CYCLING / TOUR DE FRANCE : LeMond Makes Move, Goes From 14th to 5th

The Tour de France, enjoying one of the strangest starts in 89 years, with the lead changing four times in the first week, was in for another surprise Friday on a day that was expected to be routine.

Greg LeMond and Claudio Chiappucci, bitter opponents when they finished first and second in the 1990 Tour, joined forces in a brilliant tactical move in the 104-mile sixth stage that helped LeMond move into contention to win his fourth title.

On a day in which heavy rains were expected to keep the pace slow, LeMond and Chiappucci were part of a four-rider break 17 miles from the finish in Brussels that was so daring none of the other top contenders responded.

As a result, LeMond and Chiappucci gained 82 seconds on their main competitors, Miguel Indurain of Spain and Gianni Bugno of Italy. Chiappucci moved from sixth to third in the overall standings, 3 minutes 11 seconds behind leader Pascal Lino of France, who wore the yellow jersey for the fourth day in a row. LeMond jumped from 14th to fifth, 4:29 behind.

Steve Bauer of Canada finished with the main pack but moved into second, 3:11 behind Lino. Richard Virenque, who wore the yellow jersey for one day, fell to fourth, 4:02 back. Laurent Jalabert of France won the stage in 3 hours 37 minutes 6 seconds, edging the three other breakaway cyclists at the finish.

That LeMond would force the pace on a relatively flat course three days before the Tour’s first individual time trial was risky. But he believed he needed to apply pressure on Indurain, the ’91 Tour winner who has been taking it easy after winning the prologue in San Sebastian last Saturday.

“We knew the course would be dangerous, and you have to take your chances when they come,” LeMond told reporters.

LeMond struggled through the first days of the Tour after a truckers’ strike left him stranded in Paris. He slept three hours before the prologue and looked exhausted riding through the Pyrenees on the third day.

After almost losing the race on the first major climb--Col de Marie-Blanque--LeMond was hurting.

“I’m so tired,” he said. “I wasn’t feeling anything anymore. I was lost, and I had no idea of the distance between me and the others.”

Teammate Eric Boyer said: “He told me, ‘I’m afraid of Marie-Blanque.’ It’s the first time he ever used that word in a race.”

Although many gave LeMond, 31, little chance of recouping after that stage, Z team director Roger Legeay said there was time. LeMond proved his coach right in Wednesday’s team time trial when he carried Z to a fourth-place finish.

“He came alive again. It was just a matter of time,” said Brian Searchinger, LeMond’s marketing director.

Lemond’s talent for strategy was evident in Friday’s move. By working with Chiappucci, LeMond has enlisted the strong Carerra team of Italy to help Z pressure Indurain and Bugno.

Indurain, in ninth place, 5:33 behind, easily won the Tour of Italy last month and has been all but unbeatable this year.

Still, Indurain has not faced the pressure that can overcome even talented riders in the Tour. Indurain is considered by far the strongest in the 198-rider field, but LeMond is hoping that Indurain might crack if he starts worrying about LeMond and Chiappucci, who was third last year.

LeMond came to this year’s Tour determined to show he was not through after placing seventh last year. He started the Tour two pounds overweight, planning to lose the excess by the time the cyclists reach the grueling mountain stages beginning July 17.

The favorites are not expected to make a move before Monday’s time trial in Luxembourg, where Indurain can cut as much as three minutes on the leaders.

Standings

After 6 of 21 stages

1. Pascal Lino (France), 26:22:53

2. Steve Bauer (Canada, 3:11 behind

3. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy, 3:34

4. Richard Virenque (France), 4:02

5. Greg LeMond (Wayzata, Minn.), 4:29

6. Jens Heppner (Germany), 4:37

7. Gianni Bugno (Italy), 5:06

8. Stephen Roche (Ireland), 5:28

9. Miguel Indurain (Spain), 5:33

10. Giancarlo Perini (Italy, 5:35