DIJON, France -- Another day, another controversy at the Tour de France.

Mario Traversoni was awarded the victory in Friday's 19th stage, but not before the first two finishers, Bart Voskamp of Netherlands and Jan Heppner of Germany, were disqualified after each interfered with the other.

Voskamp went off line to force Heppner to the side. Then, just before the finish, Heppner then moved into Voskamp and nearly fell but was saved only by leaning on Voskamp.

TRAVERSONI FINISHED THIRD. Then, after nearly 35 minutes after the stage ended, he was declared the winner.

It was the third time in this Tour that an apparent winner was disqualified. Germany's Erik Zabel lost a stage two weeks ago and Ukraine's Sergei Outschakov was declared the winner after another interference call in the 11th stage.

Jan Ullrich of Germany remained the overall leader and seemed on his way to victory when the race ends Sunday.

ULLRICH FINISHED IN THE PACK TODAY, more than 17 minutes behind the leaders.

He has a 6-minute, 22-second lead over Richard Virenque.

Ullrich could gain a few more minutes in Saturday's trial at Disneyland Paris, the day before the Tour ends on the Champs Elysees.

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