Redemption

Switzerland's Dufaux looking to erase last year's memories

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Saturday July 03, 1999 06:41 PM

Swiss cyclist Laurent Dufaux answers reporters during medical checks for the Tour de France. AP

LE PUY DU FOU, France (Reuters) -- Swiss Laurent Dufaux left the Tour de France in disgrace last year, confessing to French police he had taken banned substances like the rest of the Festina team.

One year later, the 30-year-old rider from Montreux, who left Festina for Italian team Saeco this season, hopes the 1999 Tour will help him erase the painful memories of the past.

"There's obviously a lot of tension here after all that happened last year," he said.

"Of course it's a little strange to be back but I have a lot of motivation," he added.

"I'm trying not to think too much about what happened last year."

Dufaux was one of the seven Festina riders who admitted being part of the organised doping system set up in the French team.

Like compatriots Alex Zuelle and Armin Meier, Dufaux subsequently switched teams.

Now, after a six-month ban from competition, the Swiss is about to compete against his former leader Richard Virenque, a man he helped in the mountains for four years.

France's Virenque always denied doping charges despite testimonies by all his former team mates that he was also involved.

"I don't mind him being back on the Tour," Dufaux said.

"Already in the Tour of Romandy we were against one another. We were in the same team for four years, it's going to be interesting," he said.

A number of riders pledged to keep a close eye on the controversial Virenque and to prevent him from attacking during this year's Tour.

But Dufaux said he had no hard feelings towards his former leader.

"I wish him luck. He's obviously one of the favourites to win," he said.

"There's going to be a lot of media pressure on him. But he has proved so far he could stand it," Dufaux added.

One of the best climbers in the bunch, with Italian Ivan Gotti and Russian Pavel Tonkov, he is among the riders capable of doing well in this unpredictable Tour.

"I'm going to take each day as it comes for there are a lot of favorites in this year's Tour," he said, citing Virenque, American Bobby Jullich, Dutchman Micahel Boogerd and Spain's Fernando Escartin among them.

"But I'm pretty confident," he added.

Some climbers criticised the itinerary this year as too lenient but Dufaux does not seem to mind.

"It's always the riders who make for a tough race and there are two very hard Alpine stages," he said.

 

Related information
Stories
Problem-free Tour crucial for sport of cycling
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.