1999 Tour de France
Cycling race
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The 1999 Tour de France was a multiple stage bicycle race held from 3 to 25 July, and the 86th edition of the Tour de France. It has no overall winner—although American cyclist Lance Armstrong originally won the event, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced in August 2012 that they had disqualified Armstrong from all his results since 1998, including his seven consecutive Tour de France wins from 1999 to 2005 (which were, originally, the most wins in the event's history); the Union Cycliste Internationale confirmed the result.
Route of the 1999 Tour de France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Dates | 3–25 July 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 20 + Prologue | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,870 km (2,400 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 91h 32' 16" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France. Additionally, Mario Cipollini won four stages in a row, setting the post-World War II record for consecutive stage wins (breaking the record of three, set by Gino Bartali in 1948). Stage 4 was the fastest ever mass-start stage on the Tour de France, with an average speed of 50.4 km/h (31.3 mph) thanks to a strong tailwind.
Teams
After the doping controversies in the 1998 Tour de France, the Tour organisation banned some riders from the race, including Richard Virenque, Laurent Roux and Philippe Gaumont, manager Manolo Saiz and the entire TVM–Farm Frites team.[3] Virenque's team Polti then appealed at the UCI against this decision, and the UCI then forced the organisers of the Tour, Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), to allow Virenque and Saiz entry in the Tour.[4] Initially, the Vini Caldirola team had been selected, but after their team leader Serhiy Honchar failed a blood test in the 1999 Tour de Suisse, the ASO removed Vini Caldirola from the starting list, and replaced them by Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio, the first reserve team.[5] Each team was allowed to field nine cyclists.[6]
The teams entering the race were:[6]
Qualified teams
Invited teams
Route and stages
The highest point of elevation in the race was 2,642 m (8,668 ft) at the summit of the Col du Galibier mountain pass on stage 9.[7][8]
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 3 July | Le Puy du Fou | 6.8 km (4.2 mi) |  | Individual time trial |  |
| 1 | 4 July | Montaigu to Challans | 208.0 km (129.2 mi) |  | Plain stage |  Jaan Kirsipuu (EST) |
| 2 | 5 July | Challans to Saint-Nazaire | 176.0 km (109.4 mi) | | Plain stage |  Tom Steels (BEL) |
| 3 | 6 July | Nantes to Laval | 194.5 km (120.9 mi) | | Plain stage | Tom Steels (BEL) |
| 4 | 7 July | Laval to Blois | 194.5 km (120.9 mi) | | Plain stage |  Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 5 | 8 July | Bonneval to Amiens | 233.5 km (145.1 mi) | | Plain stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 6 | 9 July | Amiens to Maubeuge | 171.5 km (106.6 mi) | | Plain stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 7 | 10 July | Avesnes-sur-Helpe to Thionville | 227.0 km (141.1 mi) | | Plain stage | Mario Cipollini (ITA) |
| 8 | 11 July | Metz | 56.5 km (35.1 mi) | | Individual time trial | |
| 12 July | Le Grand-Bornand | Rest day | ||||
| 9 | 13 July | Le Grand-Bornand to Sestrières | 213.5 km (132.7 mi) |  | Stage with mountain(s) | |
| 10 | 14 July | Sestrières to Alpe d'Huez | 220.5 km (137.0 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Giuseppe Guerini (ITA) |
| 11 | 15 July | Le Bourg-d'Oisans to Saint-Étienne | 198.5 km (123.3 mi) |  | Hilly stage | Ludo Dierckxsens (BEL) |
| 12 | 16 July | Saint-Galmier to Saint-Flour | 201.5 km (125.2 mi) | | Hilly stage |  David Etxebarria (ESP) |
| 13 | 17 July | Saint-Flour to Albi | 236.5 km (147.0 mi) | | Hilly stage | Salvatore Commesso (ITA) |
| 14 | 18 July | Castres to Saint-Gaudens | 199.0 km (123.7 mi) | | Plain stage |  Dmitri Konychev (RUS) |
| 19 July | Saint-Gaudens | Rest day | ||||
| 15 | 20 July | Saint-Gaudens to Piau-Engaly | 173.0 km (107.5 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fernando Escartín (ESP) |
| 16 | 21 July | Lannemezan to Pau | 192.0 km (119.3 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | David Etxebarria (ESP) |
| 17 | 22 July | Mourenx to Bordeaux | 200.0 km (124.3 mi) | | Plain stage | Tom Steels (BEL) |
| 18 | 23 July | Jonzac to Futuroscope | 187.5 km (116.5 mi) | | Plain stage | Gianpaolo Mondini (ITA) |
| 19 | 24 July | Futuroscope | 57.0 km (35.4 mi) | | Individual time trial | |
| 20 | 25 July | Arpajon to Paris (Champs-Élysées) | 143.5 km (89.2 mi) | | Plain stage |  Robbie McEwen (AUS) |
| Total | 3,870 km (2,405 mi)[12] | |||||
Race overview
Following the Festina Affair of the previous year the 1999 edition was billed as the "Tour of Renewal" from the very beginning.[13]
Stage 4 from Laval to Blois over a distance of 194.5 km (120.9 mi) was the fastest ever massed-start stage on the Tour de France, with the stage won by Mario Cipollini at an average of 50.4 km/h (31.3 mph) with the help of a tailwind.[14][15]
Doping
This tour also saw the mistreatment of Christophe Bassons by his fellow riders of the peloton (notably Armstrong) for speaking out against doping. The 1998 tour had been marred by the Festina doping scandal. Bassons later told Bicycling, "The 1999 Tour was supposed to be the "Tour of Renewal", but I was certain that doping had not disappeared."[16] He quit the tour without finishing after "cracking" mentally due to his treatment by the peloton, especially in stage 10.[17]
Subsequent to Armstrong's statement to withdraw his fight against United States Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) charges, on 24 August 2012, the USADA said it would ban Armstrong for life and stripped him of his record seven Tour de France titles.[18][19] Later that day it was confirmed in a USADA statement that Armstrong was banned for life and would be disqualified from any and all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to 1 August 1998, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, winnings, finishes, points and prizes.[1] On 22 October 2012, the Union Cycliste Internationale endorsed the USADA sanctions, and decided not to award victories to any other rider or upgrade other placings in any of the affected events.[2]
Other incidents
The 1999 edition of Tour de France had two bizarre moments. The first was on stage 2 when a 25-rider pile-up occurred at Passage du Gois. The Passage du Gois is a two-mile causeway which depending on the tide can be under water. A rider came down in the middle of the field during the passage, leading to the crash that cost pre-race favourites Alex Zülle, Christophe Rinero and Michael Boogerd more than five minutes to the lead group.[20] The second bizarre incident was on stage 10, one kilometre from the summit of Alpe d'Huez. Leading Italian rider Giuseppe Guerini was confronted by a spectator holding a camera in the middle of the road. Guerini hit the spectator but recovered and went on to win the stage.[21]
Classification leadership and minor prizes
There were several classifications in the 1999 Tour de France.[22] 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.[23]
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 led the classification, and was identified with a green jersey.[24]
There was also a mountains classification. The organisation had categorised 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-categorised climbs. The cyclist with the most points lead the classification, and wore a white jersey with red polka dots.[25]
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.[26]
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.[27]
In addition, there was a combativity award given after each mass-start stage to the cyclist considered most combative, who wore a red number bib the next stage. The decision was made by a jury composed of journalists who gave points. The cyclist with the most points from votes in all stages led the combativity classification.[28] Jacky Durand won this classification, and was given overall the super-combativity award.[29] The Souvenir Henri Desgrange was given in honour of Tour founder Henri Desgrange to the first rider to pass the summit of the Col du Galibier on stage 9. This prize was won by José Luis Arrieta.[30][31]
- In stage 1, Alex Zülle wore the green jersey.
- In stages 3 through 6, Tom Steels wore the green jersey.
- In stage 7, Erik Zabel wore the green jersey.
- In stage 8, Mario Cipollini wore the green jersey.
Final standings
| Legend | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Denotes the leader of the points classification[34] |  |
Denotes the leader of the mountains classification[34] | |
 |
Denotes the winner of the super-combativity award[34] | |||
General classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lance Armstrong (USA) | ||
| 2 |  Alex Zülle (SUI) | Banesto | + 7' 37" |
| 3 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 10' 26" |
| 4 | Laurent Dufaux (SUI) | Saeco–Cannondale | + 14' 43" |
| 5 | Ángel Casero (ESP) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 15' 11" |
| 6 | Abraham Olano (ESP) | ONCE–Deutsche Bank | + 16' 47" |
| 7 | Daniele Nardello (ITA) | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 17' 02" |
| 8 |  Richard Virenque (FRA) | Team Polti | + 17' 28" |
| 9 | Wladimir Belli (ITA) | Festina–Lotus | + 17' 37" |
| 10 | Andrea Peron (ITA) | ONCE–Deutsche Bank | + 23' 10" |
Points classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Erik Zabel (GER) | Team Telekom | 323 |
| 2 | Stuart O'Grady (AUS) | Crédit Agricole | 275 |
| 3 | Christophe Capelle (FRA) | BigMat–Auber 93 | 196 |
| 4 | Tom Steels (BEL) | Mapei–Quick-Step | 188 |
| 5 | François Simon (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 186 |
| 6 | George Hincapie (USA) | U.S. Postal Service | 166 |
| 7 | Robbie McEwen (AUS) | Rabobank | 166 |
| 8 | Giampaolo Mondini (ITA) | Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio | 141 |
| 9 | Christophe Moreau (FRA) | Festina–Lotus | 140 |
| 10 | Silvio Martinello (ITA) | Team Polti | 130 |
Mountains classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Virenque (FRA) | Team Polti | 279 |
| 2 | Alberto Elli (ITA) | Team Telekom | 226 |
| 3 | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 205 |
| 4 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 194 |
| | |||
| 6 | Alex Zülle (SUI) | Banesto | 152 |
| 7 | José Luis Arrieta (ESP) | Banesto | 141 |
| 8 | Laurent Dufaux (SUI) | Saeco–Cannondale | 141 |
| 9 | Andrea Peron (ITA) | ONCE–Deutsche Bank | 138 |
| 10 | Kurt Van De Wouwer (BEL) | Lotto–Mobistar | 117 |
Young rider classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benoit Salmon (FRA) | Casino–Ag2r Prévoyance | 92h 01' 15" |
| 2 | Mario Aerts (BEL) | Lotto–Mobistar | + 10' 22" |
| 3 | Francisco Tomas García (ESP) | Vitalicio Seguros | + 16' 32" |
| 4 | Francisco Mancebo (ESP) | Banesto | + 21' 32" |
| 5 | Luis Perez (ESP) | ONCE–Deutsche Bank | + 23' 54" |
| 6 | Salvatore Commesso (ITA) | Saeco–Cannondale | + 40' 16" |
| 7 | Steve De Wolf (BEL) | Cofidis | + 42' 55" |
| 8 | José Javier Gomez (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 1h 16' 51" |
| 9 | Rik Verbrugghe (BEL) | Lotto–Mobistar | + 1h 35' 32" |
| 10 | Jörg Jaksche (GER) | Team Telekom | + 1h 47' 45" |
Team classification
| Rank | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Banesto | 275h 05' 21" |
| 2 | ONCE–Deutsche Bank | + 8' 16" |
| 3 | Festina–Lotus | + 16' 13" |
| 4 | Kelme–Costa Blanca | + 23' 48" |
| 5 | Mapei–Quick-Step | + 24' 13" |
| 6 | Team Telekom | + 41' 00" |
| 7 | Vitalicio Seguros | + 42' 44" |
| 8 | U.S. Postal Service | + 57' 13" |
| 9 | Cofidis | + 58' 02" |
| 10 | Lotto–Mobistar | + 1h 09' 02" |
Combativity classification
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacky Durand (FRA) | Lotto–Mobistar | 61 |
| 2 | Stéphane Heulot (FRA) | Française des Jeux | 55 |
| 3 | Thierry Gouvenou (FRA) | BigMat–Auber 93 | 51 |
| 4 | Anthony Morin (FRA) | Française des Jeux | 46 |
| 5 | François Simon (FRA) | Crédit Agricole | 42 |
| 6 | Fernando Escartín (ESP) | Kelme–Costa Blanca | 40 |
| 7 | Lylian Lebreton (FRA) | BigMat–Auber 93 | 40 |
| 8 | Frédéric Guesdon (FRA) | Française des Jeux | 40 |
| 9 | Alberto Elli (ITA) | Team Telekom | 39 |
| 10 | Mariano Piccoli (ITA) | Lampre–Daikin | 36 |
Notes
- On 24 August 2012, the United States Anti-Doping Agency announced that they had disqualified Armstrong from all his results since 1998, including his victory in the 1999 Tour de France.[1] The Union Cycliste Internationale, responsible for the international cycling, confirmed this verdict on 22 October 2012.[2]
