CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE : LeMond Says He Can Make Up Time in Trial

Canada’s Steve Bauer stayed in the overall lead through another damp day in the Tour de France Friday as the first turning point of the race approached.

A 38-mile individual time trial from Vittel to Epinal today gives the racers a chance to gain time on the others after six flat stages.

Two-time champion Greg LeMond remained 22nd, 10 minutes 41 seconds behind Bauer, but the American is favored to win the time trial.

Both Bauer and LeMond know the trial is important, not only in the overall standings, but as a psychological advantage with two weeks left.

“In the time trial Greg is the best but if I make a good race, I can limit the difference,” Bauer said.

“Saturday, I hope I will be first,” LeMond said, but he listed four others who could win the trial.

LeMond feels that he can make an impression on Bauer. “He knows that I am riding well and often I gain a lot of time in the mountains,” LeMond said.

The American won the first time trial last year to leap into the lead, but 10 minutes seems too much to overtake Bauer in one race.

LeMond knows that Bauer has something that LeMond lacks for the time being. “Steve has the yellow jersey on his back and that is motivating him,” LeMond said.

Friday’s leg of 126 miles was won by Dutch sprinter Jelle Nijdam. The leg went from Sarreboug to Vittel in eastern France.

Bauer again finished in the pack, close to other contenders. Bauer and former champions Stephen Roche of Ireland, LeMond and Pedro Delgado of Spain all finished eight seconds behind the winner.

Overall the Canadian led for the fifth consecutive day. He has a 34-second edge over Ronan Pensec of France with Frans Maassen of the Netherlands 37 seconds back.

Bauer gained a big lead over LeMond and the other contenders last Sunday. In the first stage he broke away with three others and built a 10-minute gap over the pack.

Moreno Argentin of Italy, who won the third stage, did not start Friday. He fell in Wednesday’s fifth stage and suffered large bruises and cut muscular tissue.