This One Is Easier for Indurain : Tour de France: He retains title by 4 minutes 35 seconds over Chiappucci. Hampsten finishes fourth.

Miguel Indurain of Spain, cheered on by tens of thousands along France’s most famous boulevard, pedaled his way Sunday to his second consecutive victory in the Tour de France.

As Indurain, who held the lead for the last nine days, made his way down the Champs Elysees, thousands of tourists and cycling fans as well as Spaniards waving flags from his homeland cheered him on.

The 28-year-old Indurain, from the Navarra region of Spain, finished Sunday’s stage with the main pack of riders, slightly behind a few leaders who stayed ahead over the final laps.

His total time of 100 hours 49 minutes 30 seconds left him 4:35 ahead of Italian Claudio Chiappucci. World champion Gianni Bugno, also of Italy, was third. Bugno was second last year and Chiappucci was third.

American Andy Hampsten finished fourth overall. It was a repeat of his finish in 1986, his first Tour de France.

“It was easier than last year,” Indurain said. “Since my first win, I’ve gained an enormous calm that keeps me cool in handling the stages and warding off the attacks of others. I’ll be back next year, and I’ll do the best I can to win once again.”

Olaf Ludwig of Germany won Sunday’s stage, the 21st in the 2,479-mile race, by overtaking Panasonic teammate Vlacheslav Ekimov of Russia in the final minutes.

Jean-Paul van Poppel of the Netherlands was second in the stage, and Belgium’s Johan Museeuw third.

“It’s one of the greatest days of my life,” Ludwig said. “It’s a great satisfaction, after a season in which I spared no efforts.”

The riders covered 88 miles from La Defense, a high-rise suburb west of Paris, through towns west and southwest of the French capital before speeding 10 laps up and down the Champs Elysees.

Indurain started the Tour with a strong showing by winning the prologue July 4 in San Sebastien, Spain. A sprint specialist, he also won both individual time trials this year, extending his streak of Tour time trial victories to five.

He went into the final day 4:35 ahead of Chiappucci. He ended with the same margin, since he and Chiappucci finished with the pack and were accorded the same time.

American Greg LeMond, who won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990, dropped out this year during the 14th stage, complaining of fatigue and a sore knee.

His withdrawal put in doubt his future in the race. LeMond finished seventh last year, the first time in six Tours that he failed to finish in the top three.

Stephen Roche of Ireland, the 1987 champion, finished ninth after a few years of mediocre Tour results.

Cool and mostly laconic about his achievements, Indurain tries to present himself the same as any other rider--the same aches, same pains, same self-doubts.

“I’m the same as the others,” he says. “I sometimes have aches in my legs, I sometimes think I’m going to have to stop in the next 500 meters.”

He has been criticized for not showing more flair or panache.

“Why should I attack?” Indurain said. “I’m meant to be winning the race overall.”

It was a festive atmosphere on the Champs Elysees as crowds lined the boulevard and strolled on its sidewalks under a bright sun.

Standings

FINAL (21 STAGES)

1. Miguel Indurain (Spain), 100 hours 49 minutes 30 seconds.

2. Claudio Chiappucci (Italy), 4 minutes 35 seconds behind.

3. Gianni Bugno (Italy), 10:49.

4. Andy Hampsten (United States), 13:40.

5. Pascal Lino (France), 14:37.

6. Pedro Delgado (Spain), 15:16.

7. Erik Breukink (Netherlands), 18:51.

8. Giancarlo Perini (Italy), 19:16.

9. Stephen Roche (Ireland), 20:23.

10. Jens Heppner (Germany), 25:30.