ONE day after having been deprived of a deserved win, Latvian Piotr
Ugrumov took his revenge in style by claiming victory in the eighteenth
stage of the Tour de France yesterday.
Ugrumov, who had worked the hardest in a 100km break before seeing
Colombian Nelson Rodriguez outsprint him in Val Thorens on Wednesday,
made another bold move by escaping after the penultimate ascent on the
race's last mountain road stage.
The 33-year-old Ugrumov, who took second place in the Giro d'Italia
last year, stayed in front for the last 45km of the day's 174[1/2]km
ride from Moutiers before earning his reward in the small industrial
town of Cluses.
The veteran Latvian, who became the first rider from a Baltic state to
win a Tour stage, crossed the line 2min. 39sec. ahead of race leader
Miguel Indurain of Spain with Frenchman Richard Virenque third, one
second back.
Indurain, almost certain to clinch a fourth successive win in Paris on
July 24, underlined his supremacy on the race with a smooth ride in a
gruelling stage featuring three tough climbs.
Three days before an expected triumph on the Champs Elysees, Indurain
has a lead of 7min. 22sec. over second-placed Virenque, sporting the red
polka dot jersey for climbers.
STAGE RESULTS
1, Piotr Ugrumov (Latvia) Gewiss Ballan 4hr 52min. 19sec.; 2, Miguel
Indurain (Spain) Banesto 2min. 39sec. behind; 3, Richard Virenque
(France) Festina 2-40; 4, Fernando Escartin (Spain) Mapei Clas 3-25; 5,
Marco Pantani (Italy) Carrera same time; 6, Roberto Conti (Italy) Lampre
3-26; 7, Pascal Lino (France) Festina 3-30; 8, Luc Leblanc (France)
Festina same time; 9, Arturas Kasputis (Lithuania) Chazal 4-55; 10,
Oscar Pellicioli (Italy) Polti same time.
Other placing: 53, Sean Yates (Britain) Motorola 20-47 behind.
OVERALL STANDINGS
1, Indurain 91hr 37min. 43sec.; 2, Virenque 7-22; 3, Ugrumov 8-55; 4,
Pantani 8-57; 5, Leblanc 9-29; 6, Conti 10-51; 7, Alberto Elli (Italy)
GB MG 16-30; 8, Alex Zuelle (Switzerland) ONCE 19-22; 9, Udo Bolts
(Germany) Telkom 21-13; 10, Lino 21-23.
Other placing: 70, Yates 1:55-40.
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