After the battle on the Puy de Dome, only 17 seconds separate the leader Jonas Vingegaard and his pursuer Tadej Pogacar. The difference in performance between the two high-flyers is so marginal that it will probably be one of the closest decisions at a Tour de France. Sometimes the winner only takes the yellow jersey on the last day.
8 seconds - Tour de France 1989 - Greg LeMond against Laurent Fignon:
Frenchman Fignon went into the final individual time trial in Paris in 1989 with a lead of 50 seconds and his blonde hair flowing. LeMond made full use of the technical possibilities, wearing a time trial helmet and mounting a triathlon attachment on his handlebars. At the end of the 26.5 kilometres, he was the only American to win the Tour - with the narrowest lead in history to this day.
23 seconds - Tour de France 2007 - Alberto Contador against Cadel Evans
The 2007 Tour de France was dominated by the doping scandal surrounding race leader Michael Rasmussen. Contador had taken over the yellow jersey after the Dane was disqualified and a few days later went into the decisive time trial with a lead of 1:50 minutes. In the end, Contador was only 23 seconds ahead of Evans.
38 seconds - Tour de France 1968 - Jan Janssen against Herman Van Springel
In 1968, too, the Tour de France was only decided on the final stage, a time trial over an impressive 55 kilometres to Paris. Incidentally, a 136-kilometre stage had been completed on the morning of the day - but the times were different. Van Springel started the stage 16 seconds ahead of Janssen, but the Dutchman was 54 seconds faster than the Belgian and won the Tour.
39 seconds - Tour de France 2010 - Alberto Contador against Andy Schleck:
This result no longer exists in today's winners' lists. Because Contador was found to have taken clenbuterol in a doping sample taken during the Tour de France, the Spaniard was cancelled and Schleck from Luxembourg was declared the winner. The duel had already caused a fierce controversy during the race. Contador had attacked Schleck on stage 15 at the Port de Bales when Schleck had a problem with his chain - a violation of an unwritten law in cycling. Contador won the stage with a 39-second lead, which was enough to triumph in Paris - but not to win the Tour de France.
Copyright 2023, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
