1999 Tour de France

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. There were no French stage winners for the first time since the 1926 Tour de France. Additionally, Mario Cipollini won 4 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.)

1999 Tour de France
Route of the 1999 Tour de France
Race details
Dates3 July 1999 (1999-07-03)–25 July 1999 (1999-07-25)
Stages20 + Prologue
Distance3,870 km (2,405 mi)
Winning time91h 32' 16"
Results
  Winner Lance Armstrong none[lower-alpha 1]
  Second  Alex Zülle (SUI) (Banesto)
  Third  Fernando Escartín (ESP) (Kelme–Costa Blanca)

Points  Erik Zabel (GER) (Team Telekom)
Mountains  Richard Virenque (FRA) (Polti)
  Youth  Benoît Salmon (FRA) (Casino–Ag2r Prévoyance)
Combativity  Jacky Durand (FRA) (Lotto–Mobistar)
  Team Banesto

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 characteristics and winners[9][10][11]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
P 3 JulyLe Puy du Fou6.8 km (4.2 mi)Individual time trial Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]
1 4 JulyMontaigu to Challans208.0 km (129.2 mi)Plain stage Jaan Kirsipuu (EST)
2 5 JulyChallans to Saint-Nazaire176.0 km (109.4 mi)Plain stage Tom Steels (BEL)
3 6 JulyNantes to Laval194.5 km (120.9 mi)Plain stage Tom Steels (BEL)
4 7 JulyLaval to Blois194.5 km (120.9 mi)Plain stage Mario Cipollini (ITA)
5 8 JulyBonneval to Amiens233.5 km (145.1 mi)Plain stage Mario Cipollini (ITA)
6 9 JulyAmiens to Maubeuge171.5 km (106.6 mi)Plain stage Mario Cipollini (ITA)
7 10 JulyAvesnes-sur-Helpe to Thionville227.0 km (141.1 mi)Plain stage Mario Cipollini (ITA)
8 11 JulyMetz56.5 km (35.1 mi)Individual time trial Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]
12 July Le Grand-Bornand Rest day
9 13 JulyLe Grand-Bornand to Sestrières213.5 km (132.7 mi)Stage with mountain(s) Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]
10 14 JulySestrières to Alpe d'Huez220.5 km (137.0 mi)Stage with mountain(s) Giuseppe Guerini (ITA)
11 15 JulyLe Bourg-d'Oisans to Saint-Étienne198.5 km (123.3 mi)Hilly stage Ludo Dierckxsens (BEL)
12 16 JulySaint-Galmier to Saint-Flour201.5 km (125.2 mi)Hilly stage David Etxebarria (ESP)
13 17 JulySaint-Flour to Albi236.5 km (147.0 mi)Hilly stage Salvatore Commesso (ITA)
14 18 JulyCastres to Saint-Gaudens199.0 km (123.7 mi)Plain stage Dmitri Konychev (RUS)
19 July Saint-Gaudens Rest day
15 20 JulySaint-Gaudens to Piau-Engaly173.0 km (107.5 mi)Stage with mountain(s) Fernando Escartín (ESP)
16 21 JulyLannemezan to Pau192.0 km (119.3 mi)Stage with mountain(s) David Etxebarria (ESP)
17 22 JulyMourenx to Bordeaux200.0 km (124.3 mi)Plain stage Tom Steels (BEL)
18 23 JulyJonzac to Futuroscope187.5 km (116.5 mi)Plain stage Giampaolo Mondini (ITA)
19 24 JulyFuturoscope57.0 km (35.4 mi)Individual time trial Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]
20 25 JulyArpajon 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

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."[13] He quit the tour without finishing after "cracking" mentally due to his treatment by the peloton, especially in stage 10.[14]

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.[15][16] 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.[17] 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.[18]

Classification leadership and minor prizes

There were several classifications in the 1999 Tour de France.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25] Jacky Durand won this classification, and was given overall the super-combativity award.[26] 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.[27][28]

Classification leadership by stage[29][30]
Stage Winner General classification
Points classification
Mountains classification
Young rider classification[lower-alpha 2] Team classification Combativity
Award Classification
P Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Mariano Piccoli Rik Verbrugghe U.S. Postal Service no award
1 Jaan Kirsipuu Jaan Kirsipuu Thierry Gouvenou Thierry Gouvenou
2 Tom Steels Jaan Kirsipuu Christian Vande Velde Jacky Durand
3 Tom Steels Frédéric Guesdon
4 Mario Cipollini Gianpaolo Mondini
5 Mario Cipollini Mariano Piccoli
6 Mario Cipollini François Simon
7 Mario Cipollini Lylian Lebreton
8 Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Magnus Bäckstedt no award
9 Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Stuart O'Grady Richard Virenque Benoît Salmon José Luis Arrieta
10 Giuseppe Guerini ONCE–Deutsche Bank Stéphane Heulot
11 Ludo Dierckxsens Festina–Lotus Rik Verbrugghe
12 David Etxebarria Erik Zabel Massimiliano Lelli
13 Salvatore Commesso ONCE–Deutsche Bank Roland Meier
14 Dimitri Konishev Festina–Lotus Jacky Durand Jacky Durand
15 Fernando Escartín Banesto Fernando Escartín
16 David Etxebarria Pavel Tonkov
17 Tom Steels Carlos Da Cruz
18 Gianpaolo Mondini Frédéric Bessy
19 Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] no award
20 Robbie McEwen Anthony Morin
Final Lance Armstrong[lower-alpha 1] Erik Zabel Richard Virenque Benoît Salmon Banesto Jacky Durand

Final standings

Legend
Denotes the leader of the points classification[31] Denotes the leader of the mountains classification[31]
Denotes the winner of the super-combativity award[31]

General classification

Final general classification (1–10)[32]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]U.S. Postal Service91h 32' 16"
2  Alex Zülle (SUI)Banesto+ 7' 37"
3  Fernando Escartín (ESP)Kelme–Costa Blanca+ 10' 26"
4  Laurent Dufaux (SUI)Saeco Macchine per Caffè–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

Final points classification (1–10)[32]
RankRiderTeamPoints
1  Erik Zabel (GER) Team Telekom323
2  Stuart O'Grady (AUS)Crédit Agricole275
3  Christophe Capelle (FRA)BigMat–Auber 93196
4  Tom Steels (BEL)Mapei–Quick-Step188
5  François Simon (FRA)Crédit Agricole186
6  George Hincapie (USA)U.S. Postal Service166
7  Robbie McEwen (AUS)Rabobank166
8  Giampaolo Mondini (ITA)Cantina Tollo–Alexia Alluminio141
9  Christophe Moreau (FRA)Festina–Lotus140
10  Silvio Martinello (ITA)Team Polti130

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10)[32]
RankRiderTeamPoints
1  Richard Virenque (FRA) Team Polti279
2  Alberto Elli (ITA)Team Telekom226
3  Mariano Piccoli (ITA)Lampre–Daikin205
4  Fernando Escartín (ESP)Kelme–Costa Blanca194
5  Lance Armstrong (USA)[lower-alpha 1]U.S. Postal Service193
6  Alex Zülle (SUI)Banesto152
7  José Luis Arrieta (ESP)Banesto141
8  Laurent Dufaux (SUI)Saeco Macchine per Caffè–Cannondale141
9  Andrea Peron (ITA)ONCE–Deutsche Bank138
10  Kurt Van De Wouwer (BEL)Lotto–Mobistar117

Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–10)[32]
RankRiderTeamTime
1  Benoit Salmon (FRA)Casino–Ag2r Prévoyance92h 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 Macchine per Caffè–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  Jorg Jaksche (GER)Team Telekom+ 1h 47' 45"

Team classification

Final team classification (1–10)[33]
RankTeamTime
1 Banesto275h 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

Final combativity classification (1–10)[33]
RankRiderTeamPoints
1  Jacky Durand (FRA) Lotto–Mobistar61
2  Stéphane Heulot (FRA)Française des Jeux55
3  Thierry Gouvenou (FRA)BigMat–Auber 9351
4  Anthony Morin (FRA)Française des Jeux46
5  François Simon (FRA)Crédit Agricole42
6  Fernando Escartin (ESP)Kelme–Costa Blanca40
7  Lylian Lebreton (FRA)BigMat–Auber 9340
8  Frédéric Guesdon (FRA)Française des Jeux40
9  Alberto Elli (ITA)Team Telekom39
10  Mariano Piccoli (ITA)Lampre–Daikin36

Notes

  1. 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]
  2. A white jersey was not awarded to the leader of the young rider classification between 1989 and 1999.[23]

References

  1. "Lance Armstrong Receives Lifetime Ban And Disqualification Of Competitive Results For Doping Violations Stemming From His Involvement In The United States Postal Service Pro-Cycling Team Doping Conspiracy". United States Anti-Doping Agency. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  2. "Lance Armstrong stripped of all seven Tour de France wins by UCI". BBC News. BBC. 22 October 2012. Archived from the original on 8 September 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  3. "Richard Virenque banned from Tour de France". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 17 June 1999. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  4. "Virenque in the Tour". Cyclingnews. Future Publishing Limited. 30 June 1999. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  5. "Vini Caldirola now out of Tour". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 19 June 1999. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  6. "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1999 – The starters". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  7. Augendre 2016, pp. 177–178.
  8. "www.cyclingnews.com presents the Tour de France 1999 – The difficulties". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  9. "Tour de France 1999 – Route". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 7 May 2001. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  10. "86ème Tour de France 1999" [86th Tour de France 1999]. Mémoire du cyclisme (in French). Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  11. "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1999 – The stage winners". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  12. Augendre 2016, p. 110.
  13. Bassons: ‘People Now See I Wasn’t Lying’ Archived 4 November 2013 at the National and University Library of Iceland, James Startt, Bicycling.com, 15 October 2012
  14. Peddlers - Cycling's Dirty Truth Archived 16 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, 54:00, Mark Chapman, including interviews with Tyler Hamilton, Bassons, and others. BBC Radio 5 live, 2012 10 15, retr 2012 10 16
  15. "Lance Armstrong will be banned from cycling by USADA after saying he won't fight doping charges". The Washington Post. 24 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  16. "USADA to ban Armstrong for life, strip Tour titles". CBS News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  17. "1999 Tour de France stage two: Passage du Gois causes chaos". Cycling Weekly. 5 July 1999. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  18. MacLeary, John (4 July 2010). "Tour de France great moments: Giuseppe Guerini felled by spectator on Alpe d'Huez". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  19. Nauright & Parrish 2012, pp. 452–455.
  20. Nauright & Parrish 2012, pp. 452–453.
  21. Nauright & Parrish 2012, pp. 453–454.
  22. Nauright & Parrish 2012, p. 454.
  23. Nauright & Parrish 2012, pp. 454–455.
  24. Nauright & Parrish 2012, p. 455.
  25. van den Akker 2018, pp. 211–216.
  26. Augendre 2016, p. 90.
  27. "Stage 9, Le Grand Bornand - Sestrières (Italy), 215 kms". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 13 July 1999. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  28. Fischer, Jürgen (14 July 1999). "Schneestürme, Triumphe und der erste Tour-Tote" [Snowstorms, triumphs and the first tour dead]. Die Welt (in German). Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  29. "Tour de France 1999 – Leaders overview". ProCyclingStats. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  30. van den Akker, Pieter. "Informatie over de Tour de France van 1999" [Information about the Tour de France from 1999]. TourDeFranceStatistieken.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  31. Race regulations 1999, p. 7.
  32. "The history of the Tour de France – Year 1999 – Stage 20 Arpajon > Paris". Tour de France. Amaury Sport Organisation. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  33. "Tour de France, Grand Tour, Other Classifications after Stage 20". Cyclingnews.com. Future plc. 1999. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2012.

Bibliography

Further reading

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