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France's idol King of the Mountains Virenque stars on home soilPosted: Sunday July 27, 2003 1:08 PMPARIS (Reuters) -- Richard Virenque was once the black sheep of world cycling but his popularity in France remained intact and his performance in the 2003 Tour was enough to explain why. At 33, Virenque, kicked out of the Tour in 1998 after the biggest doping scandal in cycling history, finished 16th overall and won a stage in the centenary edition of the race. As usual, it was a mountain stage in Morzine, the first of this year's race, and it allowed him to sport the leader's yellow jersey for only the second time in his career. The first time Virenque had led the Tour was in 1992 and since then he had become one of France's best loved sporting characters in spite of his mixed results and doping problems. He was banned for nine months in 2000 after finally admitting to using drugs during the trial following the infamous Festina scandal. But Virenque's trademark in 11 Tours has been the King of the Mountains polka-dot jersey, which he has now won a record-equaling six times. Most pictures in Tour de France books show him in the jersey he has won as many times as Spaniard Federico Bahamontes, the 1959 Tour winner, or Belgian Lucien van Impe, the 1976 champion. For French fans, the polka-dot garment belongs to him. "This jersey suits me so well I really wanted to win it again for the Tour of the centenary," Virenque said. "I also wanted to win it in my usual fashion, by attacking far from the finish. "And to be linked to Bahamontes, a name who still gives me shivers when I hear it is unbelievable." Second behind Jan Ullrich in 1997, Virenque will never win the Tour as the other two six-times best climbers did, but like 1960s rider Raymond Poulidor will remain as one of the Tour's magnificent losers. "The circle has been completed. I held the yellow jersey in my first Tour and I also held it for one day in this Tour. I can stop my career now," said Virenque after his win in Morzine, the sixth Tour stage victory of his career. But retirement is the last thing on the Frenchman's mind. "I will be back next year. I don't know with what team but I'll be back for my 14th season. "When the flame is still there and the crowd keeps it going, there's no reason to quit," he said.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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