Tour de France 1998 - 15 Les Deux Alpes Pantani 2/2

Tour de Francia 15 Grenoble - Les Deux Alpes 189 Km.
Croix de Fer (HC-2067) - Massi
Le Télégraphe (2-1566) - Massi
Le Galibier (HC-2645) - Pantani
Les Deux Alpes (1-1644) - Pantani
Part 1/2: • Tour de France 1998 - ...
1. Marco Pantani (Ita) en 5h43'45" (Moy : 32.989 km/h)
2. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) à 1'54"
3. Fernando Escartin (Esp) à 1'59"
4. Christophe Rinero (Fra) à 2'57"
5. Bobby Julich (Usa) à 5'43"
6. Michael Boogerd (Hol) à 5'48"
7. Marcos Serrano (Esp) à 6'04"
8. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) à 6'34"
9. Manuel Beltran (Esp) à 6'40"
10. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol)l
11. Axel Merckx (Bel) Polti
12. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita)
13. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita)
14. Daniele Nardello (Ita)
15. Angel Casero (Esp) à 6'40"
16. Roland Meier (Sui)
17. Luc Leblanc (Fra) à 6'46"
18. Geert Verheyen (Bel) à 7'36"
19. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel)
20. Santiago Blanco (Esp)
21. Peter Farazijn (Bel) à 7'57"
22. Bo Hamburger (Dan) à 8'33"
23. Udo Bolts (All) à 8'57"
24. Bjarne Riis (Dan)
25. Jan Ullrich (All)
26. Cesar Solaun (Esp) à 10'02"
27. Philippe Bordenave (Fra) à 10'16"
28. José-Maria Jimenez (Esp) à 11'48"
29. Jorg Jaksche (All) à 11'58"
30. Vicent Garcia-Acosta (Esp) à 12'22"
GC after Stage 15
1. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno 71.58.37
2. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis 3.53
2. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme 4.14
4. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom 5.56
5. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis 6.12
6. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 6.16
7. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino 7.53
8. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti 8.01
9. Roland Meier (Swi) Cofidis 8.57
10. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei 9.14
Stage 15 Brief:
The Tour enters the first of 3 days in the Alps today. There are 4 major climbs in the 189 kms journey from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes. The stage culminates on the steady climb up Les Deux Alpes (Cat 1, 8.8 kms at 6.8%). The climb will suit the power climbers like Jan Ullrich rather than the true grimpeur like Marco Pantani. For Pantani, his chance will have to come earlier, probably at the Col du Galibier.
So, at the 69 kms mark, they encounter the "Hors Categorie" Col de la Croix de Fer (a 24.5 km climb at 5.1%), then at 123 kms they climb the Cat 2 Col du Télégraphe (an 11.7 km climb at 6.8%), before heading over the highest point, the "Hors Categorie" Col du Galibier (an 18.3 km climb at 6.8%) at 146.5 kms. The finishing climb of Les Deux Alpes comes at 189 kms.
Watch Pantani on Galibier. Well the prediction was accurate. Marco Pantani blew the Tour apart today with a storming victory which began on the ascent of Galibier. He quickly wound in the leading group of Rinero (Cofidis), Massi (Casino). There were two others he passed on the way including Escartin (Kelme) who had attacked earlier. The lead group had a lead of around 2.30 on the Ullrich group (with about 10 riders in it, including Julich, Pantani, Boogerd). As the climb progressed and Ullrich without Telekom support the drama started. Pantani attacked so quickly and no-one could go with him. Leblanc tried but did not last.
He stormed past the leaders and went over the top of Galibier at 2.29 on Ullrich. The weather was very dull and misty and the roads wet. The descent was treacherous and Pantani (joined again by Rinero, Massi, Escartin and another) increased the lead. By the botton as they were heading up the final 8.8 kms climb of Les Deux Alpes the lead was over 4 minutes. Pantani stormed away again and the lead increased. Julich and Boogerd attacked Ullrich who was now looking slow and spent. Telekom had by now brought back Udo Bolts and then Bjarne Riis to pace him up the final climb. But he looked terrible and was losing time quickly.
As Pantani crossed the finishing line he was over 4 minutes in front of Julich and Boogerd and 6.30 in front of Ullrich - and in yellow. Massi was second and Escartin third.