With Indurain on the ropes, could Riis fulfill what he sees as his destiny and finally beat the great Spanish champion in a Tour time trial? Berzin's fans, meanwhile, were anticipating a replay of the 1994 Tour of Italy, when the young Russian roundly thumped Indurain in all three of the Giro's time trials. But if Indurain began the stage looking unexpectedly vulnerable, the Spanish fans had another rising star to turn their attentions to.
World road champion Abraham Olano, third in the recent Tour of Italy and level on time with Berzin at the start of the day, only ceded the yellow jersey to the Russian after the tumultuous stage to Les Arcs on the basis of a slower prologue time. With him and Rominger seemingly firing on all cylinders, was Mapei destined to have another ongoing leadership crisis as was seen earlier this year, at Paris-Roubaix?
Tension is now mounting on what looks to be the most open Tour for five years, as the big guns have finally come out of the shadows to show their hand over the last two days. "I call this weekend '678'" said Banesto's manager Jose Miguel Echavarri. "Because these dates, the 6, 7, 8 July are vital to the outcome of the race."
Sadly, it looks as if it may prove a weekend too far for the great Spaniard. But then he's not alone in finding himself in a disappointing position at the end of the Tour's first chaotic week. Laurent Jalabert, billed before the race by the partisan French press as the man to beat Indurain, dashed to his hotel after the time trial, complaining of a fever. British hope Chris Boardman, who had talked of finishing in the top five, had fallen even further by the wayside and conceded further time to his rivals over his favored terrain, the time trial.
"At least I'm not dead," said Jalabert after suffering appallingly through the stage to Les Arcs. Maybe, but his public image has taken a substantial battering after yesterday's premature and dramatic collapse -- like Boardman, he will not be regarded as a Tour contender until he conquers his frailties in the high mountains.
Meanwhile, Evgeni Berzin begins to look the part in the maillot jaune, although it's not yet apparent if he can hold his lead to Paris. Tomorrow's stage is sure to see further attacks in what has so far been, by, a frenetic and unpredictable and then deceptively tranquil Tour de France.
Send comments to feedback@sportsline.com
Copyright © 1996 SportsLine USA, Inc. All rights reserved.