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1999 Tour de France results

86th edition: July 3 - July 25, 1999

Results, stages with running GC, map, photos and history

1998 Tour | 2000 Tour | Tour de France database |Quick Facts | Final GC | Stage results with running GC | The Story of the 1999 Tour de France

Map of the 1999 Tour de France

1999 Tour de France map


Dirty Feet: Early days of the Tour de France

Les Woodland's book Dirty Feet: How the great unwashed created the Tour is France is available as an audiobook here. For the print or Kindle eBook versions, just cick on the Amazon link on the right.

1999 Tour de France Quick Facts:

3,686.8 km, traveled at a then record average speed of 40.276 km/hr.

180 starters and 141 classified finishers

Erik Zabel wins his 4th Green Jersey for best sprinter.

Richard Virenque wins his 5th Polka Dot Jersey for best climber.

For various reason, the winners of the previous three Tours (Ullrich, Pantani and Riis) did not participate.

The Tour was effectively won by Armstrong in the second stage when there was a mass crash, destroying the hopes of his competitors, notably Alex Zülle.

This did not become apparent until the stage nine finish at Setrieres, where Armstrong's lead was a solid 6min 3sec

In 2012 Lance Armstrong was stripped of all of his Tour wins after his doping became known.


Complete Final 1999 Tour de France General Classification:

TDF volume 1
  1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal) 91hr 32min 16sec
  2. Alex Zülle (Banesto) @ 7min 37sec
  3. Fernando Escartin (Kelme) @ 10min 26sec
  4. Laurent Dufaux (Saeco) @ 14min 43sec
  5. Angel Luis Casero (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 15min 11sec
  6. Abraham Olano (ONCE) @ 16min 47sec
  7. Daniele Nardello (Mapei) @ 17min 2sec
  8. Richard Virenque (Polti) @ 17min 28sec
  9. Wladimir Belli (Festina) @ 17min 37sec
  10. Andrea Peron (ONCE) @ 23min 10sec
  11. Kurt Van De Wouwer (Lotto) @ 23min 32sec
  12. David Etxebarria (ONCE) @ 26min 41sec
  13. Tyler Hamilton (US Postal) @ 26min 53sec
  14. Stéphane Heulot (FDJ) @ 27min 58sec
  15. Roland Meier (Cofidis) @ 28min 44sec
  16. Benoît Salmon @ 28min 59sec
  17. Alberto Elli (Telekom) @ 33min 39sec
  18. Paolo Lanfranchi (Mapei) @ 34min 14sec
  19. Carlos Contreras (Kelme) @ 34min 53sec
  20. Georg Totschnig (Telekom) @ 37min 10sec
  21. Mario Aerts (Lotto) @ 39min 21sec
  22. Giuseppe Guerini (Telekom) @ 39min 29sec
  23. Gianni Faresin (Mapei) @ 40min 28sec
  24. Álvaro González de Galdeano (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 43min 39sec
  25. Marcos Antonio Serrano (ONCE) @ 45mn 3sec
  26. Francisco Tomas García (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 45min 31sec
  27. Christophe Moreau (Festina) @ 45min 34sec
  28. Francisco Mancebo (Banesto) @ 50min 31sec
  29. Luis Perez (ONCE) @ 52min 53sec
  30. François Simon (Credit Agricole) @ 53min 21sec
  31. Armin Meier (Saeco) @ 1hr 0min 10sec
  32. Stefano Garzelli (Mercatone Uno) @ 1hr 0min 45sec
  33. Javier Pascual (Kelme) @ 1hr 1min 20sec
  34. Massimiliano Lelli (Cofidis) @ 1hr 1min 27sec
  35. Alexandre Vinokourov (Casino) @ 1hr 2min 23sec
  36. Kevin Livingston (US Postal) @ 1hr 6min 10sec
  37. José Joaquim Castelblanco (Kelme) @ 1hr 8min 5sec
  38. Salvatore Commesso (Saeco) @ 1hr 9min 15sec
  39. César Solaun (Banesto) @ 1hr 10min 1sec
  40. Udo Bölts (Telekom) @ 1hr 11min 51sec
  41. Steve De Wolf (Cofidis) @ 1hr 11min 54sec
  42. Frédéric Bessy (Casino) @ 1hr 15min 26sec
  43. Miguel Angel Peña (Banesto) @ 1hr 19min 26sec
  44. Laurent Madouas (Festina) @ 1hr 20min 42sec
  45. Geert Verheyen (Lotto) @ 1hr 23min 24sec
  46. José Luis Arrieta (Banesto) @ 1hr 24min 29sec
  47. Francisco Javier Cerezo (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 1hr 26min 50sec
  48. Thierry Bourguignon (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 1hr 27min 43sec
  49. Manuel Fernández (Mapei) @ 1hr 30min 20sec
  50. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre) @ 1hr 31min 21sec
  51. Lylian Lebreton (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 1hr 32min 51sec
  52. Jean-Cyril Robin (FDJ) @ 1hr 33min 14sec
  53. Marco Fincato (Merctone Uno) @ 1hr 36min 57sec
  54. Jon Odriozola (Banesto) @ 1hr 41min 55sec
  55. Marco Serpellini (Lampre) @ 1hr 42min 4sec
  56. Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) @ 1hr 42min 22sec
  57. Fabian Jeker (Festina) @ 1hr 42min 25sec
  58. Rafael Diaz (ONCE) @ 1hr 43min 36sec
  59. José Javier Gomez (Kelme) @ 1hr 45min 50sec
  60. Jens Voigt (Credit Agricole) @ 1hr 47min 47sec
  61. Santos González (ONCE) @ 1hr 48min 21sec
  62. Dimitri Konyschev (Mercatone Uno) @ 1hr 49min 10sec
  63. Peter Farazijn (Cofidis) @ 1hr 55min 1sec
  64. Hernán Buenahora (Vatalicio Seguros) @ 1hr 55min 33sec
  65. Frankie Andreu (US Postal) @ 1hr 59min 1sec
  66. Stefano Cattai (Polti) @ 1hr 59min 49sec
  67. Christophe Oriol (Casino) @ 2hr 1min 6sec
  68. José Vicente Garcia (Banesto) @ 2hr 1min 46sec
  69. Fabrice Gougot (Casino) @ 2hr 2min 5sec
  70. Christophe Mengin (FDJ) @ 2hr 4min 3sec
  71. Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto) @ 2hr 4min 31sec
  72. Marc Lotz (Rabobank) @ 2hr 8min 8sec
  73. Steffen Wesemann (Telekom) @ 2hr 9min 22sec
  74. Stéphane Goubert (Polti) @ 2hr 10min 58sec
  75. José Luis Rebollo (ONCE) @ 2hr 12min 57sec
  76. Prudencio Indurain (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2hr 14min 15sec
  77. Laurent Brochard (Festina) @ 2hr 14min 42sec
  78. George Hincapie (US Postal) @ 2hr 16min 35sec
  79. Chirstophe Rinero (Cofidis) @ 2hr 16min 35sec
  80. Jörg Jaksche (Telekom) @ 2hr 16min 44sec
  81. Giampaolo Mondini (Cantina Tollo) @ 2hr 17min 34sec
  82. Gilles Maignan (Casino) @ 2hr 18min 2sec
  83. Cédriv Vasseur (Credit Agricole) @ 2hr 18min 23sec
  84. Maarten Den Bakker (Rabobank) @ 2hr 19min 3sec
  85. Christian Vande Velde (US Postal) @ 2hr 23min 58sec
  86. Javier Otxoa (Kelme) @ 2hr 24min 14sec
  87. Riccardo Forconi (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 25min 2sec
  88. Laurent Lefèvre (Festina) @ 2hr 25min 8sec
  89. Erik Zabel (Telekom) @ 2hr 26min 1sec
  90. Dominique Rault (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 27min 17sec
  91. Pascal Chanteur (Casino) @ 2hr 28min 0sec
  92. Elio Aggiano (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 2hr 28min 33sec
  93. Alexei Sivakov (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 29min 40sec
  94. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) @ 2hr 30min 7sec
  95. Massimo Giunti (Cantina Tollo) @ 2hr 30min 25sec
  96. Thierry Gouvenou (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 32min 11sec
  97. Patrick Jonker (Rabobank) @ 2hr 32min 20sec
  98. David Navas (Banesto) @ 2hr 33min 31sec
  99. Fabio Sacchi (Polti) @ 2hr 33min 39sec
  100. Laurent Desbiens (Cofidis) @ 2hr 34min 1sec
  101. José Angel Vidal (Kelme) @ 2hr 34min 22sec
  102. Jaime Hernández (Festina) @ 2hr 36min 4sec
  103. Davide Bramati (Mapei) @ 2hr 36min 15sec
  104. Tom Steels (Mapei) @ 2hr 36min 28sec
  105. Anthony Morin (FDJ) @ 2hr 36min 37sec
  106. Frédéric Guesdon (FDJ) @ 2hr 37min 27sec
  107. Erik Dekker (Rabobank) @ 2hr 38min 5sec
  108. Fabien De Waele (Lotto) @ 2hr 39min 21sec
  109. Beat Zberg (Rabobank) @ 2hr 39min 29sec
  110. Kai Hundertmarck (Telekom) @ 2hr 39min 32sec
  111. Ludovic Auger (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 39min 38sec
  112. Peter Wuyts (Lotto) @ 2hr 39min 50sec
  113. Marco Pinotti (Lampre) @ 2hr 40min 0sec
  114. Silvio Martinello (Polti) @ 2hr 40min 14sec
  115. Christophe Capelle (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 45min 17sec
  116. Lars Michaelsen (FDJ) @ 2hr 46min 20sec
  117. Claude Lemour (Cofidis) @ 2hr 46min 26sec
  118. Rolf Huser (Festina) @ 2hr 47min 27sec
  119. Chris Boardman (Credit Agricole) @ 2hr 47min 48sec
  120. Mirko Crepaldi (Polti) @ 2hr 49min 14sec
  121. Henk Vogels (Credit Agricole) @ 2hr 49min 17sec
  122. Robbie McEwen (Rabobank) @ 2hr 49min 23sec
  123. Sébastien Hinault (Credit Agricole) @ 2hr 51min 3sec
  124. Sergio Barbero (Mercatone Uno) @ 2hr 51min 9sec
  125. Gabriele Colombo (Cantina Tollo) @ 2hr 51min 43sec
  126. Carlos de la Cruz (Big Mat-Auber 93) @ 2hr 51min 48sec
  127. Rossano Brasi (Polti) @ 2hr 52min 1sec
  128. Thierry Marichal (Lotto) @ 2hr 54min 6sec
  129. Juan José de Los Angeles (Kelme) @ 2hr 54min 40sec
  130. Sebastien Demarbaix (lotto) @ 2hr 58min 32sec
  131. Marcus Lungqvist (Catina Tollo) @ 3hr 0min 9sec
  132. Anthony Langella (Credit Agricole) @ 3hr 2min 20sec
  133. Bart Leysen (Mapei) @ 3hr 3min 11sec
  134. Massimiliano Napolitano (Mercatone Uno) @ 3hr 5min 9sec
  135. Pedro Horillo (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 3hr 5min 31sec
  136. Jan Schaffrath (Telekom) @ 3hr 5min 41sec
  137. Luca Mazzanti (Cantina Tollo) @ 3hr 6min 28sec
  138. Alessandro Baronti (Cantina Tollo) @ 3hr 7min 7sec
  139. Thierry Loder (Cofidis) @ 3hr 11min 55sec
  140. Pascal Deramé (US Postal) @ 3hr 14min 19sec
  141. Jacky Durand (lotto) @ 3hr 19min 9sec

Climbers' Competition:

  1. Richard Virenque (Polti): 279 points
  2. Alberto Elli (Telekom): 226
  3. Mariano Piccoli (Lampre): 205
  4. Fernando Escartin (Kelme): 194
  5. Lance Armstrong (US Postal): 193
  6. Alex Zülle (Banesto): 152
  7. José Luis Arrieta (Banesto): 141
  8. Laurent Dufaux (Saeco): 141
  9. Andrea Peron (ONCE): 138
  10. Kurt Van De Wouwer (Lotto): 117

Points Competition:

  1. Erik Zabel (Telekom): 323 points
  2. Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole): 275
  3. Christophe Capelle (Big Mat-Auber 93): 196
  4. Tom Steels (Mapei): 188
  5. François Simon (Credit Agricole): 186
  6. George Hincapie (US Postal): 166
  7. Robbie McEwen (Rabobank): 166
  8. Giampaolo Mondini (Cantina Tollo): 141
  9. Christophe Moreau (Festina): 140
  10. Silvio Martinello (Polti): 130

Young Rider:

  1. Benoît Salmon (Casino) 92hr 1min 15sec
  2. Mario Aerts (Lotto) @ 10min 22sec
  3. Francisco Tomas García (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 16min32sec
  4. Francisco Mancebo (Banesto) @ 21min 32sec
  5. Luis Perez (ONCE) @ 23min 54sec

Team GC:

  1. Banesto: 275hr 5min 21sec
  2. ONCE @ 8min 16sec
  3. Festina @ 16min 13sec
  4. Kelme @ 23min 48sec
  5. Mapei @ 24min 13sec
  6. Telekom @ 41min 0sec
  7. Vitalicio Seguros @ 42min 44sec
  8. US Postal @ 57min 13sec
  9. Cofidis @ 58min 2sec
  10. Lotto @ 1hr 9min 2sec

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The Story of the Tour de France, volume 1 South Salem Cycleworks frames Melanoma: It Started With a Freckle

Stage results with running GC:

Prologue, Saturday, July 3, Puy de Fou 6.8 km Individual Time Trial

1 Lance Armstrong 8min 2sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 7sec
3 Abraham Olano @ 11sec
4 Christophe Moreau @ 15sec
5 Chris Boardman @ 16sec
6 Rik Verbrugghe @ 18sec
7 Alexander Vinokourov   @ 21sec
8 Santos Gonzalez @ 21sec
9 Laurent Brochard s.t.
10   Gilles Maignan @ 23sec

 

Stage 1: Sunday, July 4, Montaigu - Challans. 209 km. 42.12 km/hr

1 Jaan Kirsipuu 4hr 56min 18sec  
2 Tom Steels all same time 
3 Erik Zabel  
4 Stuart O'Grady  
5 Silvio Martinello  
6 Jimmy Casper  
7 Nicola Minali  
8 George Hincapie  
9 François Simon  
10   Christophe Moreau    

 

General Classification after Stage 1:

1 Lance Armstrong 5hr 4min 20sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 7sec
3 Abraham Olano @ 11sec
4 Christophe Moreau @ 15sec
5 Chris Boardman @ 16sec
6 Jaan Kirsipuu s.t.
7 Rik Verbrugghe @ 18sec
8 Stuart O'Grady @ 20sec
9 Alxender Vinokerov   @ 21sec
10   Laurent Brochard s.t.

 

Stage 2: Monday, July 5, Challans - St. Nazaire. 146 km. 46.822 km/hr

1 Tom Steels 3hr 45min 32sec  
2 Jaan Kirsipuu All same time
3 Mario Cipollini  
4 Erik Zabel  
5 Jimmy Casper  
6 George Hincapie    
7 Jan Svorada  
8 Silvio Martinello  
9 Stuart O'Grady  
10   François Simon  

 

General Classification after Stage 2

1 Jaan Kirsipuu 8hr 49min 38sec  
2 Lance Armstrong @ 14sec
3 Stuart O'Grady @ 22sec
4 Abraham Olano @ 25sec
5 Christophe Moreau @ 29sec
6 Tom Steels @ 31sec
7 George Hincapie @ 32sec
8 Alexander Vinokourov   @ 35sec
9 Santos Gonzalez s.t.
10   Andrea Peron @ 37sec

 

Stage 3: Tuesday, July 6, Nantes - Laval 194 km. 43.31 km/hr

1 Tom Steels 4 hr 29 min 27   
2 Erik Zabel All Same Time
3 Stuart O'Grady  
4 Nicola Minali  
5 George Hincapie    
6 Jimmy Casper  
7 Robby McEwen  
8 Silvio Martinello  
9 Elio Aggiano  
10   Mario Cipollini  

 

General Classification after Stage 3

1 Jaan Kirisipuu 13hr 18min 59sec  
2 Tom Steels @ 17sec
3 Stuart O'Grady @ 20sec
4 Lance Armstrong s.t.
5 Abraham Olano @ 31sec
6 George Hincapie @ 34sec
7 Christophe Moreau @ 35sec
8 Erik Zabel @ 40sec
9 Alexander Vinkourov   @ 41sec
10   Santos Gonzalez s.t.

 

Stage 4, Wednesday, July 7, Laval - Blois, 194.5 km. 50.355 km/hr

Fastest stage to date in Tour history

1 Mario Cipollini 3hr 51min 45sec   
2 Erik Zabel All Same time
3 Stuart O'Grady  
4 Tom Steels  
5 Jaan Kirsipuu  
Nicola Minali  
7 Christophe Moreau    
8 Damien Nazon  
9 George Hincapie  
10   Jay Sweet  

 

General Classification after Stage 4

1 Jaan Kirsipuu 17hr 10min 40sec  
2 Stuart O'Grady @ 16sec
3 Tom Steels @ 21sec
4 Lance Armstrong @ 24sec
5 Erik Zabel @ 32sec
6 Abraham Olano @ 35sec
7 George Hincapie @ 38sec
8 Christophe Moreau @ 39sec
9 Mario Cipollini @ 44sec
10   Alexander Vinokourov   @ 45sec

 

Stage 5: Thursday, July 8, Thursday, Bonneval - Amiens. 228 km

1 Mario Cipollini 5hr 36min 28sec   
2 Tom Steels All same time
3 Jan Kirsipuu  
4 Robbie McEwen  
5 Erik Zabel  
6 Stuart O'Grady  
7 Nicola Minali  
8 Christophe Capelle    
9 Damien Nazon  
10   Jan Svorada  

 

General Classification after Stage 5

1 Jan Kirsipuu 22hr 47min 0sec  
2 Tom Steels @ 17sec
3 Stuart O'Grady @ 24sec
4 Lance Armstrong @ 32sec
5 Mario Cipollini @ 21sec
6 Erik Zabel @ 40sec
7 Abraham Olano @ 43sec
8 George Hincapie @ 46sec
9 Christophe Moreau @ 47sec
10   Alexander Vinokourov   @ 53sec

 

Stage 6: Friday, July 9, Amiens - Maubeuge, 169 km

1 Tom Steels (Disqualified)  
1 Mario Cipollini awarded stage   4hr 11min 9sec   
2 Erik Zabel All same time
3 Jan Kirsipuu  
4 Jan Svorada  
5 Damien Nazon  
6 George Hincapie  
7 Silvio Martinello  
8 Stuart O'Grady  
9   Nicola Minali  

 

General Classification after Stage 6

1 Jan Kirsipuu 26hr 57min 55sec  
2 Mario Cipollini @ 26sec
3 Tom Steels @ 31sec
4 Stuart O'Grady @ 38sec
5 Erik Zabel s.t.
6 Lance Armstrong @ 46sec
7 Abraham Olano @ 57sec
8 George Hincapie @ 58sec
9 Christophe Moreau   @ 1min 1sec
10   François Simon @ 1min 4sec

 

Stage 7: Saturday, July 10, Avesnes sur Helpe - Thionville, 223 km

1 Mario Cipollini - 4 in a row!   5hr 26min 59sec  
2 Stuart O'Grady All same time
3 Jan Kirsipuu  
4 Vogels  
5 Jan Svorada  
6 Damien Nazon  
7 Christophe Capelle  
8 Jimmy Casper  
9 George Hincapie  
10   François Simon  

 

General Classification after Stage 7

1 Jan Kirsipuu 32hr 24min 46sec  
2 Mario Cipollini @ 14sec
3 Stuart O'Grady @ 34sec
4 Erik Zabel @ 44sec
5 Lance Armstrong @ 54sec
Abraham Olano @ 1min 5sec
7 George Hincapie @ 1min 6sec
8 Tom Steels @ 1min 9sec
9 Christophe Moreau   s.t.
10   François Simon @ 1min 12sec

 

Stage 8: Sunday, July 11, Metz 56.5 km Individual Time Trial
49.417 km/hr

Bobby Julich crashes at about km 30 and is forced to retire

1 Lance Armstrong 1hr 8min 36sec   
2 Alex Zulle @ 58sec
3 Christophe Moreau @ 2min 5sec
4 Abraham Olano @ 2min 22sec
5 Tyler Hamilton @ 3min 31sec
6 Chris Boardman @ 3min 32sec
7 Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano   @ 3min 40sec
8 Jens Voigt @ 3min 42sec
9 Stuart O'Grady @ 3min 45sec
10   Laurent Dufaux @ 3min 56sec

 

General Classification after Stage 8

1 Lance Armstrong 33hr 34min 16sec
2 Christophe Moreau @ 2min 20sec  
3 Abraham Olano @ 2min 33sec
4 Stuart O'Grady @ 3min 25sec
5 Alvaro Gonzalez de Galdeano @ 4min 10sec
6 Jens Voigt @ 4sec 10sec
7 Laurent Dufaux @ 4min 19sec
8 Andrea Peron @ 4min 22sec
9 Santos Gonzalez @ 4min 37sec
10   Daniele Nardello @ 4min 46sec

 

Stage 9: Tuesday, July 13, Le Grand Bornand - Sestrieres, 213.5 km.

Major ascents: Tamié, Télégraphe, Galibier, Montgenèvre, Sestrieres. 35.864 km/hr

1 Lance Armstrong  5hr 57min 11sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 31sec
3 Fernando Escartin @ 1min 26sec
4 Ivan Gotti s.t.
5 Manuel Beltran @ 2min 27sec
6 Richard Virenque s.t.
7 Carlos Contreras @ 2min 29sec
8 Kurt van de Wouver   @ 3min 10sec
9 Abraham Olano s.t.
10   Laurent Dufaux @ 3min 30sec

 

General Classification after Stage 9

1 Lance Armstrong  39hr 31min 7sec  
2 Abraham Olano @ 6 min 3sec
3 Christophe Moreau   @ 7min 44sec
4 Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
5 Laurent Dufeaux @ 8min 7sec
6 Danielle Nardello @ 8min 39sec
7 Angel Casero @ 8min 54sec
8 Fernando Escartin @ 9min 1sec
9 Richard Virenque @ 10min 2sec
10   Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 34sec

 

Stage 10: Wednesday, July 14, Sestrieres - L'Alpe d'Huez. 220.5 km
32.868 km/hr

Major ascents: Mont Cenis, Croix de Fer, L'Alpe d'Huez

1 Giuseppe Guerini 6hr 42min 31sec  
2 Pavel Tonkov @ 21sec
3 Fernando Escartin @ 25sec
4 Alex Zulle s.t.
5 Lance Armstrong s.t.
Richard Virenque s.t.
7 Laurent Dufaux s.t.
8 Kurt van de Wouwer   s.t.
9 Mauel Beltran @ 32sec
10   Carlos Contreras @ 49sec

 

General Classification after Stage 10

1 Lance Armstrong 46hr 14min 3sec  
2 Abraham Olano @ 7min 42sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 7sec
5 Fernando Escartin   @ 8min 53sec
6 Richard Virenque @ 10min 2sec
7 Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 18sec
8 Daniele Nardello @ 10min 56sec
9 Giuseppe Guerini @ 10min 57sec
10   Angel Casero @ 11min 11sec

 

Stage 11: Thursday, July 15, Bourg d'Oisans - St. Etienne. 198.5 km

Major ascents: Parménie, Croix de Chaubouret

1 Ludo Dierckxsens 4hr 34min 3sec  
2 Dmitri Konyshev @ 1min 26sec
3 Alexander Vinokourov   s.t.
4 Wladimir Belli @ 1min 29sec
5 Rik Verbrugghe @ 1min 33sec
6 Laurent Lefevre @ 3min 53sec
7 Riccardo Forconi @ 5min 7sec
8 Erik Zabel @ 22min 18sec
9 Robbie McEwen s.t.
10   Gianpaolo Mondeni s.t.

 

General Classification after Stage 11

1 Lance Armstrong 51hr 10min 28sec  
2 Abraham Olano @ 7min 42sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 7sec
5 Fernando Escartin   @ 8min 57sec
6 Richard Virenque @ 10min 1sec
7 Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 18sec
8 Daniele Nardello @ 10min 56sec
9 Giuseppe Guerini @ 10min 57sec
10   Angel Casero @ 11min 11sec

 

Stage 12: Friday, July 16, St. Galmier - St. Flour, 201.5 km

Major ascents: Croix de l'Homme Mort, Lestival

1 David Etxebarria 4hr 53min 50sec   
2 François Simon @ 25sec
3 Alberto Elli @ 33sec
4 Steve De Wolf @ 40sec
5 Jose Joaquim Castelblanco   @ 1min 11sec
6 Massimilliano Lelli @ 1min 18sec
7 Frederic Bessy @ 1min 24sec
8 Marc Lotz @ 1min 32sec
9 Stephene Heulot @ 1min 34sec
10   Didier Rous @ 1min 50sec

 

General Classification after Stage 12

1 Lance Armstrong 56hr 16min 53sec  
2 Abraham Olano @ 7min 44sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 7sec
5 Fernando Escartin   @ 8min 53sec
6 Stephane Heulot @ 9min 10sec
7 Richard Virenque @ 10min 3sec
8 Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 18sec
9 Daniele Nardello @ 10min 58sec
10   Giuseppe Guerini @ 11min 11sec

 

Stage 13: Saturday, July 17, St. Flour - Albi. 236.5 Km. 1999's longest stage.

Major ascent: Moissetie

1 Salvatore Commesso 5hr 52min 45sec  
2 Marco Serpellini @ 2sec
3 Mariano Piccoli @ 2min 7sec
4 Paolo Lanfranchi s.t.
5 Rolande Meier s.t.
6 Christophe Mengin s.t.
7 Miguel Angel Pena s.t.
8 Javier Rodriguez Pasqual   s.t.
9 Lylian Lebreton @ 2min 12sec
10   Francisco Cerezo s.t.

 

General Classification after Stage 13

1 Lance Armstrong 62hr 32min 2sec  
2 Abraham Olano @ 7min 44sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 7sec
5 Fernando Escartin   @ 8min 53sec
6 Stephene Heulot @ 9min 10sec
7 Richard Virenque @ 10min 3sec
8 Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 18sec
9 Daniele Nardello @ 10min 58sec
10   Giuseppe Guerini @ 11min 7sec

 

Stage 14: Sunday, July 18, Castres - St. Gaudens, 199 km

1 Dimitri Konyshev 4hr 37min 59sec   
2 Gianni Faresin s.t.
3 Massimilliano Lelli @ 4sec
4 Steffen Wesemann   @ 51Sec
5 Jacky Durand s.t.
6 Wladimir Belli s.t.
7 Erik Zabel @ 13min 27sec
8 Stuart O'Grady s.t.
9 Christophe Capelle s.t.
10   Gianpaolo Mondini s.t.

 

GC after Stage 14:

  1. Lance Armstrong: 67hr 23min 28sec
  2. Abraham Olano @ 7min 44sec
  3. Alex Zulle @ 7min 47sec
  4. Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 7sec
  5. Fernando Escartin @ 8min 53sec
  6. Stephane Heulot @ 9min 10sec
  7. Richard Virenque @ 10min 3sec
  8. Pavel Tonkov @ 10min 18sec
  9. Daniele Nardello @ 10min 58sec
  10. Angel Casero @ 11min 13sec

Stage 15: Tuesday, July 20, St. Gaudens - Piau Engaly, 173 km.

Major ascents: Ares, Mente, Portillon, Peyresourde, Val Louron, Piau-Engaly

1 Fernando Escartin 5hr 19min 49sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 2min 1sec
3 Richard Virenque s.t.
4 Lance Armstrong @ 2min 10sec
5 Kurt Van de Wouver @ 2min 37sec
6 Angel Casero s.t.
7 Daniele Nardello @ 2min 45sec
8 Laurent Dufaux s.t.
9 Francisco Tomas Garcia   @ 3min 39sec
10   Wladimir Belli @ 4min 0sec

 

General Classification after Stage 15. 40.007 km/hr average speed for the Tour so far

1 Lance Armstrong 72hr 45min 27sec  
2 Fernando Escartin @ 6min 19sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 26sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 8min 36sec
5 Richard Virenque @ 9min 46sec
6 Daniele Nardello @ 11min 33sec
7 Angel Casero @ 11min 40sec
8 Abraham Olano @ 12min 45sec
9 Wladimir Belli @ 15min 16sec
10   Kurt Van de Wouver   @ 16min 41sec

 

Stage 16: Wednesday, July 21, Lannemezan - Pau 192 km

Major ascents: Aspin, Tourmalet, Soulor, Aubisque

1 David Etxebarria 5hr 17min 7sec  
2 Carlos Contreras s.t.
3 Alberto Elli s.t.
4 Alexander Vinokourov s.t.
5 Jose Luis Arrieta s.t.
6 Marcos Serrano @ 5sec
7 Wldaimir Belli @ 21sec
8 Pavel Tonkov s.t.
9 Fancisco Tomas Garcia   s.t.
10   Alex Zulle s.t
11 Lance Armstrong @21sec

 

General Classification after Stage 16.

1 Lance Armstrong 78hr 2min 53sec  
2 Fernando Escartin @ 6min 15sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 28sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 10min 30sec
5 Richard Virenque @ 11min 40sec
6 Daniele Nardello @ 13min 27sec
7 Angel Casero @ 13min 34sec
8 Abraham Olano @ 14min 29sec
9 Wladimir Belli @ 15min 14sec
10   Kurt Van De Wouver   @ 18min 35sec

 

Stage 17: Thursday, July 22, Mourenx - Bordeaux 199 km.

1 Tom Steels 4hr 22min 29sec  
2 Robbie McEwen s.t.
3 Erik Zabel s.t. 
4 George Hincapie s.t. 
5 Silvio Martinello s.t. 
6 Lars Michaelsen s.t.
7 Pascal Chanteur s.t.
8 Gianpaolo Mondini s.t.
9 Christophe Capelle s.t.
10   Alexander Vinokourov   s.t.

 

General Classification after Stage 17. 3,301.8 km ridden so far @ 40.058 km/hr average speed

1 Lance Armstrong 82hr 25min 30sec  
2 Fernando Escartin @ 6min 15sec
3 Alex Zulle @ 7min 28sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 10min 30sec
5 Richard Virenque @ 11min 40sec
6 Daniele Nardello @ 13min 19sec
7 Angel Casero @ 13min 34sec
8 Abraham Olano @ 14min 29sec
9 Wladimir Belli @ 15min 14sec
10   Kurt Van de Wouver   @ 18min 27sec

 

Stage 18: Friday, July 23. Jonzac - Futuroscope. Shortened to 184.7 km.

1 Gianpaolo Mondini 4hr 17min 43sec  
2 Jean-Cyril Robin @ 3sec
3 Alexander Vinokourov   s.t.
4 Mariano Piccoli s.t.
5 Claude Lamour s.t.
6 Francois Simon s.t.
7 Stefano Garzelli s.t.
8 Jorg Jaksche s.t.
9 Elio Aggiano s.t.
10   Thierry Bourguignon s.t.

 

GC after Stage 18:

  1. Lance Armstrong: 86hr 46min 20sec
  2. Fernando Escartin @ 6min 15sec
  3. Alex Zulle @ 7min 28sec
  4. Laurent Dufaux @ 10min 30sec
  5. Richard Virenque @ 11min 40sec
  6. Daniele Nardello @ 13min 19sec
  7. Angel Casero @ 13min 34sec
  8. Abraham Olano @ 14min 29sec
  9. Wladimir Belli @ 15min 14sec
  10. Kurt Van de Wouwer @ 18min 27sec

Stage19: Saturday, July 24, Futuroscope 57 km individual time trial. Armstrong averaged 50.085 km/hr

1 Lance Armstrong 1hr 8min 17sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 9sec
3 Tyler Hamilton @ 1min 35sec
4 Angel Casero @ 1min 37sec
5 Rik Verbrugghe @ 2min 3sec
6 Abraham Olano @ 2min 18sec
7 Wladimir Belli @ 2min 23sec
8 Galdeano Gonzalez   @ 2min 28sec
9 Jens Voigt @ 2min 43sec
10   Stuart O'Grady @ 2min 47sec

 

General Classification after Stage 19

1 Lance Armstrong 87hr 54min 37sec  
2 Alex Zulle @ 7min 37sec
3 Fernando Escartin   @ 10min 26sec
4 Laurent Dufaux @ 14min 43sec
5 Angel Casero @ 15min 11sec
6 Abraham Olano @ 16min 47sec
7 Daniele Nardello @ 17min 2sec
8 Richard Virenque @ 17min 28sec
9 Wladimir Belli @ 17min 37sec
10   Andrea Peron @ 23min 10sec

 

Stage 20: Sunday, July 25, Arpajon - Paris/Champs Elysées, 143.5 km

1 Robbie McEwen 3hr 37min 39sec  
2 Erik Zabel s.t.
3 Silvio Martinello s.t.
4 Stuart O'Grady s.t.
5 Carlos Da Cruz s.t.
6 Lars Michaelsen s.t.
7 Salvatore Commesso   s.t.
8 Tom Steels s.t.
9 Stefen Wesemann s.t.
10   Gianpaolo Mondini s.t.

 

Complete Final General Classification after Stage 20.


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The Story of the 1999 Tour de France:

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Tour de France", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, Kindle eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will the purchase easy.

Over the winter more allegations of drug use surfaced. Some could not be confirmed, others were obvious on their face. The conclusion one had to come to after digesting the accumulation of horrible information is that the situation was at least as bad or worse than the 1998 Tour led one to believe. And then the situation managed to deteriorate. After stage 5 in the 1999 Giro, the Italian National Sports Council (CONI) subjected 16 riders from 3 different teams to a new comprehensive blood and urine test. Two of the riders tested positive for dope but no sanctions were applied. The riders, as they have always been since the start of testing, were incensed. Marco Pantani, Oscar Camenzind, Laurent Jalabert and Mario Cipollini held a press conference and declared that if the national sports organization intruded any further upon the testing regimen which had heretofore been the responsibility of the UCI, they would stop racing. Of that group of 4, Pantani was not the only rider who would have drug problems. In 2004 Camenzind retired after receiving a 2-year suspension for EPO.

Before the start of the penultimate stage of the 1999 Giro, Marco Pantani was awakened so that a blood test could be administered. His hematocrit of 52 percent resulted in his being ejected from the Giro after he had won 4 stages and was leading in the General Classification. The cycling world was stunned. Pantani's squalificato seemed to affect many racing fans far more deeply than the Festina scandal, probably because of Pantani's powerfully heroic image. He had triumphed over a horrible accident and saved the Tour during its greatest crises. Partisans of Pantani made accusations of a conspiracy. In fact, the riders have long known how to foil the hematocrit test. When they knew they would be subjected to a test they would take saline injections and aspirin and in no time the rider's hematocrit was within the legal limit. Some teams even provided the riders with small centrifuges so that they could "manage" their red blood cell concentration. By waking Pantani up to take the test he wasn't able to take measures to bring his hematocrit down. He was a goner. Pantani was too devastated by the disqualification to consider riding the Tour.

In mid-June the Tour announced that the TVM team along with several individuals including ONCE team manager Manolo Saiz and rider Richard Virenque would not be allowed to participate in the Tour. Missing from the list of banned riders were the Festina and Mercatone Uno teams and Marco Pantani. Later on the UCI overruled the Tour organization and insisted that the Tour allow Virenque and Saiz to participate. And the doping in pro racing continued with 4 riders tossed from the Tour of Switzerland for high hematocrits.

In June Ullrich announced that he had injured his knee in the Tour of Germany and would not be able to compete in the Tour. With Pantani and Ullrich out, the press cast about for a favorite. At the top of a lot of lists were Pavel Tonkov (1996 Giro winner), Alex Zülle, Fernando Escartin and Ivan Gotti (1997 and 1999 Giro winner).

And there was another rider to consider. He had withdrawn from the 1996 Tour and could not ride the 1997 and 1998 editions as he endured surgery and chemotherapy to cure what should have been a life-ending case of testicular cancer. In the fall of 1997 he announced the resumption of his professional cycling career. That return was bumpy with intermittent success and withdrawals. But by mid 1998 he had clearly returned to the top ranks of professional cycling with a win in the Tour of Luxembourg, fourth in the Vuelta and fourth in the World Time Trial Championships. In 1999 he won the prologue of the Dauphiné Libéré, and narrowly lost a 2-up sprint to Michael Boogerd in the Amstel Gold Race. Lance Armstrong had returned. But he returned a different athlete. The man who had been a strong, punchy 175-pound powerhouse and who was one of the youngest-ever World Road Champions was now a gaunt, lean stage racer. He now trained and raced with a deliberate focus that turned out to be his most powerful weapon against his usual challenger, Jan Ullrich.

When Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer, he had just inked a $2.5-million, 2-year contract with the French team Cofidis. When Armstrong told Cofidis he was ready to return to racing they responded by firing him. Now Cofidis boss François Migraine didn't quite see it that way. He said that he was told Armstrong had testicular cancer two weeks after the Cofidis contract was signed. He said he promised to support Armstrong even if he couldn't fulfill the contract. Saying that he did not hear much from Armstrong, he sent Alain Bondue to the U.S. to find out what was happening exactly and to renegotiate the contract.

It is Bondue's renegotiating of the contract while Armstrong was so sick that infuriated the rider.

Migraine says that Cofidis did end up paying Armstrong approximately $600,000 to settle the contract and had reached a tentative agreement for the 1998 season before Armstrong signed for US Postal.

After a hard search for a new team Armstrong signed with the American US Postal squad and it was in their blue outfit that he was riding the Tour. While Armstrong was not on many possible Tour winner lists, Miguel Indurain had said that he thought Armstrong had a serious chance of winning the Tour.

With Pantani, Ullrich and Riis not starting the Tour, 1999 was one of those rare years in which there were no former Tour winners. The 1999 Tour started in the Loire Valley town of Le-Puy-de-Fou and went clockwise (Alps first) up to northeastern France and then a big transfer to begin the Alps on stage 9. After the Alps came the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and then the final time trial on the penultimate stage.

Armstrong showed that he had mastered the first component of a successful Tour rider, time trialing, winning the 6.8-kilometer prologue and beating Zülle by 7 seconds. Armstrong said that this day was doubly sweet, that he got more than the pleasure of the Yellow Jersey. After completing his ride and learning that he was the winner, he went by the Cofidis team who were there with the team managers. These were the managers who had come to his hospital bed when he was in the worst throes of chemotherapy and told him that they needed to re-do his contract. "That was for you," he told them.

Armstrong winning the 1999 Tour Prologue

The Tour was upended on the second stage. Starting at Challans, southeast of Nantes, the riders were sent to the island of Noirmoutier before returning to the mainland and a finish in St. Nazaire. The riders had to negotiate the Passage du Gois, a narrow 4-kilometer long road that is submerged except at low tide. Even when exposed, it is a dangerous, slippery road. Worse, there was a hard crosswind. Making the situation even more dire, the entire peloton reached the constricted road intact. Armstrong, Olano, Escartin, Tonkov, Virenque and Julich were in the front of the pack when it made the treacherous crossing and emerged unscathed. But behind them was chaos. A crash took down Zülle, Gotti and Michael Boogerd who were then badly delayed in the mess. The teams that had managed to get clear of the passage without damage went to the front of the lead group and pulled hard in order to derive the maximum benefit. The Zülle group eventually came in 6 minutes, 3 seconds after Tom Steels led in the front lucky 70 riders. At one terrible, early blow, Zülle, a wonderfully talented but accident-prone rider, was out of contention. With the time bonuses the sprinters were earning, Estonian sprinter Jaan Kirsipuu was now the leader with Armstrong only 14 seconds back in second place.

Stage 4 was notable because tailwinds allowed the riders to set a new record for the fastest road stage, 50.356 kilometers per hour, beating the 1993 record held by Johan Bruyneel.

Mario Cipollini wins stage 4 in Blois.

While there were several fine sprinters in the 1999 Tour, the finest, far and away, was Tuscan Mario Cipollini. By the end of stage 7 he had done what no postwar rider had done, win 4 stages in a row. One had to go back to the 1930 Tour when Charles Pélissier was the reigning speed demon to find the last 4-time consecutive stage winner. As they raced over the flatter roads of Northern France, the fast finishers enjoyed the time in the Tour when they could strut their stuff. The next day, in Metz, was a 56.5-kilometer individual time trial. Then the mountains had to be conquered. The General Classification men would come out of hiding after a period where their primary job had been to avoid trouble.

During the time trial, misfortune struck 2 important riders. Bobby Julich crashed and had to abandon. Abraham Olano crashed and lost enough time that the man who started after him, Armstrong, caught and passed him. Armstrong's victory in the stage was substantial. Zülle, who came in second, could only come within 57 seconds of him. The new General Classification with a rest day to be followed by the first Alpine stage:

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Christophe Moreau @ 2 minutes 20 seconds
3. Abraham Olano @ 2 minutes 33 seconds
4. Stuart O'Grady @ 3 minutes 25 seconds

The remaining big question was whether Armstrong could climb with men like Zülle, Escartin and Virenque. Before he came down with cancer, he couldn't. The ninth stage would certainly settle the question with the Tamié, Télégraphe, Galibier, Montgenèvre and a hilltop finish at Sestriere on the day's menu. It was a cold, wet day with hail on the descent of the Montgenèvre. Virenque got away on the Galibier and was the first over the Montgenèvre but couldn't hold his lead. On the descent of the Montgenèvre Escartin and Gotti took wild chances and managed to create a gap of about 30 seconds. On the final climb a small group of 5 of the best including Armstrong and Zülle were together. With less than 7 kilometers to go Armstrong jumped away. He caught and passed Escartin and then went right on by a dumbfounded Gotti. With the encouragement of Bruyneel coming over his earphone Armstrong rode ever harder and further from his chasers. The only credible threat coming up the road was from Zülle, but he couldn't do it. Armstrong crossed the line alone, 31 seconds ahead of Zülle and 2½ minutes ahead of Virenque.

The new General Classification:

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Abraham Olano @ 6 minutes 3 seconds
3. Christophe Moreau @ 7 minutes 44 seconds
4. Alex Zülle @ 7 minutes 47 seconds

Armstrong was now in the ideal position. He had a healthy lead, one so large that he could ride economically, just keeping his dangermen in check. He didn't have to waste energy on offensive exploits. In fact, he had been in control since the crash in stage 2 but insecurity about Olano's climbing abilities had prevented US Postal from relaxing. Armstrong adopted exactly that conservative strategy for the next day's stage to the top of L'Alpe d'Huez. With over 6 minutes in hand he planned to avoid disaster and let the others try to take the race from him. At the base of the Alpe the fast pace caused Olano to drop off. Part way up the climb Italian Giuseppe Guerini took flight with Tonkov hot on his tail. Tonkov couldn't close the gap but he was just dangerous enough that Armstrong went after him. Near the top a photographer got right in Guerini's way and the 2 went down together. Guerini jumped back on his bike and was able to regain his momentum and stayed away for a terrific victory with Tonkov only 21 seconds back. The Armstrong/Zülle group came within 4 seconds of Tonkov at the end. The net result for the day with Olano's 2-minute time loss was that Armstrong now had a lead of 7 minutes, 42 seconds over the still second placed Spaniard. Zülle was now third, 5 seconds behind Olano.

Now the Tour went across the Massif Central. While this terrain didn't have the dramatic climbs of the Alps and the Pyrenees, the sawtooth stage profiles were demanding. An escape could do damage if the leaders' teams weren't alert and willing to work hard. Stage 12 was a classic stage of this sort with 6 climbs rated category 2 and 3; stage 13 had 7 rated climbs. While these days were characterized by constant attacks and high temperatures, the top of the standings didn't change.

Before the start of the 2 Pyrenean stages the Tour took its second rest day. There were now 3 stages left that could affect the Tour's outcome: the 2 remaining days in the mountains and the 57-kilometer time trial. If the pure climbers wanted to take back time from Armstrong, time was running out.

Stage 15 had 6 big mountains: the Ares, Menté, Portillon, Peyresourde, Val Louron, and a hilltop finish at Piau-Engaly. From the first climb the non-stop attacks started. Virenque, Laurent Brochard and others shattered the peloton. In the now-reduced pack, US Postal kept a high but not hot pace since most of the breakaways were not threats to the leadership. But when Fernando Escartin took off on the Portillon, Armstrong himself closed the gap. Escartin went again on the Peyresourde and began to hook up with riders who had escaped earlier. Escartin dropped all the other riders and soloed in for the win. Virenque and Zülle, who had been able to withstand Armstrong's attempts to drop them, managed to beat the Yellow Jersey to the finish by 9 seconds. For Armstrong and his team those final kilometers of that stage represented a rare episode of support failure. Armstrong bonked. He ran out of food and couldn't keep up with the others. Again Olano had been the main casualty, this day coming in 7 minutes after Escartin and losing his second place in the standings.

Stage 15: Fernando Escartin wins in Piau-Engaly. Zülle and and Virenque are 2 minutes back.

That afternoon rumors became more solid when the French paper Le Monde announced that a drug test had shown Armstrong to be using a corticosteroid. The cycling press could not believe that Armstrong could emerge from cancer and be the extraordinary stage racer he had become, and delightedly fanned the rumors. It turned out to be the skin cream Armstrong had been using to fight saddle sores. It contained minute traces of cortisone but Armstrong had been cleared by the Tour authorities to use the medicine.

Stage 16 would be tough with the Aspin, Tourmalet, Soulor and the Aubisque. With a descent into Pau after the final climb, this stage would not give the pure climbers the chance to get real time if Armstrong should falter. While there was action off the front, Armstrong stayed focused on his rivals. On the Tourmalet, a hard acceleration by Postal rider Kevin Livingston caused Virenque to lose contact. The main worries were Escartin and Zülle who were both indefatigable and strong. At the top of the Tourmalet Escartin attacked and took Zülle and Armstrong with him. Escartin tried again on the Soulor and again Armstrong stayed with him. In the final drive to Pau Armstrong let the others go, not needing to fight for a stage win or further tire himself. After the Pyrenees the General Classification stood thus:

1. Lance Armstrong
2. Fernando Escartin @ 6 minutes 15 seconds
3. Alex Zülle @ 7 minutes 28 seconds
4. Laurent Dufaux @ 10 minutes 30 seconds
5. Richard Virenque @ 11 minutes 40 seconds

Armstrong chose to ride the stage 19 time trial to win, rather than playing it safe and riding carefully. But he beat Zülle by only 9 seconds. The main loser of the day was Escartin, who not unexpectedly, lost gobs of time and his second place. The Tour was now Armstrong's. Like the 1971 Tour (when Ocaña crashed out while in Yellow), this is a Tour that invites speculation. What if Zülle had not crashed in the Passage du Gois and lost 6 minutes? Now I understand that all the riders had to ride the same roads, it was the same for everyone and Armstrong was the heads-up savvy rider who made sure he was in the front of the peloton on that dangerous road. But if Zülle, who did crash a lot, had not lost that time, then perhaps Armstrong would not have had the luxury of a defensive ride. It would surely have been a closer Tour that might have gone another way.

Armstrong joined an elite group (Merckx, Hinault and Indurain) when he won all of the 1999 Tour's time trials. That French cycling was still at a low ebb was made clear. The highest placed Frenchman was Virenque at eighth place, 17 minutes, 28 seconds behind Armstrong. For the first time since 1926, in the era of Belgian Tour hegemony, no Frenchman had won a stage. In 1926 the highest placed French rider came in eighth as well.

Final 1999 Tour de France General Classification:

1. Lance Armstrong (US Postal): 91 hours 32 minutes 16 seconds DQ'd for doping
2. Alex Zülle (Banesto) @ 7 minutes 37 seconds
3. Fernando Escartin (Kelme) @ 10 minutes 26 seconds
4. Laurent Dufaux (Saeco) @ 14 minutes 43 seconds
5. Angel Casero (Vitalicio Seguros) @ 15 minutes 11 seconds
6. Abraham Olano (ONCE) @ 16 minutes 47 seconds

Climbers' Competition:

1. Richard Virenque: 279 points
2. Alberto Elli: 226 points
3. Mariano Piccoli: 205 points

Points Competition:

1. Erik Zabel: 323 points
2. Stuart O'Grady: 275 points
3. Christophe Capelle: 196 points

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