TROUBLED TOUR WON BY PANTANI.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Shadowed for three weeks by a drug scandal and sit-down strikes, the Tour de France Tour de France World's most prestigious and difficult bicycle race. Staged for three weeks each July—usually in some 20 daylong stages—the Tour typically comprises 20 professional teams of nine riders each and covers some 3,600 km (2,235 miles) of flat and staggered to a finish Sunday with Marco Pantani Marco Pantani (January 13, 1970 – February 14, 2004) was an Italian cyclist widely regarded as being one of the best climbers of all times in professional road bicycle racing. The high point of his career was to win the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia in 1998. winning a race that unraveled like no other since it began in 1903. With the sun bright after a heavy shower, the Italian rode in triumph along the Champs-Elysees, proving he indeed was a champion but no match for the scandal that enveloped en·vel·op tr.v. en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing, en·vel·ops 1. To enclose or encase completely with or as if with a covering: "Accompanying the darkness, a stillness envelops the city" cycling's showcase event. He is the first Italian to win the Tour de France since Felice Gimondi Felice Gimondi (born September 29, 1942) is an Italian former professional racing cyclist. With his 1968 victory at the Vuelta a España, only three years after becoming a professional cyclist, Gimondi, nicknamed "The Phoenix", was the second cyclist (after Jacques Anquetil) to win in 1965. He is also the first to win the Tour of Italy and the Tour de France in one year since cycling great Miguel Indurain Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya (born July 16, 1964, Villava, Navarre) is a Spanish retired road racing cyclist. He is best known for having won the Tour de France from 1991 to 1995, becoming one of the five persons to win the event five times, and the first to win five in a row. did so five years ago. ``To win the Giro giro Noun pl -ros 1. (in some countries) a system of transferring money within a bank or post office, directly from one account into another 2. and the Tour de France is something my country has been waiting for a long time,'' Pantani said. ``This day will remain one of the most important days in my life.'' Defending champion defending champion n (SPORT) → defensor/a m/f del título defending champion n (Sport) → champion(ne) en titre Jan Ullrich of Germany was second, 3 minutes, 21 seconds behind. Bobby Julich of Glenwood Springs, Colo., was third, at 4:08, the best performance by an American since Greg LeMond won his third crown in 1990. Julich, riding with the French Cofidis team, joined LeMond as the only Americans to finish in the top three. ``This year I had little chance to win,'' said Julich, riding in his second Tour. ``Pantani was on another planet. When he attacks the mountains, no one can match him.'' This was a race in which many riders felt they were being treated as criminals during the ongoing investigation. Once, they delayed the start of a stage by two hours. Another time, they held hands in protest crossing the finish line, prompting organizers to wipe out the entire stage. ``No matter what happened here, it was my dream,'' Julich said. ``Different things come about and try to mess with you. But it's the strong people that persevere and don't let it bother them. I'm very proud right now.'' AT A GLANCE A look at Sunday's final stage of the Tour de France: Stage: The 21st and last stage from Melun to Paris, covering 91 miles and ending on the Champs-Elysees. Race winner: Marco Pantani, the first Italian since 1965 to capture the Tour de France. Stage winner: Tom Steels of Belgium won his fourth stage of Tour. He won in three countries - Ireland, Switzerland and France. How others fared: Defending champion Jan Ullrich, 3:21 back; American Bobby Julich was third overall, 4:08 back; Christophe Rinero of France, Julich's Cofidis teammate, was fourth, 9:16 back. Tour tidbit: Greg LeMond came in third in his first year in the Tour de France. Julich came in third in his second. Quote of the day: ``Pantani was on another planet. When he attacks the mountains, no one can match him.'' - Julich. Next stage: 1999 Tour de France begins in Puy-du-Fou. CAPTION(S): Box BOX: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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