Delgado 4th in 21st Stage, Should Win Tour de France Today in Paris

SANTENAY, France — Pedro Delgado of Spain virtually locked up victory in the Tour de France by finishing fourth in Saturday’s next-to-last stage, an individual time trial won by compatriot Juan Martinez-Oliver.

Martinez-Oliver finished the 21st stage in 1 hour 2 minutes 37 seconds for the 28.5-mile time trial around Santenay. Toni Rominger of Switzerland was second, four seconds back, while Milan Jurco of Czechoslovakia was five seconds behind.

Martinez-Oliver, a 26-year-old member of the Kelme team who began the day in 137th place overall, moved up just four spots.

Delgado, 11 seconds off Martinez-Oliver’s pace, extended his overall lead to 7 minutes 13 seconds over Steven Rooks of the Netherlands, who was 20th in the stage, 2:26 behind the winner.

“I have shown that I can do well in the mountains, on the flatlands and in time trials, and I hope that people will think I am the true winner of this Tour,” said Delgado, who failed a drug test during the race but was not penalized because the substance found in his system is not banned by the International Cycling Union.

Delgado’s overall time is 79:36.24 with just a 113-mile run from Nemours to Paris remaining today. The only riders within 10 minutes of Delgado are Rooks and third-place Fabio Parra of Colombia, who is 9:58 off the lead.