PantaniMarco Pantini set a new record in the stage to L'Alpe d'Huez as the fastest rider over the last 14.5 kilometers from Bourg d'Oisans to the top of the 1990 meter L'Alpe d'Huez. In 1994 he did it in 38 minutes and 4 seconds (and finished in that Stage 8 with 5'41 behind stagewinner Roberto Conti). In 1997, Pantani did the climb in 37.35 although Stage 13 on Saturday had varied the usual pattern of several hard climbs before reaching the Alpe. In Stage 13, there was only one 3rd category climb at the beginning of the stage - Grand Bois.Pantani: "When I can ride for 100 percent, I can climb faster. My target is now to win the Tour de France in 1998." Richard Virenque after the finish in l'Alpe d'Huez: "Pantani was the strongest. I have to wait and see how fast I recuperate." Alpe d'Huez hero Marco Pantani considered pulling out of the Tour de France on Sunday because of a bad throat. ``I'm not managing to breathe properly,'' said the Italian, who set a record for the 14.5-km ascent to Alpe d'Huez when he won the 13th stage on Saturday despite the problem. Pantani was sixth in Sunday's 14th stage, three minutes six seconds behind winner Richard Virenque of France. ``I already didn't feel well at Alpe d'Huez. If it doesn't get better I may have to abandon (the race),'' he said. NelissenDanny Nelissen, who was brought to a hospital in St Etienne on the Rest Day, has to stay there until Monday. The doctors said Nelissen is a too weak to be released. They have give Danny a programme of antibioticsDanny Nelissen flight to Bruxelles today for resting at home (in stead of Monday). In Stage 14, Luc Leblanc and Frattini did not start. Germany now wants a "Tour"The German Cycling Union has plans to make a Tour of their own through Germany within 3 years. Manfred Bohmer of the Union said: "We spoke with Leblanc of the Tour de France and he is enthusiastic too". The Tour of Germany (to be called Deutschland Rundfahrt) will not be as big as the Tour de France. Rather it will be something like the Tour of Switzerland. |