Swiss Rider Wins Stage, Riis Retains Overall Lead

Switzerland’s Laurent Dufaux won the 17th stage of the Tour de France on Wednesday as Bjarne Riis of Denmark finished second and held his overall lead with four days to go.

Five-time defending champion Miguel Indurain of Spain, who conceded defeat after losing more than two minutes to Riis in Tuesday’s climbing stage, lost more than eight minutes in Wednesday’s 164-mile stage through the Pyrenees Mountains and fell more than 15 minutes behind Riis.

“The Tour is beating me this year,” said Indurain, who was cheered on by hundreds of thousands of his fellow Spaniards lining the course. “I have to lose one time.”

Indurain, who turned 32 Tuesday, struggled again Wednesday in the second consecutive climbing stage in the Pyrenees. He faded as Riis, Dufaux and the best climbers among the racers pulled away in steep climbs early in the day.

“I was doing my best, but I couldn’t stay with them,” said Indurain, who was trying to become the first man to win six Tours. “The others are better than me this year. I thought I was strong, but not this year.”

Riis appeared to have a lock on his first Tour victory. After Wednesday’s stage, teammate Jan Ullrich of Germany moved into second place, 3:59 back.

World road race champion Abraham Olano of Spain started the day in second place, but fell back to ninth overall, 11:12 back.

About halfway through Wednesday’s stage, Basque separatists staged a minor protest, stringing banners with Basque slogans across the course, slowing bikers as they descended down a hill. A lead group that included Riis was nearly forced to stop as protesters yelled at TV cameras.