# 1998 Tour de France, Stage 12 to Stage 21

The 1998 Tour de France was the 85th edition of Tour de France, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Tour began in Dublin, Ireland with a prologue individual time trial on 11 July and Stage 12 occurred on 24 July with a flat stage from Tarascon-sur-Ariège. The race finished on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on 2 August.

## Stage 12

24 July 1998 — Tarascon-sur-Ariège to Le Cap d'Agde, 206 km (128.0 mi)
After the rest day, the Tour came out of the Pyrenees. The Tour was in uproar. The riders staged a strike over the increased attention given to the drugs scandal. The riders initially refused to ride but then started under neutral conditions. Dutch radio said that the peloton initially rode very slowly indeed for 14 km behind Leblanc's lead car. The neutral conditions were being maintained. After 16 km of neutral riding and a delay of 2 hours, the Tour officially resumed at around 13.35 European time. Tom Steels took his second sprint victory in the 1998 Tour when he won the mass sprint into Le Cap d'Agde, narrowly beating François Simon and Stéphane Barthe.
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Steels (BEL) | Mapei | 4h 12' 51" |
| 2 | François Simon (FRA) | GAN | s.t. |
| 3 | Stéphane Barthe (FRA) | Casino | s.t. |
| 4 | Nicola Minali (ITA) | Riso Scotti | s.t. |
| 5 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |
| 6 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | GAN | s.t. |
| 7 | Andrea Ferrigato (ITA) | Vitalicio Seguros | s.t. |
| 8 | Aart Vierhouten (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 9 | Leonardo Guidi (ITA) | Polti | s.t. |
| 10 | George Hincapie (USA) | US Postal | s.t. |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | 56h 55' 16" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 1' 11" |
| 3 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | ONCE | + 3' 01" |
| 4 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno | s.t. |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 3' 29" |
| 6 | Luc Leblanc (FRA) | Polti | + 4' 16" |
| 7 | Bo Hamburger (DEN) | Casino | + 4' 44" |
| 8 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme | + 5' 16" |
| 9 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 5' 18" |
| 10 | Ángel Casero (ESP) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 5' 53" |

## Stage 13

25 July 1998 — Frontignan la Peyrade to Carpentras, 196 km (121.8 mi)
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | 4h 32' 46" |
| 2 | José Vicente García (ESP) | Banesto | s.t. |
| 3 | Andrea Tafi (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | s.t. |
| 4 | Stéphane Heulot (FRA) | Française des Jeux | s.t. |
| 5 | Marty Jemison (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| 6 | Koos Moerenhout (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 7 | Sergei Ivanov (RUS) | TVM–Farm Frites | + 2' 27" |
| 8 | Fabio Roscioli (ITA) | Asics–CGA | + 2' 43" |
| 9 | François Simon (FRA) | GAN | + 2' 43" |
| 10 | Maarten den Bakker (NED) | Rabobank | + 2' 43" |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | 61h 30' 53" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 1' 11" |
| 3 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | ONCE | + 3' 01" |
| 4 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | s.t. |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 3' 29" |
| 6 | Luc Leblanc (FRA) | Team Polti | + 4' 16" |
| 7 | Bo Hamburger (DEN) | Casino–Ag2r | + 4' 44" |
| 8 | Stéphane Heulot (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 5' 16" |
| 9 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 5' 16" |
| 10 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 5' 18" |

## Stage 14

26 July 1998 — Valréas to Grenoble, 186.5 km (115.9 mi)
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | GAN | 4:30:53" |
| 2 | Orlando Rodrigues (POR) | Banesto | s.t. |
| 3 | Léon van Bon (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 4 | Peter Meinert Nielsen (DEN) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| 5 | Laurent Desbiens (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 6 | Giuseppe Calcaterra (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | s.t. |
| 7 | Frédéric Guesdon (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 8' 27" |
| 8 | Rafael Díaz Justo (ESP) | ONCE | s.t. |
| 9 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | + 10' 05" |
| 10 | Ján Svorada (CZE) | Mapei–Bricobi | s.t. |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | 66:11:51" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 1' 11" |
| 3 | Laurent Jalabert (FRA) | ONCE | + 3' 01" |
| 4 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | s.t. |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 3' 29" |
| 6 | Luc Leblanc (FRA) | Team Polti | + 4' 16" |
| 7 | Bo Hamburger (DEN) | Casino–Ag2r | + 4' 44" |
| 8 | Stéphane Heulot (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 5' 05" |
| 9 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 5' 16" |
| 10 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 5' 18" |

## Stage 15

27 July 1998 — Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes, 189 km (117.4 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 5:43:45" |
| 2 | Rodolfo Massi (ITA) | Casino–Ag2r | + 1' 54" |
| 3 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 1' 59" |
| 4 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 2' 57" |
| 5 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 5' 43" |
| 6 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 5' 48" |
| 7 | Marcos-Antonio Serrano (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 6' 04" |
| 8 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 6' 34" |
| 9 | Manuel Beltrán (ESP) | Banesto | + 6' 40" |
| 10 | Dariusz Baranowski (POL) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 71:58:37" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 3' 53" |
| 3 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 4' 14" |
| 4 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 5' 56" |
| 5 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 6' 12" |
| 6 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 6' 16" |
| 7 | Rodolfo Massi (ITA) | Casino–Ag2r | + 7' 53" |
| 8 | Luc Leblanc (FRA) | Team Polti | + 8' 01" |
| 9 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 8' 57" |
| 10 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 9' 14" |

## Stage 16

28 July 1998 — Vizille to Albertville, 204 km (126.8 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | 5h 39' 47" |
| 2 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | s.t. |
| 3 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 1' 49" |
| 4 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | s.t. |
| 5 | Axel Merckx (BEL) | Team Polti | s.t. |
| 6 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 7 | Bjarne Riis (DEN) | Team Telekom | s.t. |
| 8 | Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | s.t. |
| 9 | Stéphane Heulot (FRA) | Française des Jeux | s.t. |
| 10 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 77h 38' 24" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 5' 42" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 5' 56" |
| 4 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 6' 03" |
| 5 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 8' 01" |
| 6 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 8' 05" |
| 7 | Rodolfo Massi (ITA) | Casino–Ag2r | + 12' 15" |
| 8 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 12' 34" |
| 9 | Leonardo Piepoli (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | + 12' 45" |
| 10 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 13' 19" |

## Stage 17

29 July 1998 — Albertville to Aix-les-Bains, 149 km (92.6 mi)
The stage was neutralised due to a protest by the riders.

## Stage 18

30 July 1998 — Aix-les-Bains to Neuchâtel (Switzerland), 218.5 km (135.8 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Steels (BEL) | Mapei–Bricobi | 4h 53' 27" |
| 2 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |
| 3 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | GAN | s.t. |
| 4 | Robbie McEwen (AUS) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 5 | Jacky Durand (FRA) | Casino–Ag2r | s.t. |
| 6 | Léon van Bon (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 7 | François Simon (FRA) | GAN | s.t. |
| 8 | Nicolas Jalabert (FRA) | Cofidis | s.t. |
| 9 | Aart Vierhouten (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 10 | Viatcheslav Djavanian (RUS) | BigMat–Auber 93 | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 82h 31' 51" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 5' 42" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 5' 56" |
| 4 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 8' 01" |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 8' 05" |
| 6 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 12' 34" |
| 7 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 13' 19" |
| 8 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 13' 36" |
| 9 | Bjarne Riis (DEN) | Team Telekom | + 14' 45" |
| 10 | Giuseppe Di Grande (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 15' 13" |

## Stage 19

31 July 1998 — La Chaux-de-Fonds (Switzerland) to Autun, 242 km (150.4 mi)
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Magnus Bäckstedt (SWE) | GAN | 5h 10' 14" |
| 2 | Maarten den Bakker (NED) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 3 | Eddy Mazzoleni (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | s.t. |
| 4 | Pascal Deramé (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| 5 | Frédéric Guesdon (FRA) | Française des Jeux | + 25" |
| 6 | Fabio Sacchi (ITA) | Team Polti | s.t. |
| 7 | Jacky Durand (FRA) | Casino–Ag2r | s.t. |
| 8 | Alain Turicchia (ITA) | Asics–CGA | s.t. |
| 9 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | GAN | s.t. |
| 10 | Thierry Gouvenou (FRA) | BigMat–Auber 93 | s.t. |
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 87h 58' 43" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 5' 42" |
| 3 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 5' 56" |
| 4 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 8' 01" |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 8' 05" |
| 6 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 12' 34" |
| 7 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 13' 19" |
| 8 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 13' 36" |
| 9 | Bjarne Riis (DEN) | Team Telekom | + 14' 45" |
| 10 | Giuseppe Di Grande (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 15' 13" |

## Stage 20

1 August 1998 — Montceau-les-Mines to Le Creusot, 52 km (32.3 mi) (individual time trial)
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | 1h 3' 52" |
| 2 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 1' 01" |
| 3 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | + 2' 35" |
| 4 | Dariusz Baranowski (POL) | U.S. Postal Service | + 3' 11" |
| 5 | Andrey Teteryuk (KAZ) | Lotto–Mobistar | + 3' 46" |
| 6 | Viatcheslav Ekimov (RUS) | U.S. Postal Service | + 3' 48" |
| 7 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 3' 50" |
| 8 | Riccardo Forconi (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | + 3' 55" |
| 9 | Axel Merckx (BEL) | Team Polti | + 3' 59" |
| 10 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 4' 29" |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 89h 5' 10" |
| 2 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 3' 21" |
| 3 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 4' 08" |
| 4 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 9' 16" |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 11' 26" |
| 6 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 14' 57" |
| 7 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 15' 13" |
| 8 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 16' 07" |
| 9 | Giuseppe Di Grande (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 17' 35" |
| 10 | Axel Merckx (BEL) | Team Polti | + 17' 39" |

## Stage 21

2 August 1998 — Melun to Paris Champs-Élysées, 147.5 km (91.7 mi)
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Tom Steels (BEL) | Mapei–Bricobi | 3h 44' 36" |
| 2 | Stefano Zanini (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | s.t. |
| 3 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | GAN | s.t. |
| 4 | George Hincapie (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | s.t. |
| 5 | Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | s.t. |
| 6 | Robbie McEwen (AUS) | Rabobank | s.t. |
| 7 | Mario Traversoni (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | s.t. |
| 8 | François Simon (FRA) | GAN | s.t. |
| 9 | Damien Nazon (FRA) | Française des Jeux | s.t. |
| 10 | Alain Turicchia (ITA) | Asics–CGA | s.t. |
| Rank | Cyclist | Team | Time |
| 1 | Marco Pantani (ITA) | Mercatone Uno–Bianchi | 92h 49' 46" |
| 2 | Jan Ullrich (GER) | Team Telekom | + 3' 21" |
| 3 | Bobby Julich (USA) | Cofidis | + 4' 08" |
| 4 | Christophe Rinero (FRA) | Cofidis | + 9' 16" |
| 5 | Michael Boogerd (NED) | Rabobank | + 11' 26" |
| 6 | Jean-Cyril Robin (FRA) | U.S. Postal Service | + 14' 57" |
| 7 | Roland Meier (SUI) | Cofidis | + 15' 13" |
| 8 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 16' 07" |
| 9 | Giuseppe Di Grande (ITA) | Mapei–Bricobi | + 17' 35" |
| 10 | Axel Merckx (BEL) | Team Polti | + 17' 39" |