July 2001 Sport News Headlines

LAVAUR - Lance Armstrong's convincing lead in the Tour de France was untouched here on Tuesday after a long but easy 15th stage eventually won by Belgian sprint ace Rik Verbrugghe.

The 29-year-old US Postal team leader maintains his 5min 05sec advantage over his main rival Jan Ullrich of the Telekom team as the race begins to make its way back up towards Paris after a week of hard climbing.

Armstrong, Germany's Ullrich and Andrei Kivilev of Kazakhstan - in third overall - were in the main peloton that came in 15:07 adrift of Verbrugghe and a group of 25 riders, signalling the lack of urgency after Monday's rest day.

While Armstrong stayed in yellow for the another day, Verbrugghe celebrated his 27th birthday a day late as he stepped up to his first Tour podium.

The Lotto rider, who won the Tour of Italy prologue earlier this season to add to pride and joy - his Fleche Wallonne title - beat Italian Marco Pinotti in a sprint finish at the line, with another Italian Alessandro Pettachi third six seconds behind.

The only rider from among the 25 strong escaping group who posed a threat to the overall standings was Michael Boogerd of the Rabobank team, who before the stage was a huge 31min behind American Armstrong.

The Dutchman eventually reaped the benefits of his efforts.

He now sits eighth overall at only 16:15 behind Armstrong, but the danger stops there.

Further back, US Postal jostled with Kelme for the lead of the peloton, with the Spaniards thoughts focused on their position in the team standings.

Also in attendance was Australian Stuart O'Grady whose battle with Germany's five-time winner Erik Zabel for the green points jersey is only just beginning.

O'Grady - who wore the yellow jersey for four days earlier on the Tour - was all smiles as the peloton snaked its way through the region he and many of his co-riders now call home.

The Credit Agricole rider finished the stage still in green, albeit still with a slim 13-point lead over Zabel.

Laurent Jalabert of the Danish CSC team, who was born in the region, held on to the polka dot jersey for the best climber.

Naturally, he was given the biggest applause from the riders who mounted the podium.

Jalabert, the double stage winner this year who is due to retire at the end of 2002, said he is simply having a ball.

"For me it's a party. I like cycling, I like racing and I'm just trying to enjoy myself out there," said the 32-year-old Jalabert on his 10th Tour participation. - Nampa-Sapa-AFP

•  Boxing titles at stake
•   Pirates host Arrows
•  Boks overcoming poor displays
•  Kangaroos favourites
•  Sports Notices Cheetahs hold race
•  India takes one-dayer
•  Suzuki Night of Jumps postponed
•  Omusati, AN up in arms
•  White to work with Saracens
•  Boks keen to start Lion-taming
•  Kangueehi confident of retaining post
•  Player management
•  SA in solid start
•  Gibbs for Glamorgan