation as tough mountain riders, won Tuesday’s difficult Alpine stage of the men’s Tour de France cycling race, while France’s Bernard Hinault maintained his overall lead.

The 121-mile, 11th leg from Pontarlier to Morzine-Avoriaz was the tour’s first mountain climb and one of two grueling days that could prove decisive.

It took the riders over the Morgins and Corbier passes, both about 4,260 feet, and ended with a nearly 6,000-foot climb.

As the finish approached, Herrera passed Hinault, crossing the finish line in 5 hours, 19 minutes, 4 seconds, seven seconds ahead of the Frenchman.

Pedro Delgado of Spain placed third and Fabio Parra of Colombia came in fourth. Greg Lemond of the United States was fifth, 1:41 behind the winner.

Maria Canins of Italy won the eighth stage of the women’s Tour de France cycling race, a grueling mountain section finishing at Morzine-Avoriaz, and became the overall leader of the event.

France’s Jeannie Longo, who held the overall lead, battled the Italian throughout the race. Three miles from the finish, Canins outdistanced Longo to win the leg in 1 hour, 46 minutes, 43 seconds. Longo was timed in 1:49:33.

Third was American Carol Rogers-Dunning, 1:51:36 behind the leader. Janelle Parks of the United States finished seventh 6:22 off the pace and American Phyllis Hines was ninth, 6:42 behind Canins.