Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 1, 1990 TAG: 9007010044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: POITIERS, FRANCE LENGTH: Medium
LeMond finished a driving second in the 4-mile prologue, just four seconds behind French short sprint specialist Thierry Marie.
"There were some questions whether I would come back," LeMond said. "But I've been confident for two weeks."
He should be. In four Tour de France appearances, he has won twice. The other times, he has finished second and third.
On Saturday, Marie won the opening sprint around the high-tech theme park called Futuroscope in 7 minutes, 49 seconds. But LeMond, rigged up again with special handlebars, was right behind the winner.
More important, LeMond gained valuable seconds on his top competitors, all former Tour de France champions.
Stephen Roche, the 1987 winner, was 14 seconds behind LeMond in 10th.
France's Laurent Fignon, who lost to LeMond by eight seconds in the 1989 final time trial, Marie was 15th Saturday, dropping 15 seconds to the American. Fignon won in 1983 and 1984.
The 1988 winner, Spain's Pedro Delgado, was 26th, 20 seconds behind LeMond.
Third went to Mexico's Raul Alcala in the same time as LeMond. Another six seconds back was Francis Moreau of France, and Belgium's Eric Vanderaerden was sixth, 12 seconds behind.
All the main competitors used the special triathlon handlebars that force the rider into a more aerodynamic position. LeMond used them in winning the last-day's time trial in 1990.
LeMond came out with a new, improved model Saturday that looks like an upside-down Y, developed by a former ski coach to simulate the downhill tuck position.
"I am extremely pleased with the time today," LeMond said. "I was hoping for the top three, and it's my best performance in a Tour de France prologue."
LeMond was fourth in the opening time trial last year, giving the first indication that he was back from two years of ailments.
Now, after publicity demands and a virus cost him valuable training time over the winter, he had to rush to get into shape for the one race he pointed for all year.
"There is a point I have to go past from bad to good," LeMond said. "Sometimes it takes longer than you think. But now I feel good."
He has another week of relatively flat racing over the next seven stages before the mountains come.
The journey is clockwise around France and stretches 2,125 miles.
Keywords:
CYCLING
by CNB