CYCLING TOUR DE FRANCE : Chiappucci Climbs Into Second

Italy held a welcoming party for the 79th edition of the Tour de France Saturday and native son Claudio Chiappucci was the hit.

The 27-year-old native from the Tuscany region of northeastern Italy overwhelmed the field of 148 cyclists in what many were calling the most difficult stage in the Tour’s history. Chiappucci won the 158-mile battle of will and stamina throughout the French and Italian Alps in 7 hours 44 minutes 51 seconds, defeating countryman Franco Vona by 1:34, and Miguel Indurain of Spain by 1:45.

As expected, Indurain took the overall lead from Pascal Lino of France after the 13th of 21 stages.

Chiappucci, however, chipped away at the lead and moved into second place, 1:42 behind Indurain, the defending champion, who seemed to be in control a few days earlier.

On the stage that was cited by many of the cyclists as “The Death March” because of its five major climbs, Chiappucci showed his strength. He humbled the field by breaking away on the first climb up Col de Saises, only 20 kilometers outside Saturday’s start city of St. Gervais.

“I finished the stage very fatigued,” Chiappucci said. “The duration of the course, the rhythm of the course, made it a difficult journey. The fans the last few kilometers made me forget about the pain but shot me off my rhythm.”

Saturday’s race was the only stage of this year’s Tour to finish in Italy, a cycling-crazy country. Its fans, however, nearly cost Chiappucci the victory. Climbing to the finish in the resort town of Sestriere, Chiappucci was twice knocked sideways by fans running alongside him cheering. As he chugged through the chaos, not uncommon on the narrow road leading to a mountain stage finish in the Tour, he parted a sea of people and flags of his native Italy.

While Chiappucci was weaving through the traffic jam, American Greg LeMond dropped out of contention for his fourth Tour de France victory. However, Andy Hampsten of Boulder, Colo., finished fifth, 3:27 behind Chiappucci, and moved to eighth place in the overall standings.

Hampsten’s specialty is mountain climbing and today’s stage should provide one more chance for him to move up in the standings.

“I know it will be hell. I guess that makes it normal (for the Tour),” Hampsten said, laughing. “Certainly I look at the stage as my last big chance to make up time because of the mountains.”

Chiappucci’s display didn’t ruffle Indurain.

“I applaud the effort of Chiappucci,” Indurain said. “He is a great mountain climber. It is the game he does well. I’d prefer the exercise of picking up time on my opponents in the time trials.”

Indurain has won both time trials in this year’s Tour and is a favorite to win the one on the second-to-last day, which might be the deciding factor after today’s mountain stage up the famed Alpe d’Huez.

With LeMond no longer a contender, Indurain is most concerned with Chiappucci and another Italian, Gianni Bugno, the winner the past two years up Alpe d’Huez, who is in third place overall, 4:20 behind.

Chiappucci should have Indurain concerned, according to one rider.

“The way he rode today,” said Atly Kvalsvoll, LeMond’s teammate, “I think the best way for Indurain and the others to stop him is maybe sleeping pills.”

Standings

AFTER 13 OF 21 STAGES

1. Miguel Indurain (Spain), 63:34:54

2. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy), 1:42 behind

3. Gianni Bugno (Italy), 4:20

4. Pascal Lino (France), 7:21

5. Pedro Delgado (Spain), 8:47

6. Stephen Roche (Ireland), 9:13

7. Laurent Fignon (France), 10:11

8. Andy Hampsten (United States), 11:16

9. Giancarlo Perini (Italy), 12:43

10. Jens Heppner (Germany), 13:11

41. Greg LeMond (United States), 50:53