Stage 7 Results

           1. Johan Bruyneel (Bel)      4:48.14'
           2. Miguel Indurain (Spa)        z.t.
           3. Jesper Skibby (Den)       +  0.50'
           4. Jens Heppner (Dui)           z.t.
           5. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita)      z.t.
           6. Laurent Jalabert (Fra)       z.t.
           7. Bruno Thibout (Fra)          z.t.
           8. Francois Simon (Fra)         z.t.
           9. Bo Hamburger (Den)           z.t.
          10. Andrea Ferrigato (Ita)       z.t.
          11. Angelo Lecchi (Ita)          z.t.
          12. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)     z.t.
          13. Laurent Brochard (Fra)       z.t.
          14. Alvaro Mejia (Col)           z.t.
          15. Vladimir Poelnikov (Oek)     z.t.
          16. Bjarne Riis (Den)            z.t.
          17. Gilles Bouvard (Fra)         z.t.
          18. Zenon Jaskula (Pol)          z.t.
          19. Jean-Francois Bernard (Fra)  z.t.
          20. Melchor Mauri (Spa)          z.t.
          21. Javier Mauleon (Spa)         z.t.
          22. Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita)       z.t.
          23. Oscar Pellicioli (Ita)       z.t.
          24. Alex Zulle (Zwi)             z.t.
          25. Mariano Rojas (Spa)          z.t.
          26. Georg Totschnig (Oos)        z.t.
          27. Udo Bolts (Dui)              z.t.
          28. Massimiliano Lelli (Ita)     z.t.
          29. Yvon Ledanois (Fra)          z.t.
          30. Fernando Escartin (Spa)      z.t.
          31. ERIK BREUKINK                z.t.
          32. Pavel Tonkov (Rus)           z.t.
          33. Ivan Gotti (Ita)             z.t.
          34. Laurent Dufaux (Zwi)         z.t.
          35. Laurent Madouas (Fra)        z.t.
          36. Andrea Peron (Ita)           z.t.
          37. Didier Rous (Fra)            z.t.
          38. Gianni Bugno (Ita)           z.t.
          39. Eric Boyer (Fra)             z.t.
          40. Tony Rominger (Zwi)          z.t.
          41. Rue (Fra)                    z.t.
          42. Aparicio (Spa)               z.t.
          43. Chiappucci (Ita)             z.t.
          44. Donati (Ita)                 z.t.
          45. Robin (Fra)                  z.t.
          46. Virenque (Fra)               z.t.
          47. Gonzalez-Arrieta (Spa)       z.t.
          48. De las Cuevas (Fra)          z.t.
          49. Baldinger (Dui)              z.t.
          50. Berzin (Rus)                 z.t.
          51. Pantani (Ita)                z.t.
          52. Elli (Ita)                   z.t.
          53. Cubino (Spa)                 z.t.
          54. Belli (Ita)                  z.t.
          55. Zaina (Ita)                  z.t.
          56. Buenahora (Col)              z.t.
          57. Cipollini (Ita)           +  2.19'
          58. Munoz (Col)                  z.t.
          59. Podenzana (Ita)              z.t.
          60. Abdoesjaparov (Oez)          z.t.
          61. Tsjmil (Oek)              +  3.02'
          62. EDDY BOUWMANS                z.t.
          63. Martinello (Ita)             z.t.
          64. Cenghialta (Ita)             z.t.
          65. Armstrong (VS)               z.t.
          66. Uriarte (Spa)                z.t.
          67. Volpi (Ita)                  z.t.
          68. Tafi (Ita)                +  6.29'
          69. Bortolami (Ita)              z.t.
          70. MAARTEN DEN BAKKER           z.t.
          71. Konisjev (Rus)               z.t.
          72. Aldag (Dui)                  z.t.
          73. Colombo (Ita)                z.t.
          74. Diaz Zabala (Spa)            z.t.
          75. Zberg (Zwi)                  z.t.
          76. Museeuw (Bel)                z.t.
          77. Gonzales (Spa)               z.t.
          78. Scirea (Ita)                 z.t.
          79. Lemarchand (Fra)             z.t.
          80. Van de Laer (Bel)            z.t.
          81. Vona (Ita)                   z.t.
          82. Davy (Fra)                   z.t.
          83. Sciandri (Ita)               z.t.
          84. Jarmann (Zwi)                z.t.
          85. Jekimov (Rus)                z.t.
          86. Milesi (Ita)              +  8.50'
          87. Alonso (Spa)              +  9.56'
          88. Laurent (Fra)                z.t.
          89. Aguirre (Col)                z.t.
          90. FRANS MAASSEN                z.t.
          91. Arroyo (Mex)                 z.t.
          92. Casartelli (Ita)             z.t.
          93. Miranda (Spa)                z.t.
          94. Garmendia (Spa)              z.t.
          95. Stephens (Aus)               z.t.
          96. Piziks (Lit)                 z.t.
          97. Bertolini (Ita)              z.t.
          98. Yates (GB)                + 11.01'
          99. ERIK DEKKER                  z.t.
         100. Zabel (Dui)                  z.t.
         101. Cabello (Spa)                z.t.
         102. Colage (Ita)                 z.t.
         103. Kaspoetis (Lit)              z.t.
         104. Talmant (Fra)                z.t.
         105. Peeters (Bel)             + 12.42'
         106. Gontsjenkov (Oek)            z.t.
         107. Vidal (Spa)                  z.t.
         108. Loda (Ita)                + 16.53'
         109. Radaelli (Ita)               z.t.
         110. Fagnini (Ita)                z.t.
         111. Wauters (Bel)                z.t.
         112. Vanderaerden (Bel)           z.t.
         113. Gouvenou (Fra)               z.t.
         114. Jeker (Zwi)                  z.t.
         115. Petito (Ita)                 z.t.
         116. BART VOSKAMP                 z.t.
         117. Lance (Fra)                  z.t.
         118. JELLE NIJDAM                 z.t.
         119. LEON VAN BON                 z.t.
         120. Poli (Ita)                   z.t.
         121. Mengin (Fra)                 z.t.
         122. Cornillet (Fra)              z.t.
         123. Hodge (Aus)                  z.t.
         124. Verdonck (Bel)               z.t
         125. Politano (Ita)               z.t.
         126. Rezze (Fra)                  z.t.
         127. Bourgeot (Fra)               z.t.
         128. Frison (Bel)                 z.t.
         129. Farazijn (Bel)               z.t.
         130. Swart (NZl)                  z.t.
         131. Zanette (Ita)                z.t.
         132. Ludwig (Dui)                 z.t.
         133. Vanzella (Ita)               z.t.
         134. Cassani (Ita)                z.t.
         135. Andreu (VS)                  z.t.
         136. Castano (Col)                z.t.
         137. Bauer (Can)                  z.t.
         138. Durand (Fra)                 z.t.
         139. Magnien (Fra)                z.t.
         140. Sierra (Ven)                 z.t.
         141. Bettin (Ita)                 z.t.
         142. TRISTAN HOFFMAN              z.t.
         143. Moreels (Bel)                z.t.
         144. Moncassin (Fra)              z.t.
         145. Moreau (Fra)                 z.t.
         146. Simoni (Ita)                 z.t.
         147. Gorini (Ita)                 z.t.
         148. Delion (Fra)                 z.t.
         149. Boscardin (Ita)              z.t.
         150. Fidanza (Ita)                z.t.
         151. Perona (Ita)                 z.t.
         152. Serpellini (Ita)             z.t.
         153. Chiesa (Ita)                 z.t.
         154. Perini (Ita)                 z.t.
         155. Oetsjakov (Rus)              z.t.
         156. Bontempi (Ita)               z.t.
         157. Frattini (Ita)               z.t.
         158. Bottaro (Ita)                z.t.
         159. Capelle (Fra)                z.t.
         160. Brasi (Ita)                  z.t.
         161. Camargo (Col)                z.t.
         162. Marie (Fra)                  z.t.
         163. Svorada (Slw)                z.t.
         164. Galletti (Ita)               z.t.
         165. Siboni (Ita)                 z.t.
         166. Bomans (Bel)              + 25.46'
         167. Mario de Clercq (Bel)        z.t.
         168. Peter de Clercq (Bel)        z.t.
         169. Barbero (Ita)             + 28.26'
         170. Edo (Spa)                 + 29.53'

         abandoned during stage 7:

         JEROEN BLIJLEVENS,Fausto Dotti (Ita),
         Nelson Rodriguez (Col),Jaan Kirsipuu
         (Est)

General Classification after Stage 7

           1. Johan Bruyneel (Bel)     31:30.13'
           2. Miguel Indurain (Spa)     +  0.31'
           3. Laurent Jalabert (Fra)    +  0.42'
           4. Bjarne Riis (Den)            z.t.
           5. Ivan Gotti (Ita)          +  0.46'
           6. Melchor Mauri (Spa)       +  1.03'
           7. Alex Zulle (Zwi)          +  1.04'
           8. Jevgeni Berzin (Rus)      +  1.13'
           9. Vicente Aparicio (Spa)    +  1.37'
          10. Mariano Rojas (Spa)       +  1.39'
          11. ERIK BREUKINK             +  1.54'
          12. Tony Rominger (Zwi)       +  2.05'
          13. Javier Mauleon (Spa)      +  2.16'
          14. Fernando Escartin (Spa)   +  2.17'
          15. Laurent Brochard (Fra)    +  2.29'
          16. Gianni Bugno (Ita)        +  2.38'
          17. Gerard Rue (Fra)          +  3.02'
          18. Bruno Thibout (Fra)       +  3.07'
          19. Laurent Madouas (Fra)     +  3.10'
          20. Alvaro Mejia (Col)        +  3.19'
          21. Jean-Cyril Robin (Fra)    +  3.21'
          22. Andrea Peron (Ita)        +  3.25'
          23. Alberto Elli (Ita)        +  3.26'
          24. Laurent Dufaux (Zwi)      +  3.27'
          25. Bruno Cenghialta (Ita)    +  3.41'
          26. Maurizio Fondriest (Ita)     z.t.
          27. Dirk Baldinger (Dui)      +  3.48'
          28. Richard Virenque (Fra)       z.t.
          29. Pavel Tonkov (Rus)        +  3.53'
          30. Claudio Chiappucci (Ita)  +  3.54'
          31. Djam.Abdoesjaparov (Oez)  +  4.06'
          32. Marco Pantani (Ita)       +  4.07'
          33. Udo Bolts (Dui)           +  4.14'
          34. Armand de las Cuevas(Fra) +  4.15'
          35. Enrico Zaina (Ita)        +  4.16'
          36. Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita)       z.t.
          37. Jose Ramon Uriarte (Spa)  +  4.31'
          38. Jens Heppner (Dui)        +  4.34'
          39. Eric Boyer (Fra)          +  4.59'
          40. Vladimir Poelnikov (Oek)  +  5.02'
          41. Cipollini (Ita)           +  5.07'
          42. Gonzalez-Arrieta (Spa)    +  5.08'
          43. Lecci (Ita)               +  5.14'
          44. Ledanois (Fra)            +  5.16'
          45. Totschnig (Oos)           +  5.26'
          46. Hamburger (Den)           +  5.40'
          47. Jaskula (Pol)                z.t.
          48. EDDY BOUWMANS             +  5.49'
          49. Pellicioli (Ita)          +  5.59'
          50. Podenzana (Ita)           +  6.17'
          51. Rous (Fra)                +  6.29'
          52. Martinello (Ita)          +  6.35'
          53. Skibby (Den)              +  6.46'
          54. Donati (Ita)              +  6.47'
          55. Bernard (Fra)             +  6.55'
          56. Colombo (Ita)             +  7.19'
          57. Cubino (Spa)              +  7.36'
          58. Gonzales (Spa)            +  7.41'
          59. Armstrong (VS)            +  7.46'
          60. Buenahora (Col)           +  7.55'
          61. Tafi (Ita)                +  8.05'
          62. Davy (Fra)                +  8.09'
          63. Tsjmil (Rus)              +  8.13'
          64. Diaz Zabala (Spa)         +  8.18'
          65. Sciandri (Ita)            +  8.29'
          66. Museeuw (Bel)             +  8.43'
          67. Belli (Ita)                  z.t.
          68. Munoz (Col)               +  9.01'
          69. Ferrigato (Ita)           +  9.43'
          70. Volpi (Ita)               +  9.57'
          71. Jekimov (Rus)             + 10.02'
          72. Zberg (Zwi)               + 10.05'
          73. Lelli (Ita)               + 10.51'
          74. Bortolami (Ita)           + 11.04'
          75. Bouvard (Fra)             + 11.23'
          76. Van de Laer (Bel)         + 11.43'
          77. Aldag (Dui)               + 11.55'
          78. Lemarchand (Fra)          + 12.04'
          79. Vona (Ita)                + 12.07'
          80. Garmendia (Spa)           + 12.12'
          81. Laurent (Fra)             + 12.29'
          82. Scirea (Ita)              + 12.35'
          83. MAARTEN DEN BAKKER        + 12.50'
          84. Alonso (Spa)              + 13.21'
          85. Jarmann (Zwi)             + 13.36'
          86. Zabel (Dui)               + 13.58
          87. Gontsjenkov (Oek)         + 15.11'
          88. Peeters (Bel)             + 15.14'
          89. Konisjev (Rus)            + 15.16'
          90. Lombardi (Ita)            + 15.44'
          91. FRANS MAASSEN             + 15.50'
          92. ERIK DEKKER               + 16.10'
          93. Casartelli (Ita)             z.t.
          94. Cabello (Spa)             + 16.43'
          95. Milesi (Ita)              + 16.46'
          96. Arroyo (Mex)              + 17.01'
          97. Frattini (Ita)            + 17.19'
          98. Kaspoetis (Lit)           + 17.36'
          99. Stephens (Aus)            + 17.49'
         100. Aguirre (Col)             + 18.25'
         101. Andreu (VS)               + 18.32'
         102. Loda (Ita)                + 19.03'
         103. Marie (Fra)               + 19.19'
         104. Talmant (Fra)             + 19.23'
         105. Vanzella (Ita)            + 19.35'
         106. Yates (GB)                + 19.36'
         107. Oetsjakov (Rus)           + 19.46'
         108. Vidal (Spa)               + 20.01'
         109. Moncassin (Fra)           + 20.09'
         110. Wauters (Bel)             + 20.32'
         111. Bontempi (Ita)            + 20.45'
         112. Hodge (Aus)               + 20.46'
         113. Siboni (Ita)              + 20.55'
         114. Brasi (Ita)               + 21.00'
         115. Perini (Ita)              + 21.17'
         116. LEON VAN BON              + 21.21'
         117. Galletti (Ita)            + 21.39'
         118. Bertolini (Ita)           + 21.55'
         119. Swart (NZl)               + 22.07'
         120. Bauer (Can)               + 22.09'
         121. Boscardin (Ita)           + 22.10'
         122. Capelle (Fra)             + 22.20'
         123. Bettin (Ita)              + 22.21'
         124. Zanette (Ita)             + 22.33'
         125. Mengin (Fra)              + 22.39'
         126. Bottaro (Ita)             + 22.48'
         127. JELLE NIJDAM              + 22.52'
         128. Fidanza (Ita)             + 22.53'
         129. Petito (Ita)              + 23.10'
         130. Fagnini (Ita)             + 23.20'
         131. Sierra (Ven)              + 23.21'
         132. Rezze (Fra)               + 23.32'
         133. Simon (Fra)               + 23.38'
         134. Farazijn (Bel)            + 23.53'
         135. Cassani (Ita)             + 23.59'
         136. BART VOSKAMP              + 24.08'
         137. Moreau (Fra)              + 24.26'
         138. TRISTAN HOFFMAN           + 24.33'
         139. Vanderaerden (Bel)        + 24.49'
         140. Ludwig (Dui)              + 24.50'
         141. Miranda (Spa)                z.t.
         142. Radaelli (Ita)            + 24.55'
         143. Serpellini (Ita)          + 24.58'
         144. Jeker (Zwi)               + 25.17'
         145. Camargo (Col)             + 25.20'
         146. Gouvenou (Fra)            + 25.40'
         147. Perona (Ita)              + 25.48'
         148. Gorini (Ita)              + 26.01'
         149. Chiesa (Ita)              + 26.11'
         150. Lance (Fra)               + 26.18'
         151. Frison (Bel)              + 26.28'
         152. Piziks (Lit)              + 27.25'
         153. Moreels (Bel)             + 27.46'
         154. Poli (Ita)                + 28.43'
         155. Svorada (Slw)             + 28.53'
         156. Bomans (Bel)              + 31.21'
         157. Bourgeot (Fra)            + 32.24'
         158. Mario de Clercq (Bel)     + 33.22'
         159. Politano (Ita)            + 34.11'
         160. Verdonck (Bel)            + 34.43'
         161. Delion (Fra)              + 35.07'
         162. Colage (Ita)              + 36.04'
         163. Edo (Spa)                 + 38.04'
         164. Castano (Col)             + 39.21'
         165. Durand (Fra)              + 39.26'
         166. Barbero (Ita)             + 43.57'
         167. Cornillet (Fra)           + 45.44'
         168. Simoni (Ita)              + 46.22'
         169. Magnien (Fra)             + 53.54'
         170. P.de Clercq (Bel)         + 57.06'

Green Jersey

          1. Laurent Jalabert (Fra)      155 pnt
          2. Djam.Abdoesjaparov (Oez)    151  "
          3. Mario Cipollini (Ita)       108  "
          4. Erik Zabel (Dui)             98  "
          5. Giovanni Lombardi (Ita)      94  "

Mountain Jersey

          1. Richard Virenque (Fra)       38 pnt
          2. Artoeras Kaspoetis (Let)     30  "
             Dmitri Konisjev (Rus)        30  "
          4. MAARTEN DEN BAKKER           24  "
          5. Francois Simon (Fra)         19  "
         10. ERIK DEKKER                  10  "

Teams Classification after Stage 7

          1. Gewiss (Bombini)          94:32.04'
          2. Once (Saiz)               +   0.35'
          3. Banesto (Unzue)           +   2.50'
          4. Mapei-GB (Fernandez)      +   4.14'
          5. Castorama (Guimard)       +   6.54'
         15. NOVELL (JAN RAAS)         +  18.30'
         18. TVM (CEES PRIEM)          +  22.16'
Commentary from http://www.worldmedia.fr/

4:44 PM - BELGIAN TRIUMPHS IN HIS OWN COUNTRY

Belgian cyclist Johan Bruyneel finished first in Liege, completing the 203 km route in 4 hr 48 min 14 sec. He also took the leader's yellow jersey. Spaniard Miguel Indurain came in second, sportingly slowing down to let Bruyneel triumph in his own country. Indurain is now in second place overall. Jesper Skibby of Denmark finished third in the stage between Charleroi and Liege.

answered

4:31 PM - Indurain Could Win Stage

Five km before the finish Spanish star Miguel Indurain and Belgian Johan Bruyneel maintained their 49 sec lead. Indurain could win the 203 km stage, but out of sportsmanship, commentators said he would probably let Bruyneel finish first in his own country.

4:25 PM - Indurain Keeps up the Pressure

Spanish favorite, Miguel Indurain, was still in front of the pack some 15 km to the finish. Johan Bruyneel of Belgian was on his tail. A second group of three riders were 49 sec behind. The pack followed 56 sec later.

4:14 PM - Indurain Makes First Attack in the Tour

Spanish star Miguel Indurain broke away from the pack some 20 km before the finish in Liege. He was quickly joined by Frenchman Eric Boyer and Johan Bryneel of Belgium. Almost immediately, six other racers made a breakaway, including American Lance Armstrong. There was only a 15 sec delay between the two groups.

4:05 PM - Frenchman Wins Sprint

Frenchman Laurent Jalabert won the last sprint of the day, at Theux, 28 km before the finish. Djamolidine Aboujaparov of Russia was second, followed by Bjarne Riis of Denmark. Jalabert's triumph could mean that he ends up taking the yellow jersey off the back of Riis at the finish. At the start of the race, Jalabert was in third place overall, 8 sec behind Riis.

3:58 PM - The Pack Cruises over Another Slope

Frenchman Richard Virenque passed first over the 3rd category slope at Cote de la Reid. He was followed by Claudio Chiappucci of Italy. Spaniard Jose-Ramon Gonzalez-Arrieta was third. The pack has 36 km to the finish in Liege, Belgium.

3:31 PM - Two Riders Out

On route to Liege, two more riders dropped out: Italian Fausto Dotti of Brescialat and Colombian Nelson Rodriguez, who races for Telekom-ZG. Rodriguez, who used to sell ice, was expected to excel in the race. But he fell several times in the first stages. As for the breakaway, Arturas Kasputis of Lithuania and Dutchman Maarten Den Bakker have been joined by Frenchman Thierry Laurent and Erik Dekker from the Netherlands.

2:27 PM - The Pack Grabs Feed Bags

Two riders are out in front: Arturas Kasputis from Lithuania and Maarten Den Bakker from the Netherlands. The two cyclists who race for Chazal and Polis respectively have more than a 3 min advance on the rest of the pack. The riders just passed through the feed zone at My, 101 km before the finish.

1:18 PM - Aboujaparov Wins First Sprint

Djamolidine Aboujaparov of Uzbekestan, wearing the green jersey, won the first intermediary sprint at Purnode, 40 km after the start in Charleroi. Frenchman Laurent Jalabert finished second, followed by another ONCE member, Neil Stephens from Australia.

1:17 PM - Konichev Keeps the Dots

Russian climber Dimitri Konichev passed first over the first 4th category slope at Cote de Yvoir on the route between Charleroi and Liege. Konichev is wearing the climber's red polka dot jersey. Frenchman Francois Simon was second, following by his compatriot Richard Virenque.

12:04 AM - The Race Continues

The pack set off late morning Sunday from Charleroi, Belgium on a 203 km stretch ending in Liege to the northeast. The sun was beating down. If the riders average an expected 38 km and hour - which is slower than they've been racing during the past two stages - they'll complete the stage at 5 p.m. local time.