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Pantani on verge of victory
LE CREUSOT, France (AP) -- Marco Pantani of Italy moved to the brink of victory in the Tour de France that will be remembered more for a drug scandal than for the first Italian winner in 33 years.Pantani held on to a lead of more than 3 minutes after today's rain-soaked 20th stage.
Defending champion Jan Ullrich won the 32.3-mile time trial in 1 hour, 3 minutes and 52 seconds and moved into second place with only Sunday's 91-mile stage remaining.
American Bobby Julich of Glenwood Springs, Colo., fell to third, 4:08 back, losing his 14-second lead over Ullrich.
Pantani finished 2:35 behind Ullrich today.
Barring injury or accident, Pantani will wear the winner's yellow jersey on the Champs Elysees Sunday, becoming the first Italian winner of the Tour since Felice Gimondi in 1965.
Pantani won the Tour of Italy this year and could become the first to win the two major cycling races the same year since Miguel Indurain in 1993.
The race winds up Sunday with a run from Melun to Paris.
In the past, the last day's ride has been like a ceremonial parade ending triumphantly on the Champs Elysees. Not this time.
This year, revelations of drug use created a turmoil that overshadowed the competition and resulted in seven teams either being ejected from the race or dropping out.
With fewer than 100 riders remaining, the Tour will limp into Paris. Rider protests delayed the start of the 12th stage and stopped the 17th stage twice, forcing organizers to annul it.
Seven people have been placed under formal investigation for doping-related charges -- three from the Festina team, two from TVM, a doctor from ONCE and one rider, Italian Rodolfo Massi of the Casino team.