Indurain was pleased with his race, citing a good balance between the mountain and time-trail stages, but the cycling legend would not accept that he was outright favourite for the Tour de France. "I don't think my mountain riding has improved My adversaries are stronger in the time-trials, but perhaps they are a little weaker in the mountains." Indurain said.
French world champion Laurent Jalabert, who held the yellow jersey until the completion of Saturday's gruelling sixth stage through the Alps, was forced to retire suffering from exhaustion 40 kilometres from the end of the final stage. The poor showing, in his first race following weeks away from competition due to injury and then holidays, casts a shadow over Jalabert's pre-Tour fitness.
Englishman Chris Boardman, cycled home around 100-metres behind Indurain to take seventh in the stage and fifth overall, five minutes 49 seconds behind the Spaniard. The high placing bodes well for the former time-trial world champion, who suffered an ankle injury earlier in the season. Most riders will now be resting and training privately in the run up the June 29 start of the Tour de France in the Dutch village of Hertogenbosch.