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Clear the way
Paris awaits the arrival of victorious Armstrong
Posted: Saturday July 28, 2001 12:04 PM
Updated: Sunday July 29, 2001 2:19 AM
| |
Lance Armstrong prepares for the start of Saturday's stage. AP |
EVRY, France (AP) -- Germany's Erik Zabel won the penultimate
stage of the Tour de France on Saturday, surging to the front of
the pack in a mass sprint finish and claiming his third
stage-victory of this year's race.
Zabel moved within two points of taking the green jersey awarded
to the best sprinter from Australian Stuart O'Grady, who crossed
the finish line just behind him. Latvian rider Romans Vainsteins
was third.
"Two points difference after 3,200 kilometers [1,984 miles],
it's unbelievable," said Zabel, who rides for Team Telekom. "It
all will be played out Sunday. Normally it's a quiet stage. This
time it will be different."
One day before the three-week Tour ends on the Champs-Elysees in
Paris, the identity of the green jersey-winner was the only major
question mark remaining over the event.
| |
| The Leaders |
|---|
| Rider |
Country |
Trailing By |
| 1. Lance Armstrong |
USA |
|
| 2. Jan Ullrich |
Germany |
6 min., 44 sec. |
| 3. Joseba Beloki |
Spain |
9:05 |
| 4. Andrei Kivilev |
Kazakhstan |
9:53 |
| 5. Igor Gonzalez Galdeano |
Spain |
13:28 |
| 6. Francois Simon |
France |
17:22 |
| 7. Oscar Sevilla |
Spain |
18:30 |
| 8. Santiago Botero |
Colombia |
20:55 |
| 9. Marcos Serrano |
Spain |
21:45 |
| 10. Michael Boogerd |
Netherlands |
22:38 |
| 11. Didier Rous |
France |
24:22 |
| 12. Inigo Chaurreau |
Spain |
28:09 |
| 13. Francisco Mancebo |
Spain |
28:33 |
| 14. Stefano Garzelli |
Italy |
29:00 |
| 15. Roberto Heras |
Spain |
30:44 |
| |
|
Lance Armstrong retained his leader's yellow jersey despite
finishing 30th. He holds a commanding lead atop the overall
standings and, barring sickness or accidents, is certain to win a
third consecutive Tour title on Sunday. He leads second-placed Jan
Ullrich of Germany by six minutes and 44 seconds in the race
rankings. Spaniard Joseba Beloki is set to take the remaining
podium place.
The Texan finished Saturday's 149.5-kilometer (92.84-mile) stage
from Orleans to this town just south of Paris in the same time as
Zabel, clocking three hours, 12 minutes and 27 seconds.
Zabel also won the Saint-Omer to Boulogne-sur-Mer and the
Antwerp to Seraing stages.
Sunday's 20th stage takes riders on a 160.5-kilometer
(99.67-mile) stretch from Corbeil Essones south of Paris to the
Champs-Elysees.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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