Ullrich Wins Stage; Riis Still Comfortably Ahead

Denmark’s Bjarne Riis protected his lead in the Tour de France on Saturday, and will head for Paris today nearly assured of victory in the cycling race.

Runner-up Jan Ullrich of Germany won the 40-mile individual time trial on the race’s next-to-last day and reduced Riis’ lead by more than half, but still left him with a comfortable margin.

Ullrich finished the 20th stage of the 21-stage race two minutes 18 seconds ahead of Riis, who finished fourth and held a lead of 1:41 when the day was over.

“I didn’t want to take the yellow jersey, but it was great to win today. I didn’t know I could do it,” said Ullrich, who probably will finish second in his first Tour.

Ullrich covered the flat course between Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion in 1:15:31--56 seconds faster than second-place finisher Miguel Indurain of Spain.

Indurain, who will apparently fail in his bid to become the first six-time winner of the Tour, held the lead in Saturday’s stage until Ullrich crossed the line. Riders went out at two-minute intervals and rode alone against the clock.

France’s Richard Virenque finished seventh in the time trial, good enough to remain in third overall.

Today’s 92-mile stage starts in Palaiseau and ends with eight laps up and down the Champs Elysees in Paris, in front of hundreds of thousands of fans.

Riis, who finished third behind Indurain in last year’s Tour, has held the overall lead since winning a weather-shortened stage in the French Alps on July 7.

“I am happy for Ullrich today. It’s not a problem for me,” said Riis. “I’m planning on wearing the yellow jersey. Tomorrow will be the best day of my career.”