Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993 TAG: 9307260043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PARIS LENGTH: Medium
Spanish fans waved flags as Indurain coasted along the Champs Elysees, where the race ended Sunday. Meanwhile, bells rang and skyrockets exploded in the Spaniard's hometown of Villava to celebrate his third triumph is as many years in the world's most prestigious cycling event.
"Every year has been different. The first year it was all new and I was very nervous," Indurain said after winning the three-week-long event.
"The second year I was more relaxed and enjoyed the victory more," Indurain said. "The third was more like the second, you know how things work . . . you know more people . . . and can enjoy it a little more."
Indurain joined such cycling greats as Belgium's Eddie Merckx and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Louison Bobet as the only riders to win the race three years in a row. But no one can match Indurain's record of the past two years, during which he also has won the Tour of Italy twice.
"To win the Giro and the Tour like that," Indurain said. "It's the first time and it will stay in history."
That represents more than 40 days of riding over a two-month period where one poor day, a fall or sickness can wipe out days of top cycling.
Indurain is in a class by himself. He finished Sunday in the pack, having a 4-minute, 59-second lead over Switzerland's Tony Rominger. Poland's Zenon Jaskula became the first cyclist from his country to earn a place in the top three.
Fourth went to Alvaro Mejia of Colombia and fifth to Bjarne Riis of Denmark.
Claudio Chiappucci of Italy, in the top three since 1990, was sixth. Johan Bruyneel of Belgium was seventh, just ahead of American Andy Hampsten.
Amid waving Spanish flags and fans who had taken overnight trains from Spain, Indurain was relaxed over the final miles up and down the Champs Elysees. He had taken an almost-insurmountable lead in the preceding weeks before over the the 2,312-miles route through France.
"I was the number one favorite, but the pressure was enormous and it is not always easy," Indurain said. "But I was perfectly prepared for this year and hope to be in the same kind of form next year."
Indurain never was threatened throughout the race. He was the heavy favorite entering the event that started in Puy du Fou in western France on July 3. He took the prologue and waited until the first time trial to gain the yellow jersey, which he never relinquished.
He was always looming near the leaders of the stages in the mountains as the race went through the Alps and the Pyrenees.
He faltered a bit in losing the second time trial to Rominger on Saturday, but still had enough of an advantage to remain in command for the third consecutive year.
Indurain joins three other riders at three victories. Greg LeMond of the United States won in 1986, 1989 and 1990 and did not participate in 1987 and 1988. French rider Philippe Thys has three along with Bobet.
Ahead of Indurain are Merckx, Anquetil and Bernard Hinault, all with five titles.
by CNB