Landis poised to take 2006 Tour de France
American Floyd Landis has given the Tour de France its greatest roller coaster ride in years. In Saturday’s final time trial through the Burgundy countryside, the 30-year-old Landis reclaimed the top overall position for the fourth time in 19 days of racing.
Though Landis is poised to become the third American to win the Tour de France Sunday in Paris, his 59-second lead over Spain’s Oscar Pereiro, the potential for errors and the unexpected twists of this year’s race leave just enough suspense to make the final stage a true test of skills and perseverance rather than a largely celebratory victory lap down the Champs-Elysees.
Ukrainian Serhiy Honchar won Saturday’s time trial — a 35.4-mile course through the hedge-lined lanes and small villages of the Burgundy wine and cattle region — in 1 hour 7 minutes 46 seconds.
German rider Andreas Kloeden was 41 seconds behind in second place; Landis was third by 1 minute 11 seconds, and Pereiro placed fourth, 2:40 behind.
Landis, who was raised in a Mennonite family in Pennsylvania, holds the overall lead because of his cumulative time over 19 days of racing and the additional points he won at various stages of the Tour.
Landis’s victory would be the 11th by an American; Greg LeMond won three (1986, ‘89 and ‘90) and Lance Armstrong seven straight (1999-2005).
The yellow jersey hasn’t changed torsos so many times since the 1987 Tour de France. Seven riders have worn it, prompting the French to dub this year the ” Tour Fou ” — the crazy Tour.
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