Tour de France : Colombians Are Kings of the Hills, Finish 1-2

For the second day, Colombian riders showed their mastery of the mountains as Fabio Parra won the 12th stage of the Tour de France bicycle race.

He did it alongside teammate Luis Herrera, who Tuesday had won the longest and most grueling stage of the 24-day event.

The two covered the 167 miles of mountain roads Wednesday in 8 hours 25 minutes 31 seconds.

Sean Kelly of Ireland was third, 38 seconds behind, just in front of Niki Ruttimann of Switzerland.

There was no change in the overall standings as four-time champion Frenchman Bernard Hinault kept his four-minute lead and the yellow jersey. Hinault led for most of the race and finished comfortably in 15th place.

Along the way, the riders waved to French President Francois Mitterrand, who flew by helicopter to the top of the Cote de Montaud to greet them.

Earlier in the day, French cyclist Jean-Rene Bernaudeau had to abandon the race after crashing into a traffic island and breaking an arm and several ribs.

Hinault is expected to widen his margin today in the 19-mile individual time trial that ends in Villard-de-Lans, south of Grenoble.

Italy’s Maria Canins won her second straight stage of the women’s Tour de France in the French Alps, consolidating her position as overall leader.

Canins covered the 52-mile stage in 2 hours 44 minutes 44 seconds. Canins topped the standings in 19:08:05, with Jeannie Longo of France the runner-up, 13:14 back.