1996 Tour de France

1996 Tour de France
Route of the 1996 Tour de France
Race details
Dates 29 June – 21 July
Stages 21 + Prologue
Distance 3,765 km (2,339 mi)
Winning time 95h 57' 16"
Results
Winner  Bjarne Riis[n 1] (DEN) (Team Telekom)
Second  Jan Ullrich (GER) (Team Telekom)
Third  Richard Virenque (FRA) (Festina)
Points  Erik Zabel[n 1] (GER) (Team Telekom)
Mountains  Richard Virenque (FRA) (Festina)
Youth  Jan Ullrich (GER) (Team Telekom)
Team Festina

The 1996 Tour de France was the 83rd edition of the Tour de France, starting on 29 June and ending on 21 July, featuring 19 regular stages, 2 individual time trials, a prologue and a rest day (10 July). It was won by Danish rider Bjarne Riis.

This Tour was noted by the "fall" of favorite Miguel Indurain, ending his record run of five consecutive victories. The course included a stage through his home town Villava, however he suffered a bronchitis because of the poor weather in the first week, and was fined and penalised for accepting drinks illegally.[1] Indurain started to lose time in stage 7, and finally ended 11th failing to win a single stage or spend one day in the yellow jersey.

Stage 9 was scheduled to be a 176 kilometer ride from Val-d'Isère to Sestriere. However, due to appalling weather conditions, including snow, the organizers cut the stage to just 46 km. Bjarne Riis won the stage and opened a crucial 44 second gap over Telekom teammate Jan Ullrich. Ullrich, only 22, really broke through in this Tour, and won the individual time trial of stage 20.

Over a decade after the race, several riders with Team Telekom confessed to doping offences around the period of the 1996 tour, including support riders Rolf Aldag, Udo Bölts, Christian Henn[2] and Brian Holm and team masseur Jef d'Hont has admitted in his autobiography that there was organised use of EPO in the team.[3] On 24 May 2007, Erik Zabel admitted to using EPO during the first week of the race. The winner of the Tour, Bjarne Riis, admitted on 25 May 2007 that he also used EPO during the Tour, as a result was asked by the International Cyling Union (UCI) to return the yellow jersey he received.[4] So far, runner-up Jan Ullrich, who has been under suspicion of doping as a part of the Operación Puerto doping case, has not commented on allegations that he also used EPO. Third place Richard Virenque and fourth place Laurent Dufaux were implicated in the 1998 Festina scandal.

UCI lawyer Philippe Verbiest stated in 2007 that the statute of limitations for removing Riis as winner of the Tour de France had expired, "you cannot strip him of the title but it possible not to mention it anymore ... Because of what he admitted, he is not the winner of the Tour de France. Riis did not win." At the same time tour spokesman Philippe Sudres stated that: "We consider philosophically that he can no longer claim to have won.".[5] In 2007, Riis' victory was removed from the Tour de France,[6] yet in 2008 they listed Riis as winner of Tour de France 1996, albeit with a remark about his confession.[7]

Teams

For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 1996 Tour de France.

The 18 teams on top of the UCI rankings at the start of 1996 automatically qualified for the Tour.[8] Four wildcards were given, for a total of 22 teams[9]

The teams entering the race were:

Qualified teams

Invited teams

Route and stages

Stage characteristics and winners[9][10][11]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
P 29 June 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) 9.4 km (5.8 mi) Individual time trial  Alex Zülle (SUI)
1 30 June 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) 209.0 km (129.9 mi) Plain stage  Frédéric Moncassin (FRA)
2 1 July 's-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) to Wasquehal 247.5 km (153.8 mi) Plain stage  Mario Cipollini (ITA)
3 2 July Wasquehal to Nogent-sur-Oise 195.0 km (121.2 mi) Plain stage  Erik Zabel (GER)
4 3 July Soissons to Lac de Madine 232.0 km (144.2 mi) Plain stage  Cyril Saugrain (FRA)
5 4 July Lac de Madine to Besançon 242.0 km (150.4 mi) Plain stage  Jeroen Blijlevens (NED)
6 5 July Arc-et-Senans to Aix-les-Bains 207.0 km (128.6 mi) Hilly stage  Michael Boogerd (NED)
7 6 July Chambéry to Les Arcs 200.0 km (124.3 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Luc Leblanc (FRA)
8 7 July Bourg-Saint-Maurice to Val d'Isère 30.5 km (19.0 mi) Individual time trial  Evgueni Berzin (RUS)
9 8 July Le Monêtier-les-Bains to Sestriere (Italy) 46.0 km (28.6 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Bjarne Riis (DEN)
10 9 July Turin (Italy) to Gap 208.5 km (129.6 mi) Hilly stage  Erik Zabel (GER)
10 July Gap Rest day
11 11 July Gap to Valence 202.0 km (125.5 mi) Hilly stage  José Jaime Gonzalez (COL)
12 12 July Valence to Le Puy-en-Velay 143.5 km (89.2 mi) Hilly stage  Pascal Richard (SUI)
13 13 July Le Puy-en-Velay to Super Besse 177.0 km (110.0 mi) Hilly stage  Rolf Sørensen (DEN)
14 14 July Besse to Tulle 186.5 km (115.9 mi) Hilly stage  Djamolidine Abduzhaparov (UZB)
15 15 July Brive-la-Gaillarde to Villeneuve-sur-Lot 176.0 km (109.4 mi) Plain stage  Massimo Podenzana (ITA)
16 16 July Agen to Hautacam 199.0 km (123.7 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Bjarne Riis (DEN)
17 17 July Argelès-Gazost to Pamplona (Spain) 262.0 km (162.8 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Laurent Dufaux (SUI)
18 18 July Pamplona (Spain) to Hendaye (Spain) 154.5 km (96.0 mi) Hilly stage  Bart Voskamp (NED)
19 19 July Hendaye (Spain) to Bordeaux 226.5 km (140.7 mi) Plain stage  Frédéric Moncassin (FRA)
20 20 July Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion 63.5 km (39.5 mi) Individual time trial  Jan Ullrich (GER)
21 21 July Palaiseau to Paris (Champs-Élysées) 147.5 km (91.7 mi) Plain stage  Fabio Baldato (ITA)
Total 3,765 km (2,339 mi)[12]

Race overview

Classification leadership

There were several classifications in the 1996 Tour de France. The most important was the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the yellow jersey; the winner of this classification is considered the winner of the Tour.[13]

Additionally, there was a points classification, which awarded a green jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points for finishing among the best in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification, and was identified with a green jersey.[13]

There was also a mountains classification. The organisation had categorized some climbs as either hors catégorie, first, second, third, or fourth-category; points for this classification were won by the first cyclists that reached the top of these climbs first, with more points available for the higher-categorized climbs. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification, and was identified with a polkadot jersey.[13]

The fourth individual classification was the young rider classification, which was not marked by a jersey. This was decided the same way as the general classification, but only riders under 26 years were eligible.[13]

For the team classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team was the team with the lowest total time.[14]

For the combativity award classification, a jury gave points after each stage to the cyclists they considered most combative. The cyclist with the most votes in all stages lead the classification.

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
A yellow jersey.		 Points classification
A green jersey		 Mountains classification
A white jersey with red polka dots.		 Young rider classification[n 2] Team classification
P Alex Zülle Alex Zülle Alex Zülle no award Christophe Moreau ONCE
1 Frédéric Moncassin Ján Svorada Paolo Savoldelli
2 Mario Cipollini Danny Nelissen
3 Erik Zabel Frédéric Moncassin José Luis Rubiera Jeroen Blijlevens
4 Cyril Saugrain Stéphane Heulot Frédéric Moncassin Danny Nelissen Stéphane Heulot GAN
5 Jeroen Blijlevens
6 Michael Boogerd Léon van Bon Rabobank
7 Luc Leblanc Evgeni Berzin Richard Virenque Jan Ullrich Mapei
8 Evgeni Berzin Team Telekom
9 Bjarne Riis Bjarne Riis
10 Erik Zabel Erik Zabel
11 Chepe González Mapei
12 Pascal Richard Rabobank
13 Rolf Sørensen Mapei
14 Djamolidine Abdoujaparov
15 Massimo Podenzana
16 Bjarne Riis
17 Laurent Dufaux Festina
18 Bart Voskamp
19 Frédéric Moncassin
20 Jan Ullrich
21 Fabio Baldato
Final Bjarne Riis Erik Zabel Richard Virenque Jan Ullrich Festina

Final standings

Legend
A yellow jersey. Denotes the winner of the general classification A green jersey. Denotes the winner of the points classification
A white jersey with red polka dots. Denotes the winner of the mountains classification

General classification

Final general classification (1–10)[9]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Bjarne Riis (DEN) A yellow jersey. Team Telekom 95h 57' 16"
2  Jan Ullrich (GER) Team Telekom + 1' 41"
3  Richard Virenque (FRA) A white jersey with red polka dots. Festina–Lotus + 4' 37"
4  Laurent Dufaux (SUI) Festina–Lotus + 5' 53"
5  Peter Luttenberger (AUT) Carrera Jeans–Tassoni + 7' 07"
6  Luc Leblanc (FRA) Team Polti + 10' 03"
7  Piotr Ugrumov (LAT) Roslotto–ZG Mobili + 10' 04"
8  Fernando Escartín (ESP) Kelme–Artiach + 10' 26"
9  Abraham Olano (ESP) Mapei–GB + 11' 00"
10  Toni Rominger (SUI) Mapei–GB + 11' 53"

Points classification

Final points classification (1–10)[9]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Erik Zabel (GER) A green jersey. Team Telekom 335
2  Frédéric Moncassin (FRA) GAN 284
3  Fabio Baldato (ITA) MG Maglificio–Technogym 255
4  Djamolidine Abduzhaparov (UZB) Refin–Mobilvetta 204
5  Jeroen Blijlevens (NED) TVM–Farm Frites 158
6  Andrei Tchmil (RUS) Lotto 132
7  Bjarne Riis (DEN) A yellow jersey. Team Telekom 129
8  Andrea Ferrigato (ITA) Roslotto–ZG Mobili 126
9  Richard Virenque (FRA) A white jersey with red polka dots. Festina–Lotus 124
10  Mariano Piccoli (ITA) Brescialat 122

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10)[9]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Richard Virenque (FRA) A white jersey with red polka dots. Festina–Lotus 383
2  Bjarne Riis (DEN) A yellow jersey. Team Telekom 274
3  Laurent Dufaux (SUI) Festina–Lotus 176
4  Laurent Brochard (FRA) Festina–Lotus 168
5  Luc Leblanc (FRA) Team Polti 158
6  Tony Rominger (SUI) Mapei–GB 148
7  Jan Ullrich (GER) Team Telekom 131
8  Pascal Hervé (FRA) Festina–Lotus 110
9  Peter Luttenberger (AUT) Carrera Jeans–Tassoni 109
10  Piotr Ugrumov (LAT) Roslotto–ZG Mobili 101

Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–10)[9]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Jan Ullrich (GER) Team Telekom 95h 58' 57"
2  Peter Luttenberger (AUT) Carrera Jeans–Tassoni + 5' 26"
3  Manuel Fernández Ginés (ESP) Mapei–GB + 24' 47"
4  Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) Refin–Mobilvetta + 25' 55"
5  Michael Boogerd (NED) Rabobank + 1h 12' 04"
6  José Luis Arrieta (ESP) Banesto + 1h 12' 07"
7  Paolo Savoldelli (ITA) Roslotto–ZG Mobili + 1h 13' 39"
8  Oscar Camenzind (SUI) Panaria–Vinavil + 1h 23' 36"
9  Laurent Roux (FRA) TVM–Farm Frites + 1h 34' 30"
10  Valentino Fois (ITA) Panaria–Vinavil + 1h 44' 17"

Team classification

Final team classification (1–10)[9]
Rank Team Time
1 Festina–Lotus 287h 46' 20"
2 Team Telekom + 15' 14"
3 Mapei–GB + 51' 36"
4 Roslotto–ZG Mobili + 1h 22' 29"
5 ONCE + 1h 36' 10"
6 Rabobank + 1h 53' 14"
7 TVM–Farm Frites + 2h 09' 21"
8 MG Maglificio–Technogym + 2h 18' 11"
9 Team Polti + 2h 31' 13"
10 Banesto + 2h 31' 20"

Combativity classification

Final combativity classification (1–3)[9]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Richard Virenque (FRA) A white jersey with red polka dots. Festina–Lotus 50
2  Bjarne Riis (DEN) A yellow jersey. Team Telekom 47
3  Michele Bartoli (ITA) MG Maglificio–Technogym 47

See also

Notes and references

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 In 2007, Bjarne Riis admitted to the use of doping during the 1996 Tour. Shortly after his confession, the organisers of the Tour de France have said that they did not consider him a winner, but under UCI regulations at the time, the statute of limitations (ten years) had passed, meaning they could not strip him of his results. The same applies for Erik Zabel, the winner of the points classification.
  2. ↑ The white jersey was not awarded between 1989 and 1999.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Riis overcame climatic chaos to end the reign of Indurain". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  2. ↑ "Zabel admits to doping at Telekom". BBC News. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  3. ↑ "flandersnews.be – Belgian book causes upset".
  4. ↑ "Riis told to return yellow jersey". BBC News. 25 May 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  5. ↑ "ESPN – Tour no longer lists Riis as champ after doping admission – Cycling". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  6. ↑ "Tour Director Christian Prudhomme has erased Bjarne Riis' name from the Tour de France record books...". Autobus.cyclingnews.com. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  7. ↑ "Bjarne Riis Reinstated As Tour Winner". BikeRadar. 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
  8. ↑ "News for February 8: Teams Qualification Rules for Events". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. 8 February 1996. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "83ème Tour de France 1996" (in French). Mémoire du cyclisme. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  10. ↑ Historical guide 2016, p. 87.
  11. ↑ Zwegers, Arian. "Tour de France GC Top Ten". CVCC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  12. ↑ Historical guide 2016, p. 110.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Christian, Sarah (2 July 2009). "Tour de France demystified - Evaluating success". RoadCycling.co.nz Ltd. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  14. ↑ Chauner, David; Halstead, Michael (1990). The Tour de France Complete Book of Cycling. Villard. ISBN 0679729364. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  15. ↑ Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (9 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Cycling. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-8108-7369-8.

Sources

External links

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