LeMond Launches Big Move

The complexion of the Tour de France changed dramatically Saturday on the sweltering roads of south central France, where the favorites in the three-week bicycle race were not expected to gain much ground.

Instead, Greg LeMond of Wayzata, Minn., Eric Breukink of the Netherlands and Pedro Delgado of Spain became serious contenders by making up as much as five minutes on Claudio Chiappucci of Italy, the overall leader, in the 13th of 21 stages. The 2,137-mile race will end next Sunday in Paris.

By then, most experts agree, Chiappucci will not be among the challengers for the championship in the world’s most prestigious bicycle race.

On a day when temperatures reached 86 degrees, LeMond and Breukink pushed the pace and reduced their seven-plus minute deficits. Eduardo Chozas of Spain won the 92.5-mile stage from Villard de Lans to St. Etienne in a final sprint, but LeMond and Breukink finished in the same time.

Chiappucci remained the overall leader, 2:02 ahead of Breukink. LeMond is third, 2:34 behind. Ronan Pensec, who was second before the stage, faded to fourth, 4:11 back, and Delgado is fifth, 4:39 behind.

“If I want to win the Tour, I don’t have to think about Breukink,” LeMond said.

During Friday’s rest day, LeMond, who won the Tour de France in 1986 and 1989, said he is mostly concerned about Delgado, the 1988 champion. Delgado has raced well in the Pyrenees, the mountain range that borders France and Spain. Competitors have two difficult stages in the Pyrenees Tuesday and Wednesday.

Saturday’s stage was not expected to have much influence, but that changed because of aggressive riding. The stage after a rest day traditionally is easy, but not so on this Bastille Day.

“They attacked up the hills,” said Sean Kelly of Ireland, a 12-time Tour veteran. “They attacked down the hills. They attacked on the flats. They attacked everywhere.”

Said LeMond: “Today’s attack wasn’t planned. The others went, and Chiappucci was right behind me, but he couldn’t keep up.”

About 20 miles from the finish, Breukink and LeMond were on the pace. They pulled away from the pack in a group of 14 before the group dissipated to five as others dropped back.

Chozas won in 3:20:24. Breukink was second, Andy Hampsten of Boulder, Colo., was third, Roberto Conti of Italy fourth and LeMond fifth, all in the same time.

Pensec, LeMond’s Z teammate, lost seven minutes, which further solidified LeMond’s position because he does not need to worry about Pensec in team strategy.

Today’s 129-mile leg from Le Puy en Velay to Millau is a rolling route similar to Saturday’s. Whether LeMond, Breukink and Deglado can make similar gains is difficult to access.

“The Tour is always decided in the third week,” LeMond said. “(But) I think Chiappucci is riding above his level. We underestimated him. New guys are coming up all the time.”

TOUR DE FRANCE Overall standings after 13 stages.

Cyclist Country Time 1. Claudio Chiappucci Italy 52:49.13 2. Erik Breukink Nthrlnds 52:51.15 3. Greg LeMond U.S. 52:51:47 4. Ronan Pensec France 52:53.24 5. Pedro Delgado Spain 52:53.52 6. Gianni Bugno Italy 52:55.38 7. Marino Lejarreta Spain 52:57.36 8. Raul Alcala Mexico 52:58.13 9. Andy Hampsten U.S. 52:58.18 10. Claude Criquielion Belgium 52.58.52