Tour de France, Grand Tour

July 11-August 2, 1998


1997 Results     Tour Database     Stages and Riders    

Stage 11 Brief:

Stage 11 has five significant climbs: at the 28 kms mark, the Cat 1 Col de Menté (a 9.3 kms climb at 8.6%); at the 43.5 kms mark, the Cat 2 Col du Portet d'Aspet (a 4.4 kms climb at 9.7%); at the 79 kms mark, the Cat 2 Col de la Core (a 14.2 km climbs at 5.8%); at the 126.5 kms mark, the Cat 2 Col de Port (a 10.8 km climb at 4.6%); at the 170 kms mark, the Hors Category Plateau de Beille (a 15.7 kms climb at 7.6%).

The riders cross familiar paths today where some great Tour battles have been staged. The second Pyrenees stage crosses 3 mountain passes before the climax at Plateau de Beille (hosting a Tour finish for the first time). The first climb of the Mente pass, saw Luis Ocana (Spain) fall in 1971 and abandon the Tour just when he was looking set to win the Tour. He had dominated the maestro, Eddy Merckx in the mountains that year.

At the next climb, we recall the death of Italian Fabio Casartelli in 1995. He died after hitting a concrete barrier while descending with a small breakaway group. The next climb of the Col de Port has had its share of Tour moments. the climb is 1249 metres and in 1929 the sure bet Victor Fontan lost the yellow jersey after a major fall.

Yesterday mist, rain and cold; today cloudness, sunny and warm! Italian Marco Pantani came through the pack late in the final ascent of Plateau de Beille to take Stage 11 and he also took some 1.39 out of Jan Ullrich. He is now 3.01 down on GC and has the Alps to come early next week. Swiss rider Roland Meier had set the pace over the final stages, having attacked on the 3rd of 5 mountains in the stage. Meier crashed but was able to recover the finish close behind Pantani.

Pantani told the press later that: `` My main goal in entering the Tour was to win this stage because it was the most beautiful climb in the race. Now I hope to win the other stage finishing in altitude, next week in Les Deux Alpes. As for overall victory, I think I lost too much energy in winning the Giro."

Ullrich had earlier punctured and only Riis and Totshnig were able to help him. Press reports said he struggled, but from the TV coverage he looked very strong. But the puncture lost him time.

Official Photos

These photos were sent to me by the official organisation of the Tour de France. The Official WWW Site is at http://www.letour.com

Stage Profile    

Stage 11, Luchon - Plateau de Beille, 170 kms:

  1. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno                         5.15.27 (32.334)
  2. Roland Meier (Sui) Cofidis                                   1.26
  3. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis                                   1.33
  4. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                               1.33
  5. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saeco                                 1.33
  6. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme                                1.33
  7. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                              1.33
  8. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                                    1.40
  9. Kevin Livingston (USA) Cofidis                               2.01
 10. Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                         2.03
 11. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE                                  2.03
 12. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto                                 2.03
 13. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal                           2.53
 14. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme                                   2.53
 15. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti                                      2.53
 16. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei                               2.58
 17. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Lotto                                  2.58
 18. Axel Merckx (Bel) Polti                                      3.16
 19. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                      3.35
 20. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                   4.07
 21. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino                                    4.07
 22. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal                             4.07
 23. Francisco Benitez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                    4.19
 24. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei                                 4.49
 25. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom                                    4.49
 26. Miguel Angel Pena (Spa) Banesto                              4.49
 27. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino                                    4.49
 28. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto                               4.49
 29. Jorg Jaksche (Ger) Polti                                     4.49
 30. Vicent Garcia-Acosta (Spa) Banesto                           5.02
 31. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) GAN                                     5.52
 32. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto                                   5.56
 33. Evgeni Berzin (Rus) La Francaise des Jeux                    5.56
 34. Stephane Heulot (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                  5.56
 35. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino                                   5.56
 36. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank                                5.56
 37. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis                               5.56
 38. Thierry Bourguignon (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   6.11
 39. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Asics                                      6.25
 40. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom                                6.44
 41. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   6.44
 42. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei                                      7.14
 43. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                               7.51
 44. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal                            8.12
 45. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                 8.18
 46. Denis Leproux (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                         8.18
 47. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                       8.18
 48. Marcelino Garcia (Spa) ONCE                                  8.18
 49. Philippe Bordenave (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                    8.18
 50. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto                                   8.18
 51. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                            9.22
 52. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto                                     9.22
 53. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto                                   9.43
 54. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                             9.57
 55. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Riso Scotti                     9.57
 56. Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE                              9.59
 57. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) TVM                                    10.25
 58. Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Lotto                                10.37
 59. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom                                     10.37
 60. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto                                  10.37
 61. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE                                10.37
 62. Beat Zberg (Sui) Rabobank                                   10.58
 63. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal                               11.40
 64. Alain Turicchia (Ita) Asics                                 11.51
 65. Roberto Conti (Ita) Mercatone Uno                           11.51
 66. Cesar Solaun (Spa) Banesto                                  11.57
 67. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                                  12.07
 68. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                           12.30
 69. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal                               13.14
 70. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Banesto                             13.32
 71. Francois Simon (Fra) GAN                                    13.40
 72. Javier Mauleon (Spa) ONCE                                   13.40
 73. Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme                                 13.40
 74. Jose Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme                               13.52
 75. Massimo Podenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno                       14.42
 76. Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Polti                                    14.43
 77. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno                      15.35
 78. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei                                17.56
 79. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Vitalicio Seguros                    17.56
 80. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal                              17.56
 81. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal                             17.56
 82. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) La Francaise des Jeux             17.56
 83. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Asics                                 18.55
 84. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE                             19.47
 85. Melchor Mauri (Spa) ONCE                                    19.47
 86. Stephane Barthe (Fra) Casino                                19.47
 87. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                                    19.59
 88. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Saeco                                19.59
 89. Fabio Baldato (Ita) Riso Scotti                             19.59
 90. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom                                    19.59
 91. Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco                                  19.59
 92. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme                               19.59
 93. Riccardo Forconi (Ita) Mercatone Uno                        19.59
 94. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto                                   19.59
 95. Simone Borgheresi (Ita) Mercatone Uno                       19.59
 96. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                      19.59
 97. Marino Alonso (Spa) Banesto                                 20.21
 98. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) Banesto                            20.52
 99. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE                                   24.53
100. Pascal Derame (Fra) US Postal                               24.53
101. Sergei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM                                 24.53
102. Jan Svorada (Cze) Mapei                                     24.53
103. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Polti                                  24.53
104. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco                               24.53
105. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom                                  24.53
106. Jens Voigt (Ger) GAN                                        24.53
107. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                                   24.53
108. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     24.53
109. Jose De Los Angeles (Spa) Kelme                             24.53
110. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                          24.53
111. Mirco Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                                  24.53
112. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei                                  24.53
113. Giuseppe Calcaterra (Ita) Saeco                             24.53
114. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal                              24.58
115. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis                              24.58
116. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei                                      24.58
117. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM                                 24.58
118. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                 25.38
119. Bart Voskamp (Ned) TVM                                      25.38
120. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Mapei                                27.22
121. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) GAN                                  27.22
122. Eros Poli (Ita) GAN                                         27.22
123. Orlando Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                             27.22
124. Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Asics                                  27.22
125. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                       27.22
126. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                   27.22
127. Viatchesla Djavanian (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                 27.22
128. Sergio Barbero (Ita) Mercatone Uno                          27.22
129. Nicola Minali (Ita) Riso Scotti                             27.22
130. Diego Ferrari (Ita) Asics                                   27.22
131. Frederic Guesdon (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                27.22
132. Steven De Jongh (Ned) TVM                                   27.22
133. Jose Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme                                  27.22
134. Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                              27.22
135. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM                                    27.22
136. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux               27.22
137. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) GAN                                     27.22
138. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM                                 27.22
139. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom                                27.22
140. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GAN                                    27.22
141. Damien Nazon (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                    27.22
142. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei                                     27.22
143. Jacky Durand (Fra) Casino                                   27.22
144. Jose Angel Vidal (Spa) Kelme                                27.22
145. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Telekom                            27.22
146. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno                        27.22
147. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Rabobank                               27.28
148. Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) Riso Scotti                          27.28

Did not finish:

Vladislav Bobrik (Rus) Riso Scotti
Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto

Disqualified for Drafting:

Lars Michaelsen (Den) TVM

GC after Stage 11

  1. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                                52.42.25
  2. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis                                   1.11
  3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE                                  3.01
  4. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno                            3.01
  5. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                               3.29
  6. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti                                      4.16
  7. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino                                    4.44
  8. Fernando Escartin (Spa) Kelme                                5.16
  9. Roland Meier (Sui) Cofidis                                   5.18
 10. Angel Casero (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                         5.53
 11. Kevin Livingston (USA) Cofidis                               5.59
 12. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                              6.16
 13. Manuel Beltran (Spa) Banesto                                 6.19
 14. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal                           6.55
 15. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom                                    7.00
 16. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei                               7.12
 17. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra) US Postal                             7.12
 18. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saeco                                 7.17
 19. Evgeni Berzin (Rus) La Francaise des Jeux                    7.55
 20. Stephane Heulot (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                  7.56
 21. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei                                 8.26
 22. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino                                   9.00
 23. Marcos Serrano (Spa) Kelme                                   9.02
 24. Vicent Garcia-Acosta (Spa) Banesto                          10.21
 25. Kurt Van de Wouwer (Bel) Lotto                              10.28
 26. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino                                   10.29
 27. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Lotto                                 10.43
 28. Axel Merckx (Bel) Polti                                     10.47
 29. Jorg Jaksche (Ger) Polti                                    10.50
 30. Santiago Blanco (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                     11.48
 31. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) GAN                                    12.12
 32. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom                               14.00
 33. Beat Zberg (Sui) Rabobank                                   15.15
 34. Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) ONCE                             15.36
 35. Geert Verheyen (Bel) Lotto                                  16.31
 36. Cesar Solaun (Spa) Banesto                                  16.58
 37. Peter Farazijn (Bel) Lotto                                  17.03
 38. Philippe Bordenave (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                   20.03
 39. Pascal Chanteur (Fra) Casino                                20.06
 40. Marcelino Garcia (Spa) ONCE                                 20.10
 41. Andrei Teteriouk (Kaz) Lotto                                20.52
 42. Benoit Salmon (Fra) Casino                                  21.26
 43. Miguel Angel Pena (Spa) Banesto                             21.42
 44. Udo Bolts (Ger) Telekom                                     23.01
 45. Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank                              23.41
 46. Santos Gonzalez (Spa) Kelme                                 23.43
 47. Andrea Tafi (Ita) Mapei                                     24.09
 48. Christophe Agnolutto (Fra) Casino                           25.40
 49. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Asics                                 26.10
 50. Oscar Pozzi (Ita) Asics                                     26.25
 51. Prudencio Indurain (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                  26.31
 52. Thierry Bourguignon (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                  27.00
 53. Jose Maria Jimenez (Spa) Banesto                            27.32
 54. Massimo Podenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno                       28.44
 55. Joona Laukka (Fin) Lotto                                    28.57
 56. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank                               29.45
 57. Lylian Lebreton (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                      31.23
 58. Jose Javier Gomez (Spa) Kelme                               31.30
 59. Francisco Cabello (Spa) Kelme                               32.00
 60. Francisco Benitez (Spa) Vitalicio Seguros                   32.11
 61. Rik Verbrugghe (Bel) Lotto                                  32.23
 62. Vjatceslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal                           33.26
 63. Denis Leproux (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                        34.09
 64. Simone Borgheresi (Ita) Mercatone Uno                       34.10
 65. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis                              34.22
 66. Serguei Ivanov (Rus) TVM                                    35.45
 67. Jose Luis Arrieta (Spa) Banesto                             35.58
 68. Riccardo Forconi (Ita) Mercatone Uno                        36.21
 69. Massimo Donati (Ita) Saeco                                  37.12
 70. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal                               38.05
 71. Marty Jemison (USA) US Postal                               38.33
 72. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita) Cofidis                            38.34
 73. Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank                           40.13
 74. Javier Mauleon (Spa) ONCE                                   40.23
 75. Paul Van Hyfte (Bel) Lotto                                  41.24
 76. Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Polti                                    41.48
 77. Roberto Conti (Ita) Mercatone Uno                           41.52
 78. Thierry Gouvenou (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                     42.19
 79. Rafael Diaz Justo (Spa) ONCE                                42.41
 80. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita) Vitalicio Seguros                    44.41
 81. Laurent Desbiens (Fra) Cofidis                              45.05
 82. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal                             45.17
 83. Rolf Aldag (Ger) Telekom                                    45.19
 84. Xavier Jan (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                      45.31
 85. Melchor Mauri (Spa) ONCE                                    46.26
 86. Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita) Riso Scotti                    46.44
 87. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom                                  47.12
 88. Maximilian Sciandri (Gbr) La Francaise des Jeux             47.58
 89. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                                    49.12
 90. Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei                                49.23
 91. Marino Alonso (Spa) Banesto                                 50.11
 92. Fabiano Fontanelli (Ita) Mercatone Uno                      50.42
 93. Alain Turicchia (Ita) Asics                                 50.48
 94. Francois Simon (Fra) GAN                                    51.11
 95. Frankie Andreu (USA) US Postal                              51.32
 96. Roberto Sierra (Spa) ONCE                                   52.14
 97. Jens Voigt (Ger) GAN                                        52.50
 98. Jose Rodriguez (Spa) Kelme                                  53.46
 99. Jacky Durand (Fra) Casino                                   53.48
100. Sergio Barbero (Ita) Mercatone Uno                          56.05
101. Stefano Zanini (Ita) Mapei                                  56.07
102. Andrei Tchmil (Bel) Lotto                                   56.34
103. Herminio Diaz Zabala (Spa) ONCE                             56.52
104. Jose De Los Angeles (Spa) Kelme                             57.16
105. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei                                      57.21
106. Francesco Frattini (Ita) Telekom                            57.22
107. Pascal Lino (Fra) Big Mat-Auber 93                          57.23
108. Fabio Baldato (Ita) Riso Scotti                             58.04
109. Ermanno Brignoli (Ita) Riso Scotti                          58.10
110. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GAN                                    58.19
111. Bart Leysen (Bel) Mapei                                     58.23
112. Orlando Rodrigues (Por) Banesto                             58.32
113. Jose Angel Vidal (Spa) Kelme                                58.34
114. Diego Ferrari (Ita) Asics                                   58.44
115. Christophe Mengin (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux               58.54
115. Christian Henn (Ger) Telekom                                58.59
117. Stephane Barthe (Fra) Casino                                59.23
118. Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank                                 59.24
119. Pascal Derame (Fra) US Postal                               59.36
120. Bart Voskamp (Ned) TVM                                    1.00.28
121. Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Saeco                                1.00.38
122. Frederic Guesdon (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux              1.02.32
123. Rossano Brasi (Ita) Polti                                 1.02.37
124. Peter Van Petegem (Bel) TVM                               1.03.36
125. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Rabobank                             1.04.12
126. Leonardo Guidi (Ita) Polti                                1.04.36
127. Eros Poli (Ita) GAN                                       1.04.53
128. Giuseppe Calcaterra (Ita) Saeco                           1.04.59
129. Mirco Crepaldi (Ita) Polti                                1.05.14
130. Jan Svorada (Cze) Mapei                                   1.05.19
131. Fabio Roscioli (Ita) Asics                                1.05.47
132. Magnus Backstedt (Swe) GAN                                1.05.58
133. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal                            1.06.36
134. Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Rabobank                            1.06.49
135. Franco Ballerini (Ita) Mapei                              1.06.53
136. Sergei Outschakov (Ukr) TVM                               1.07.18
137. Steven De Jongh (Ned) TVM                                 1.07.34
138. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno                      1.07.41
139. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM                                  1.09.09
140. Viatchesla Djavanian (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93               1.10.25
141. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM                               1.10.35
142. Paolo Fornaciari (Ita) Saeco                              1.10.59
143. Eddy Seigneur (Fra) GAN                                   1.12.10
144. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Big Mat-Auber 93                     1.13.51
145. Franck Bouyer (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                 1.14.17
146. Damien Nazon (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux                  1.14.42
147. Nicola Minali (Ita) Riso Scotti                           1.16.46
148. Massimiliano Mori (Ita) Saeco                             1.17.24

Green Jersey:

  1. Erik Zabel (Ger) Telekom                                      207
  2. Jan Svorada (Cze) Mapei                                       157
  3. Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus) Rabobank                                 134
  4. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei                                        126
  5. Nicola Minali (Ita) Riso Scotti                               106
  6. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GAN                                       89
  7. George Hincapie (USA) US Postal                                87
  8. Jeroen Blijlevens (Ned) TVM                                    75
  9. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno                           67
 10. Francois Simon (Fra) GAN                                       60

Mountains Jersey:

  1. Rodolfo Massi (Ita) Casino                                    180
  2. Alberto Elli (Ita) Casino                                     157
  3. Cedric Vasseur (Fra) GAN                                      126
  4. Christophe Rinero (Fra) Cofidis                                96
  5. Roland Meier (Sui) Cofidis                                     75
  6. Marco Pantani (Ita) Mercatone Uno                              66
  7. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom                                      66
  8. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom                                      58
  9. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis                                     49
 10. Leonardo Piepoli (Ita) Saeco                                   46

Teams:

  1. Cofidis                                                 158.02.08
  2. Casino                                                      18.37
  3. Banesto                                                     22.45
  4. Polti                                                       23.05
  5. Telekom                                                     24.22
  6. Lotto                                                       26.38
  7. ONCE                                                        35.13
  8. Vitalicio Seguros                                           39.34
  9. Kelme                                                       39.38
 10. Rabobank                                                    39.39
 11. US Postal                                                   44.27
 12. Mapei                                                       44.29
 13. Mercatone Uno                                             1.00.20
 14. La Francaise des Jeux                                     1.03.36
 15. Big Mat Auber                                             1.07.44
 16. Saeco                                                     1.28.17
 17. Asics                                                     1.33.26
 18. GAN                                                       1.47.32
 19. TVM                                                       2.32.36
 20. Riso Scotti                                               2.38.12