From PWALTERS@delphi.com Fri Jun 30 01:24:57 1995 Return-Path: Received: from mx4.u.washington.edu by lists.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.05/UW-NDC Revision: 2.33 ) id AA28678; Fri, 30 Jun 95 01:24:56 -0700 Received: from bos1g.delphi.com by mx4.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.05/UW-NDC Revision: 2.31 ) id AA03266; Fri, 30 Jun 95 01:24:49 -0700 Received: from delphi.com by delphi.com (PMDF V4.3-9 #10880) id <01HSAYG9KNB49GVKFS@delphi.com>; Fri, 30 Jun 1995 04:24:47 -0400 (EDT) Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 04:24:47 -0400 (EDT) From: "Patrick D. Walters" Subject: TIOOYK - Saturday Dudes! To: uwracing@u.washington.edu Message-Id: <01HSAYG9KNB69GVKFS@delphi.com> X-Vms-To: INTERNET"uwracing@u.washington.edu" Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT 19 29-JUN-1995 01:20 Cycling-Penpix of Tour de France favourites PARIS, June 29 (Reuter) - Following are pen pictures of the favourites for the Tour de France cycle race starting on Saturday: Miguel INDURAIN (Spain). Team: Banesto (Spain). Age 30. Tour de France record: Winner 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, stage victories 9. Other major career wins: Tour of Italy 1992, 1993, San Sebastian Classic 1990, Paris-Nice 1989, 1990. The silent strongman starts as favourite to become the first rider ever to win five consecutive Tours and equal overall record of five wins set by Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault. On good form as shown by winning recent Dauphine Libere stage race but Merckx, among others, feels he could struggle in the mountains a little this time. Tony ROMINGER (Switzerland). Team: Mapei-GB (Italy). Age 34. Tour de France record: Second 1993, stage wins 3, King of the Mountains 1993. Other major career wins: Tour of Spain 1992, 1993, 1994, Tour of Italy 1995, Paris-Nice 1991, 1994. Holder world one-hour record -- 55.291 kms. For third year in a row looks the man most likely to beat Indurain but has yet to do it. One of few capable of contesting Indurain's supremacy in time trials and more redoutable than the Spaniard in the mountains. Yet he was well beaten in 1993 and failed to finish last year's race. Age also against him, giving rise to suggestions this could be his last chance. Yevgeny BERZIN (Russia). Team: Gewiss-Ballan (Italy). Age 25. Tour de France record: none. Major career wins: Tour of Italy 1994, Liege-Bastogne-Liege 1994. Embarks on first Tour de France as one of favourites after coming to fore last season with victory in his first Giro d'Italia. Came second to Rominger in this year's Italian event to show he really has the class to do well in major tours. Marco PANTANI (Italy). Team: Carrera (Italy). Age 25. Tour de France record: Third 1994, no stage wins. Other main career wins: two stage victories in Tour of Italy. Burst on scene last year with a remarkable second place in Giro followed by a third place in the Tour. Unable to enter Tour of Italy this year after being injured in accident with car but has shown signs of getting back to best form in recent races. Laurent JALABERT (France). Team: ONCE (Spain). Age 26. Tour de France record: Green jersey as points winner 1992, stage wins 1. Other major career wins: nine stage wins in Tour of Spain, Paris-Nice 1995, Milan-San Remo 1995. Once considered as sprint specialist but has added a new dimension this season with excellent time trial and good mountain performances to win the Paris-Nice stage race. Followed up with amazing series of early-season victories which made him seem invincible but has been less to the fore recently. Gianni BUGNO (Italy). Team: MG-Technogym (Italy). Age 31. Tour de France record: Second 1991, third 1992, stage wins 3. Other major career wins: Tour of Italy 1991, world road race champion 1991, 1992, Milan-San Remo 1990, Wincanton Classic 1990, San Sebastian Classic 1991, Tour of Flanders 1994. After three great seasons between 1990 and 1992, suffered puzzling loss of form and almost ended career last year when he was given a doping ban after testing positive for caffeine. Came back this season to win Tour of Mediterranean and won Italian title last weekend. Alex ZUELLE (Switzerland). Team: ONCE (Spain). Age 26. Tour de France record: Eigh 1994, no stage wins. Major career wins: Paris-Nice 1993. After excellent debut season in 1992, looked like potential Tour winner of future with great start to season which saw him win Paris-Nice and take three stage victories in Tour of Spain. But the bespectacled rider has so far failed to realise his promise and has been overshadowed by compatriot Rominger. Claudio CHIAPPUCCI (Italy). Team: Carrera (Italy). Age 32. Tour de France record: Second 1990, third 1991, second 1992, stage wins 3, King of the Mountains 1991, 1992. Other major career wins: Milan-San Remo 1991, San Sebastian Classic 1993. Effervescent personality who brightens every Tour with his daring mountain challenges though days when he could rival for leader's yellow jersey are probably gone. Richard VIRENQUE (France). Team: Festina (Andorra). Age 25. Tour de France record: Fifth 1994, stage wins 1, King of the Mountains 1994. Major career wins: none. Popular rider who did much better than expected in last year's Tour and who is now one of France's main hopes for a title that has passed the home nation by since 1985. Lance ARMSTRONG (U.S.) Team: Motorola (U.S.). Age 24. Tour de France record: Stage wins 1. Major career wins: World road race champion 1993. Hailed as potential successor to three-times Tour winner and fellow-American Greg LeMond but despite taking world title at age of 22, the Texan has so far failed to fulfil his true potential. His limitations in the mountains hamper his chances. .