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Italian’s Fast Climb Completes a Full Circle

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From Associated Press

L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France--Marco Pantani of Italy won the climb up to l’Alpe d’Huez to win the 13th stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, followed by Germany’s Jan Ullrich, who added to his overall lead.

Pantani also won the l’Alpe d’Huez stage in 1995, the last time the Tour de France passed through the area.

He missed most of last year after a near-fatal auto accident in which he had a double fracture in a leg. Pantani showed he was back at full strength with a strong run up the mountain through the crowds that gave him a narrow passageway.

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Pantani climbed the 8 1/2-mile final hill in 37 minutes 35 seconds, bettering by 25 seconds the record Italian Roberto Conti set in 1994.

The climb up to 5,905-foot summit with its 21 hairpin turns is traditionally one of the most watched stages as people come and stay on the mountain overnight to get a good view of the cyclists.

Italians have won the l’Alpe d’Huez five of the last six times the Tour has come to the resort. The only non-Italian winner since 1990 was American Andy Hampsten in 1992.

Pantani beat Ullrich by 47 seconds, but the German rider increased his lead to 6 minutes 22 seconds on runner-up Richard Virenque, who was third in Saturday’s stage.

“Pantani was stronger, but I am very happy I gained time on my major rivals,” Ullrich said.

Pantani moved into third place, 8:24 back, followed by defending champion Bjarne Riis of Denmark and Abraham Olano of Spain.

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Things were quickly settled entering the last stretch at the bottom of the final hill. Pantani, Ullrich, Virenque and Riis quickly separated themselves from the rest pack.

One by one they fell back. Riis was the first to let go, then with about 6 miles to go, Virenque slowed. Ullrich was content to let Pantani stay in front, but not too far out.

Ullrich ended up less than a minute behind Pantani, and 40 seconds ahead of Virenque.

There are three more days in the Alps with seven more mountains rated “first category” or “out of category” on a scale measuring height, steepness and difficulty.

There is another time trial around Disneyland Paris next Saturday, the day before the race ends on the Champs Elysees.

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