Conference noted::bicycle

    Read the CYCLE_RACING conference.  It usually has the best pro race
    coverage around.
    
    MATT (former CYCLE_RACING reporter, now stuck in the U.S.)

         Good Morning America is supposed to be giving daily TV
         reports. Not sure what time though.

         JC

     Get into note 274. It has all the info fairly up to date in
    this TOPIC.
    
      Chip

    Tonight (7-10-90); stateside ESPN will have an hour update
    of TDF.
    DL
    

     Just wanted to add a little more editorial to the way major cycling
    events are handled by the media. I was watching (and hoping) to see
    CNN Sports do something last Sunday on the TOUR. They did... About
    10 seconds showing a graphic on the 10 5 riders. They did devote
    about 5 minutes to some peach pit spitting competition in east
    swift-sh*t somewhere. 
    
     WHERE'S THE JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
        Chip

I'd like to confirm that Good Morning America is doing the daily updates.
I saw one this morning. Must have been between 7:15-7:30 A.M..  Not a big deal
but it's it keeps ya informed.

    Update after stage 11.

    LeMond finished in 2nd place behind Italy's Gianni Bugno. LeMond lost the
    stage by 3 feet.

    Overall Leaders After the 11th Stage
   
    1. Ronan Pensec	    48 hrs., 24 min., 43 sec.
	Finished 10th in 11th Stage, 48 sec. behind

    2. Claudio Chiappucci    1 min., 28 sec. behind    
	Finished  9th in 11th Stage, 47 sec. behind

    3. Greg LeMond	     9 min., 04 sec. behind    
	Finished  2nd in 11th Stage, same time

    4. Erik Breukink	     9 min., 28 sec. behind    
	Finished  3rd in 11th Stage,  1 sec. behind

    5. Gianni Bugno	    10 min., 39 sec. behind
	Finished  1st in 11th Stage.

    6. Pedro Delgado	    11 min., 05 sec. behind
	Finished  8th in 11th Stage, 40 sec. behind

    9. Andrew Hampsten      13 min., 45 sec. behind
	Finished  7th in 11th Stage, 40 sec. behind

    32. Steve Bauer         22 min., 18 sec. behind
	Finished 62nd in 11th Stage, 21 min., 45 sec. behind

   VILLARD DE LANS, France - Italy's Claudio Chiappucci took
the overall lead in the Tour de France today by placing eighth in
an individual time trial.
   His 57-minute, 57-second time on the 20-mile climb from Fontaine
to Villard de Lans put him 1:17 ahead of France's Ronan Pensec, the
overall leader after the two previous stages.
   Pensec finished 49th in 1:00:42. The 2:45 deficit more than
erased the 1:28 lead that Pensec had over the Italian entering the
stage.
   Eric Breukink of Netherlands won the time trial with 56:52.
Pedro Delgado of Spain was second, 30 seconds behind with Miguel
Indurain, another Spanish rider, third 43 seconds back.
   Defending champion Greg LeMond of the United States was fifth at
57:48, and slipped in the overall standings.
   Breukink is now third, 6:55 behind Chiappucci. LeMond is fourth
at 7:27 with Delgado fifth at 10:44.
   The stage was marked by two moderate climbs, one rated second
category and one third category just before the finish.
   It was the second time trial within a week for the cyclists.
Last Saturday, Raul Alcala won the stage but has since faded from
contention.
   The Tour will have an day off on Friday before heading in into
the final stretch of nine stages.
   Pensec took over the lead after the 10th stage, finally passing
Steve Bauer of Canada, who led through the first nine stages.

    I'll have to check the snoozepapers tomorrow (I'll pass on Beth Ruyak
    since she leaves me barking) coz I can't understand how Delgado, being 
    down 2:01 relative to Lemon prior to the TT and making
    0:26 on him on the TT, is now listed as being 3:17 behind.  Maybe he
    was caught snacking outside the boundaries like last year but I doubt
    it.
    
    Alfonso

		    Tour De France after Sunday's 14th Stage
		    ----------------------------------------

    TOP 10 Overall Standings:

    1. Claudio Chiappucci   Carrera	    Italy	58 Hours, 2 min, 3 sec.
    2. Erik Breukink	    PDM		    Netherlands	1:49 behind
    3. Greg LeMond	    Z		    USA		2:21 behind
    4. Ronan Pensec	    Z		    France	4:25 behind
    5. Pedro Delgado	    Banesto	    Spain	4:26 behind
    6. Gianni Bugno	    Chateau d'Ax    Italy	6:03 behind
    7. Marino Lejarretta    ONCE	    Spain	7:36 behind
    8. Raul Alcala	    PDM		    Mexico	8:48 behind
    9. Claude Criquielion   Lotto	    Belguim	9:26 behind
   10. Andy Hamsten	    7-Eleven	    USA		9:43 behind

   REVEL, France - Greg LeMond, Eric Breukink and Pedro
Delgado, conserving themselves for Tuesday's more difficult stage,
finished almost 5 minutes behind Frenchman Charly Mottet in today's
15th stage of the Tour de France.
   The 105.5-mile leg from Millau to Revel was flat and dull with
the leaders staying in the pack and out of trouble.
   Overall leader Claudio Chiappucci of Italy gained 3 seconds over
the main contenders and now leads by 1 minute, 52 seconds over
Breukink, 2:24 over LeMond and 4:29 over Delgado.
   Mottet averaged a fast 25 mph to finish in 4 hours, 13 minutes,
56 seconds.
   Temperatures cooled slightly, but it was still close to 80
degrees.
   Tuesday's 16th stage looks to be the most important of the tour
with three major climbs on the way to Luz Ardiden.
   As expected, the title will be decided in the final stages.
   Also, as expected, LeMond is one of the contenders as the race
heads to Paris where it will finish on July 22. The American had a
number of question marks prior to the tour. But once it started,
LeMond was ready.
   The two-time champion feels that the key to the race will be the
final two mountain stages, especially the route to Luz Ardiden.
   But LeMond doesn't think Chiappucci is the main competition.
   ``I think that Delgado and Breukink are the ones to watch.
Chiappucci is not a major contender.''
   Delgado is especially dangerous. The Spaniard is a noted climber
and very motivated this year. He will have a number of home-country
supporters as the Tour enters the mountain range that borders
France and Spain.
   Today's leg - the 15th of 21 - is from Millau to Revel, 105.5
miles in southern France. That is followed on Tuesday by the 16th
stage from Blagnac, outside Toulouse, to Luz Ardiden.
   Luz Ardiden ends the second most difficult stage of the tour
with three major climbs over the last 36 miles.
   ``I prefer it to be tough,'' LeMond said. ``Usually, I am very
consistent. When I have an weak day, I usually don't manage to lose
time. I am counting on Luz Ardiden to make the difference.''
   When he put 30 seconds on Delgado in Saturday's stage, LeMond's
was hoping to put more after he and Breukink pushed the action in
the 13th stage. That helped chop almost five minutes from
Chiappucci's lead.
   Nothing much happened Sunday in the 129.5-mile leg from Le Puy
en Velay to Millau in central France.
   LeMond watched and watched his two main rivals for most of the
distance.
   ``Everybody was very, very nervous,'' LeMond said.'' We all
waited for the final hill.''
   The last hill of about three miles was rated a first category in
terms of steepness and difficulty.
   Marino Lejarreta of Spain won the 14th stage when he broke away
with 2 1/2 miles left to go on to a solitary victory.
   LeMond came in fifth, 34 seconds followed by Breukink and
Delgado.
   All three gained a handful of seconds on Chiappucci, who
faltered in the last stretch.
   ``In the last climb we watched each other. Breukink fell behind
but he was back very quickly,'' LeMond said.
bucwht>

VNS UK SPORTS REPORT:                             [Ken Merrick, VNS Sports Desk]
=====================                             [Valbonne, France            ]
                                          
[] CYCLING.                               
   // Tour de France.                     
      16th stage, 215km Blagnac - Luz Ariden
      1. Miguel INDURAIN        E    (Banesto)                7h 4min 38sec
      2. Greg LEMOND            USA  (Z - Lemond)             +6s
      3. Marino LEJARRETTA      E    (ONCE - Look)            +15s
      4. Miguel MARTINEZ-TORRES E    (ONCE - Look)            +59s
      5. Fabio PARRA            Col  (Kelme - Eddy Merckx)    +1m 18s
    
      Overall
      1. Claudio CHIAPUCCI      I    (Carrera - Battaglin)    69h 27m 50s
      2. Greg LEMOND            USA  (Z - Lemond)             +5s
      3. Pedro DELGADO          E    (Banesto)                +3m 12s
      4. Erik BREUKINK          NL   (P.D.M. - Concorde)      +3m 49s
      5. Marino LEJARRETTA      E    (ONCE - Look)            +5m 29s

		    Tour De France After Sunday's 17th Stage
		    ----------------------------------------

    TOP 11 Overall Standings:

    1. Claudio Chiappucci   Carrera	    Italy	73 Hours, 41 min, 46 sec
    2. Greg LeMond	    Z		    USA		 :05 behind
    3. Pedro Delgado	    Banesto	    Spain	3:42 behind
    4. Erik Breukink	    PDM		    Netherlands	3:49 behind
    5. Marino Lejarretta    ONCE	    Spain	5:29 behind
    6. Gianni Bugno	    Chateau d'Ax    Italy	7:48 behind
    7. Eduardo Chozas	    ONCE	    Spain	7:49 behind
    8. Claude Criquielion   Lotto	    Belguim	8:40 behind
    9. Andy Hamsten	    7-Eleven	    USA		9:34 behind
   10. Fabio Parra	    Kelma	    Columbia   11:30 behind
   11. Raul Alcala	    PDM		    Mexico     11:48 behind

    On one of the recent stages Greg LeMond had a flat and only lost
    a minute. I can't concieve of even replacing a tire in a minute.
    I thought they just swapped bikes or something like that when they
    had a problem. LeMond really showed what he was made of by making
    up some number like 60 to 90 seconds (depending on who you listen
    to). 
    
    My wife and I were comparing notes on what happens when we get a
    flat and how we would handle a hypothetical flat if we were in the
    TDF:
    
    1. We would probably ride the wheel on the rim for a couple minutes
    denying the fact that the rear wheel is fishtailing all over the
    place. (2)
    
    2. We would then stop the bike and spend at least a minute using
    all kinds of profanity to discribe how much it really sucks to change
    a rear tire. (1)
    
    3. Rumage through all the places that we carry spare tubes and tube
    repair kits on our bikes. While rummaging we would then come up
    with a plan on how to repair the darned thing. (2)
    
    4. Sitting down on the side of the road and getting the tire off
    the rear of the bike complete with getting our hands all greasy
    from the chain and start replacing the tube. While doing this of
    course we field questions from every person who rides by asking
    if we are alright and if we have whatever we need to fix the tire.
    (10) and if we try to repair the tube (20)
    
    5. Put the tire back on the bike and try to find something to clean
    the grease off our hands. Now any of those passersby really could
    do something valuable if they gave a few napkins but now those
    passersby are strangly gone. (5)

    
    So we think 20 or 30 minutes to fix that flat. Greg is safe in any
    race that we have a flat in!
    
    Fred Mudgett
    

    That was indeed a VERY impressive performance.  I stayed up until 12:30
    this morning watching the ESPN coverage to see stage 16 and 17 (I
    think).  The Z team apparently did a really great job of regrouping and
    working to get Lemond back to the front.  He had two riders with him
    and two riders quite a bit ahead.  The front riders waited, one of them
    giving up a possible chance to win the stage.  Lemond seemed to be a
    little upset that the chase car was a minute back and that was what
    took so long with the wheel change.  As I understand it, they can get a
    wheel off and a new one on about as fast as you can say it.  Lemond was
    saying that the car being "so far" back could have cost him the TdF. 
    
    re -.1:
    
    And I thought I was the only person who found it necessary to swear at
    the flat tire!  

[] CYCLING.
   Tour de France, 18th stage, 202km Pau - Bordeaux.
   1. Gianni BUGNO          I    (Chateaux D'Ax - Moser)    5h 41m 33s
   2. Erik BREUKINK        NL    (P.D.M. - Concorde)        + 1s
   3. Roberto GUSMEROLI     I    (Chateaux D'Ax - Moser)    + 3s
   4. Giovanni FIDANZA      I    (Chateaux D'Ax - Moser)    + 19s
   5. Adriano BAFFI         I    (Ariostea - De Rosa)       +19"
                                                                    
   Overall                                                      
   1. Claudio CHIAPUCCI    I    (Carrera - Battaglin)        79h 23m 38s
   2. Greg LEMOND          USA  (Z - Lemond)                 +5s
   3. Erik BREUKINK        NL   (P.D.M. - Concorde)          +3m 31s
   4. Pedro DELGADO        E    (Banesto)                    +3m 42s
   5. Marino LEJARRETTA    E    (ONCE - Look)                +5m 29s

    That stage shows how very important it is to have the support of a
    great team to win the tour.

    In fact, it shows something else which is sometimes (accurately) said -
    the tour is not so much "won" as it is "not lost".

    One reason Greg has moved up to within striking distance of the yellow
    jersey is that all the other contenders have had various bad days, losing
    a little here and a little there.

    It's the consistant rider who makes the right moves that wins.

    - Jim

As far as changing wheels, a good race mechanic oughta be able to change 
one out in maybe 5-10 seconds. When a rider notices he's flatted, there 
are pre-arranged hand signals ("NEED NEW FRONT WHEEL!") so that the 
mech. will have the correct wheel in hand even before the support car 
and rider come to a halt.

On the other hand, in a race where you have no support - my old boss 
went to a demo once where they started with a bike, flatted a sewup tire 
(prob. let the air out...), took out the wheel, ripped off the old, put 
on the spare (hopefully with some old glue on it...), pumped it up with 
a frame pump and put it back on the bike. Elapsed time - about 45 sec.

                              ken

[] CYCLING: Tour de France  
   Greg Lemond became the first rider since 1966 to win the Tour de France
   without winning a stage. Lemonod's third tour victory was sealed in the 46.5
   km time trial on saturday when he turned a 5 second deficit into a 2 minute
   lead.

       Final result:
 
    1. Greg LEMOND           USA  (Z - Lemond)                90h 43m 20s
    2. Claudio CHIAPUCCI     I    (Carrera-Jeans - Battaglin)     +2m 16s
    3. Erik BREUKINK         NL   (PDM - Concorde)                +2m 29s
    4. Pedro DELGADO         E    (Banesto)                       +5m  1s
    5. Marino LEJARRETTA     E    (ONCE - Look)                   +5m  5s