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Chasing Lance Pantani wins Stage 12 by inches; Armstrong still leads
Posted: Thursday July 13, 2000 11:26 AM
MONT VENTOUX, France (AP) -- Lance Armstrong took a potentially decisive step toward retaining the Tour de France title with a second-placed finish in the 12th and toughest leg of the race on Thursday. Marco Pantani just beat the American at the end of a thrilling climb up the imposing Mont Ventoux to win the punishing 149-kilometer (93-mile) stage from Carpentras to Mont Ventoux in four hours, 15 minutes, 11 seconds. In the final climb Armstrong made a crucial burst clear of Jan Ullrich, his closest challenger for the yellow jersey, finishing 29 seconds ahead of the German rider, who came fourth. Conventional wisdom among team managers was that the rider emerging as leader at Ventoux, 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of France's second city, Marseille, will still be wearing the yellow jersey on the final dash along the Champs-Elysees on July 23. The 28-year-old Texan now has a 43-second lead over Ullrich, and his powerful performance gave every indication that he won't be stopped. "It was a good day for us. There were two stories. I want to thank the team. The second was the wind. It was so windy today that I am glad it is finished," Armstrong said. Pantani wasn't among the six riders who headed the race going into the final seven kilometers. But the Italian made up a gap of more than 30 seconds and as he burst clear was only matched by Armstrong. Knowing the job was done, Armstrong held back at the end to preserve energy for the rest of the race. With an estimated 300,000 fans roaring on the cyclists in the final 21-kilometer (13-mile) climb, Armstrong was at the front of the peloton with his U.S. Postal teammates, who looked more aggressive than during their disappointing performance on Monday. Ullrich and Richard Virenque were also in the group but couldn't keep up the pace in the tough final climb. The eagerly-awaited 12th stage was regarded as the toughest of the 2000 Tour as it included the climb up Mont Ventoux. The ascent was unforgiving. Just 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the finish line, riders are only 290 meters (957 feet) above sea level: by the end, they are at an altitude of 1,900 meters (6270 feet). Though the Tour has visited the mountain 13 times, Pantani is only the sixth to win a stage finishing at the peak. Five-time Tour champion Eddy Merckx won famously in 1970 while France's Jean-Francois Bernard was victorious in 1987. "It is the hardest climb of this year's Tour," Armstrong had said before the race. "It is very special, very mystical. It is so hard that if you are good you can make a big difference." Riders also had to deal with three tricky Category 2 climbs at Col de Murs, Cote de Javon, Col de Notre-Dame-des-Abeilles. Mont Ventoux's special place in Tour history adds spice to Armstrong's quest. The peak has witnessed some of the 97-year-old race's greatest climbing -- and one of its greatest tragedies. In 1967, British cyclist Tom Simpson, roared on by fans under a burning sun, collapsed and died near the peak. It emerged that his blood contained amphetamines, a stark reminder that drug problems are nothing new to cycling. As well as being the toughest leg, the course to Mont Ventoux was perhaps the most gorgeous of the three-week Tour, with cyclists passing mile after mile of lavender fields and lemon trees before the final steep climb. The race continues Friday with the 13th stage, a hilly 185-kilometer (115-mile) course from Avignon to Draguignan.
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