Far from finished
Armand De Las Cuevas wins Dauphine Libere
Posted: Sunday June 14, 1998 04:06 PM
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(AP) |
MEGEVE, France (Reuters) -- Armand De Las Cuevas,
for years the most promising rider in French cycling, lived up
to his reputation at last when he won the Dauphine Libere
cycling race on Sunday.
De Las Cuevas, who took the overall lead in the gruelling
climb up Mont Ventoux in Wednesday's third stage, finished third
in the final 144-km stage to Megeve behind Banesto teammates
Miguel Angel Pena and Jose Maria Jimenez.
Overall, the Frenchman beat Pena by 34 seconds with Kazakh
Andrei Teteriouk third 2:17 behind the winner.
A fine climber and gifted time trial specialist, De Las
Cuevas won his first professional win in the Tour of Asturias in
1990 before becoming French champion in 1991.
He then faltered and served as a support rider to Spanish
great Miguel Indurain in the Banesto team.
"A few months ago, a lot of people said I was finished and
I'm glad to prove them wrong," said De Las Cuevas, who will be
a teammate to Spain's Abraham Olano in the Tour de France next
month.
Results
1. Miguel Angel Pena (Spain) Banesto 3:19:55 seconds
2. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spain) Banesto same time
3. Armand De Las Cuevas (France) Banesto same time
4. Andrei Teteriouk (Kazakhstan) Lotto :28 behind
5. Richard Virenque (France) Festina :34 behind
6. Kurt Van De Wouwer (Belgium) Lotto same time
7. Carlos Alberto Contreras (Colombia) Kelme same time
8. Jean-Cyril Robin (France) US Postal same time
9. Georg Totschnig (Austria) Telekom same time
10. Michael Boogerd (Netherlands) Rabobank :56 behind
Final standings:
1. Armand De Las Cuevas (France) Banesto 28:08:56
2. Miguel Angel Pena (Spain) Banesto :34 behind
3. Andrei Teteriouk (Kazakhstan) Lotto 2:17 behind
4. Dariusz Baranowski (Poland) US Postal 2:19 behind
5. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spain) Banesto 2:41 behind
6. Richard Virenque (France) Festina 2:45 behind
7. Jens Voigt (Germany) Gan 2:56 behind
8. Thierry Bourguignon (France) Big Mat 4:13 behind
9. Patrick Jonker (Netherlands) Rabobank 4:35 behind
10. Jean Cyril Robin (France) US Postal 4:36 behind
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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