Rominger, Indurain’s No. 1 Threat, Withdraws From Tour de France

Miguel Indurain received a special 30th birthday present Saturday as the Tour de France rider billed as his toughest challenger, Tony Rominger, quit the race.

Barely able to keep up with the pack, the Swiss cyclist finally succumbed to diarrhea that had left him weak and dehydrated, team doctor Benjamin Fernandez said.

Rominger got off his bicycle about 25 miles from the end of the 13th stage, from Bagneres de Bigorre to Albi.

Bjarne Riis of Denmark, fifth in the Tour last year, won the stage on a late breakaway. The route covered a fairly flat 145 miles after two tough stages in the Pyrenees.

Indurain celebrated his birthday in the leader’s yellow jersey he has become accustomed to wearing in three consecutive Tour victories. He kept it again Saturday, maintaining his overall lead although he came in nine seconds behind Riis in the pack.

Virtually all the standings remained unchanged, with everyone except Indurain moving up one place after Rominger, who was second at the start of the day, dropped out.

Rominger had thought he was suffering from an intestinal virus since early last week and hoped the stage wouldn’t be too fast and thus allow him some time for recovery.

He never could get into the race. His Mapei teammates tried to lead him back when he was flagging, but Rominger finally spoke with his team director and got off his bike.