Jerry Powell
By IAN PHILLIPS
The Associated Press
7/4/00 1:06 PM
SAINT-NAZAIRE, France (AP) -- Laurent Jalabert, an outcast for two years in
clashes over drug policies and medical checks, took the lead in the
Tour de France Tuesday, while Lance Armstrong dropped to fourth.
Jalabert's Once team finished the 43-mile time trial from Nantes to the
Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire in 1 hour, 25 minutes, 36 seconds.
Armstrong and his U.S. Postal Service team was second, 46 seconds behind.
Jan Ullrich's Deutsche Telekom placed third, 1:26 back.
The result meant Armstrong fell from second place to fourth, 44 seconds
behind Jalabert in the overall standings. Jalabert, formerly ranked No. 1
in the world, had begun the day in third place.
Britain's David Millar, on the Cofidis team, had held the yellow jersey
since Saturday's opening individual time trial. But after Tuesday's stage,
he
slipped to 24th.
Eight of the top 10 places in the overall standings were held by members of
the Once team. David Canada was second, 12 seconds back, and
Abraham Olano third, 35 seconds behind.
It was the first time since Laurent Desbiens in 1998 that a Frenchman wore
the yellow jersey as race leader.
"This stage was very important to us," Jalabert said. "We were meticulous
down to the last detail. If you start a stage like this full of fear it's
difficult
to get anywhere. If you're confident it makes all the difference."
Jalabert, who hadn't won a stage at the Tour de France since 1995, pulled
out of the 1998 race at the height of its doping scandal to protest
police searches through the cyclists' hotels for banned substances.
He then clashed with French authorities after refusing to undergo mandatory
health checks, was excluded from the national team in 1999 and
missed last year's Tour de France.
He said Tuesday's victory marked a crossroads in his career.
"It's a new beginning," he said. "I hope it lasts."
The teams set out with a strong, energy-sapping headwind buffeting them all
the way.
Racing against the clock, teamwork and communication were keys. Riders
shuttled back and forth constantly to take turns against the wind.
Most of the race was flat except for a steady climb over a long bridge
heading toward the finish.
"There was a block headwind all the way," Stuart O'Grady of Credit Agricole
said. "Coming over the bridge was just hell."
Armstrong excelled in last year's time trials as he headed toward a
remarkable victory, only three years after being diagnosed with cancer.
In the run-up to this year's race, his team again spent hours trying to
perfect its technique in the time trial and was looking for a good dividend
Tuesday.
The time trial came after two days of races along flat countryside which
proved a perfect setting for the sprint specialists.
Belgium's Tom Steels, victorious three times last year, won both stages.
The race favorites were content to sit back and save their legs ahead of
the time trial and the grueling mountain stages looming next week.
Wednesday's race covers 125 miles from Vannes to Vitre in Brittany.
Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved.