LeMond Extends Lead to 53 Seconds in Tour

In 1986, Greg LeMond had a memorable victory in a Tour de France stage ending at Superbangeres in the Pyrenees. He subsequently went on to become the only U.S. cyclist to win the tour.

With only five stages left in this year’s tour, LeMond has yet to win a mountain stage, but his high-altitude performances may be more memorable than his victory in the Pyrenees three years ago.

Tuesday, with another strong performance through the Alp passes, LeMond extended his overall lead to 53 seconds over his closest challenger, Laurent Fignon of France.

LeMond, making a comeback after two seasons of injuries and misfortune since winning in 1986, finished fourth in Tuesday’s 107-mile 16th stage. He could virtually win the tour today in the treacherous 100-mile stage to l’Alpe d’Huez.

Pedro Delgado of Spain, last year’s champion, finished alongside LeMond and stayed 2 minutes 48 seconds behind. Pascal Richard of Switzerland won the stage, which included the difficult ride up Col d’Izoard.

“It was a good day for me,” LeMond said. “I did my best to stay with Delgado in the mountains.”

Before the tour, LeMond said he was concerned about his ability to compete in the mountain stages because of a poor showing last June at the Tour of Italy.

Still, LeMond was considered one of the favorites after finishing second in the final time trial at Italy, about a minute ahead of Fignon, who won that event.

“I’ve got my confidence back,” LeMond said.

Tuesday, Delgado tried to make up distance by breaking away from a group containing LeMond and Fignon after Richard took a big lead.

The 16th leg started from Gap and had two steep climbs before a rapid descent to Briancon.

Richard, far behind in the overall standings, won the stage in 4 hours 46 minutes 45 seconds, with Bruno Cornillet of France second.

LeMond, Fignon, Delgado and Charly Mottet of France, in contention for the overall lead, waged their own battle.

Each took turns trying to gain distance on the others up and down the mountain passes. But each time the group erased the margin.

On the final descent, just before Briancon, with speeds of about 62 m.p.h., LeMond accelerated and took a 20-second advantage over the other contenders.

But as they entered town, Mottet sprinted at the finish to gain third, just ahead of LeMond and Delgado in a group about five minutes behind Richard.

Fignon trailed the LeMond group and lost precious seconds in the overall standings.

“I had a lot of problems in the hills and I can’t afford to lose anything, not even 14 seconds,” said Fignon, the 1983 and 1984 champion.

Andrew Hampsten, of Boulder, Colo., a strong climber expected to make his move in the Alps, did well on the first incline, but he fell back later. He was 20th, 7:24 behind Richard.

The disappointing performance dropped Hampsten to 10th place overall, 9:35 behind LeMond. It effectively ended his hopes for a place in the top three at next Sunday’s finish in Paris.

“The most difficult stage of the Tour is going to be l’Alpe d’Huez,” LeMond said. “It will really separate a lot of people at the top. There are climbs (so steep) that you think you can’t make them.”

After that are two stages of lesser difficulties in the Alps, then a relatively flat leg Saturday and a final time trial from Versailles to Paris Sunday.

Jeannie Longo of France strengthened her lead in the women’s Tour de France by winning the sixth stage at Briancon.

Longo won by almost two minutes in the 32-mile leg from Guillestre to Briancon. She was timed in 1:48:29. Maria Canins of Italy, like Longo a two-time champion, was second, 1:55 behind. She trails overall by 5:31.

Inga Thompson of Reno was third, 2:58 back of Longo, and solidified her hold on third place.

The women’s tour this year is 482 miles with 11 stages, ending before the men on the Champs Elysees in Paris on Sunday.

Today’s Tough Stage Could Be Difference

The winner of the Tour de France could be determined today in perhaps the toughest stage in the 23-day race.

Greg LeMond will take a 53-second lead over Laurent Fignon of France to the start of the 100-mile stage between Briancon, near the Italian border, and l’Alpe d’Huez.

They will cross some of the tour’s steepest passes, starting with the 6,750-foot Col du Lautaret, leading to the summit of the Col du Galibier, at 8,660 feet the race’s highest point. And that is in the stage’s first 20 miles.

Next, the cyclists will descend into the valley at St. Jean de Maurienne before climbing the 6,780-foot Col de la Croix de Fer. The length of the climb is more than 12 miles and the height difference more than 4,900 feet. The final ascent into l’Alpe d’Huez is eight miles with 22 hairpin bends.