Moncassin Wins Stage, Riis Retains Yellow Jersey

Frederic Moncassin of France won the 19th stage of the Tour de France on Friday the same way he took the first--in a photo finish.

Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis easily retained the overall lead of the Tour with only two stages remaining. Riis, 3 minutes 59 seconds in front of Jan Ullrich of Germany in the overall standings, is all but certain to win his first Tour when the 21-stage race ends Sunday in Paris.

Riis finished 46th on Friday, in the same time as Moncassin and the rest of the leaders.

Five-time defending champion Miguel Indurain, who conceded defeat after losing time in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s stages, also finished with the main pack of riders Friday, and was scored in 103rd position. He remains in 11th overall, 15:36 behind Riis.

Moncassin, who won the Tour’s opening stage in the Netherlands on June 30, edged Germany’s Erik Zabel by half a tire-length. Italy’s Fabio Baldato was third in the 140-mile stage over a flat course from Hendaye to Bordeaux.

Moncassin will be one of France’s top medal-hopes when professional cyclists compete in the Olympics for the first time July 31.