From: seales@taquilee.inria.fr (Brent Seales)
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles
Subject: Tour de France (from l'Equipe):  Stage 18
Date: 24 Jul 92 09:36:23 GMT
Organization: INRIA Sophia-Antipolis, France

The Tour de France
Stage 18 (Thursday, July 23)
Montlucon - Tours
(212 km)

[from l'Equipe Friday, July 24]

Course:  without difficulty;  weather hot and sunny (30-35 degrees);
favorable wind;  130 riders.

CHIAPPUCCI DOES THE SPRINTS

The beginning of the stage is animated with several accelerations.  Frison
(Tulip), then Redant (Lotto), Fidanza (Gatorade), Alcala (PDM), Unzaga (Clas),
Durand (Castorama), and Pederson (Amaya) take their turns.  The peloton
is regrouped before the sprint of Chateaumeillant (km 39), where
Chiappucci (Carrera) beats Sergeant (Panasonic) and Indurain (Banesto).
42.1 km are covered in the first hour, but the pace drops lower after
that.  Durand passes first at the cote d'Ars (4th cat., km 59) and the
cote de Corlay (4th cat., km 68.5).  The peloton then observes an absolute
truce until Nouans-les-Fontaines (km 146).

TEAM LOTTO GOES TO WORK

A little before Villeloin-Coulange (km 150), Nijdam (Buckler) then
Fondriest (Panasonic), and then Simon (Z), and Jaermann (Ariostea) attempt
their chance in vain.  Six riders finally get away:  Anderson (Motorola),
Ruiz Cabestany (Gatorade), Maassen (Buckler), Rue (Castorama), Pensec (RMO),
and Earley (PDM).  Bourguignon (Castorama) and Alcala (PDM) join the
breakaway, which has gained 58" at km 168.  Museeuw's Team Lotto takes the
responsibility for the chase.  With a slight cross-wind, the peloton splits
itself into 3 echelons, with only Fignon (Gatorade) and Kelly (Festina)
among the well-known riders, caught in the second group.  The breakaway
is caught at the exit of Biere (km 186).

THE "COUP DE FORCE" OF THIERRY MARIE!

After a number of attacks, Pieper (Tulip) smoothly detatches himself after
the sprint of Azay-sur-Cher (km 197), ahead of Ghirotto (Carrera) and
Jalabert (Once).  Elli (Ariostea) launches ahead before the banner showing
6 km to go, and is joined by Frison.  They have a 12" lead on the peloton
at Saint-Avertin (km 206).  Bugno (Gatorade) and Van Poppel's Team PDM
provoke the total regrouping at the Red Flag (1 km to go), where Marie 
(Castorama) gets moving.  He is retaken by Da Silva (Festina) and Nijdam, 
but repasses them both in the last 100 meters, [resisting also the heated 
battle behind of all the top sprinters!]   Indurain holds solidly onto the 
Yellow Jersey.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dix-Huitieme Etape
Montlucon - Tours
(212 km)

1.  Marie T. (CAS)		 5h  7' 15"
2.  Nijdam J. (BUC)		       s.t.
3.  Museeuw J. (LOT)			"
4.  Ludwig O. (PAN)			"
5.  Jalabert L. (ONC)			"
6.  Da Silva A. (FES)			"
7.  Fidanza G. (GAT)			"
8.  Lilholt S. (TUI)			"
9.  Anderson P. (MOT)			"
10. Manders H. (HEV)			"

...

Almost everyone finished in the peloton except:

123. Frison H. (TUI)		        33"
124. Van Slyke R. (LOT)		        33"
125. Conti R. (ARI)			47"
126. Jaramillo C. (RYA)			47"
127. Rondon A. (GAT)		     3' 54"
128. Moreels S. (LOT)		     6' 30"
129. Kokkelkoren M. (BUC)	     7' 20"
130. Quevedo F. (AMA)		     7' 21"
131. Harvey D. (BARK)		 3h 12'  6"

Jersey and Team Classifications:

	Green Jersey:

		1.  Jalabert L. (ONC)	253
		2.  Museeuw J. (LOT)	227
		3.  Chiappucci C. (CAR)	186

	Polka-Dot Jersey (Climber):
	
		1.  Chiappucci C. (CAR)	409
		2.  Virenque R. (RMO)	245
		3.  Chioccioli F. (GBM)	209

	Team Classification:

		1.  Carrera Jeans	270h  9' 33"
		2.  Banesto		270h 38' 41"
		3.  Clas-Cajastur	270h 48' 54"
		4.  Z			271h  6'  3"

		...

		17. Motorola		273h 46' 44"
		22. Lotto		275h 38' 20"

General Classification [No change]
(a l'issue de la 18eme etape)

1.  Indurain M. (BAN)           89h 56' 25"
2.  Chiappucci C. (CAR)              1' 42"
3.  Hampsten A. (MOT)                8'  7"
4.  Lino P. (RMO)                    9' 22"
5.  Bugno G. (GAT)                  10'  9"
6.  Delgado P. (BAN)                11' 50"
7.  Breukink E. (PDM)               15' 54"
8.  Perini G. (CAR)                 15' 56"
9.  Roche S. (CAR)                  17' 12"
10. Vona F. (GBM)		    19' 22"
11. Heppner J. (TEL)                20'  1"

...

21. Alcala R. (PDM)		    26' 16"
24. Fignon L. (GAT)                 37' 22"
40. Kelly S. (FES)		 1h 11' 42"
129. Manders H. (HEV)		 3h 47' 45"
130. Quevedo F. (AMA)		 4h  1' 27"
131. Harvey D. (BARK)		32h 10' 10"