Tour de France : Spain’s Delgado Pads Lead in the Pyrenees Stage of Race

Spain’s Pedro Delgado all but wrapped up the Tour de France men’s title Monday, padding his lead in the mountainous 15th stage during which three other top riders dropped out.

Nearing the end of a 116-mile race from St. Girons to Luz Ardiden, France, in the Pyrenees, Delgado broke away from the pack to finish third and increase his overall lead to more than four minutes over second-place Steve Rooks of the Netherlands.

Although Spain’s Laudelino Cubino won the tough stage, Delgado extended his margin over all the other major contenders. Cubino won in 6 hours 20 minutes 44 seconds. France’s Gilbert Duclos-Lasalle finished almost 6 minutes behind, just 3 seconds ahead of Delgado. Rooks finished fifth, 38 seconds behind Delgado.

Frenchmen Jean-Francois Bernard and Charly Mottet and Switzerland’s Urs Zimmerman dropped out after falling far behind. There are six days remaining in the event, but most of the stages are on flat land.

Defending champion Jeannie Longo of France won her fourth stage in the women’s Tour de France, increasing her overall lead to 1 minute 18 seconds ahead of Maria Canins of Italy.

Longo took the 36-mile seventh leg from Luchon to St. Marie de Campan, France, in 1 hour 57 minutes 4 seconds. Canins was second, 38 seconds behind Longo.