Tour de France 1998 - 07 Correze Ullrich

Tour de Francia 1998 Etapa 07, Merygnac L'Eglise - Correze, ITT 58 kms:

1. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom 1.15.25 (46.143)
2. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal 1.10
3. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis 1.18
4. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE 1.24
5. Viacheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 1.40
6. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 2.13
7. Evgeni Berzin (Rus) La Francaise des Jeux 2.21
8. Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Cofidis 2.22
9. Stephane Heulot (Fra) La Francaise des Jeux 2.22
10. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino 2.29
11. Vicent Garcia-Acosta (Spa) Banesto 2.38
12. Luc Leblanc (Fra) Polti 2.45
13. Melchior Mauri (Spa) ONCE 2.57
14. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 3.16
15. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GAN 3.17
16. Sergei Ivanov (Rus) TVM 3.23
17. Georg Totschnig (Aut) Telekom 3.24
18. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 3.25
19. Nicolas Jalabert (Fra) Cofidis 3.29
20. Patrick Jonker (Aus) Rabobank 3.35
21. Daniele Nardello (Ita) Mapei 3.39
22. Bjarne Riis (Den) Telekom 3.44
23. Aleksandre Shefer (Kaz) Asics 3.48
24. Hernan Buenahora (Col) Vitalicio Seguros 3.58
25. Massimo Podenzana (Ita) Mercatone Uno 4.01

GC after Stage 7

1. Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom 31.24.37
2. Bo Hamburger (Den) Casino 1.18
2. Bobby Julich (USA) Cofidis 1.18
4. Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE 1.24
5. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal 1.30
6. Viacheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 1.46
7. Vicent Garcia-Acosta (Spa) Banesto 1.50
8. Stuart O'Grady (Aus) GAN 1.53
9. Abraham Olano (Spa) Banesto 2.12
10. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 2.17

The only obstacle for the riders on the ITT comes at km 12.5 where they encounter the Cat 3 Côte de Chavagnac (6.7 km climb at 3.4%).
The interim team manager for Festina Moreno prior to their expulsion said he will talk with the directors of the Tour de France today. If they are not allowed to start, he has said he will sue them. And Richard Virenque (and the rest of Festina) wants to start in the ITT this afternoon. They argue that nothing is proven yet. He is reported as saying: "We will have a lawyer and a bailiff with us, because we have the right to work! We have nothing to do with this decision. I can tell you we shall all be at the start. You can work with people and not be aware of everything about them."

Virenque has disassociated himself from Bruno Roussel's statement and again denied that any of the riders were taking banned substances. The lawyer will be at the start in Brive today to witness the denial of work. Festina chairman Miguel Rodriguez will also be at the start with the company's legal team.

This morning the medical committee of the UCI conducted blood tests on 53 riders from 6 teams: TVM, Riso Scotti, Lotto, Banesto and Saeco and another. All the riders were permitted to start. After a discussion between Legrand and Virenque, the riders of Festina decided to leave the Tour.

Jan Ullrich, as expected, took the yellow jersey after a very powerful display in the ITT over 58 kms of undulating roads in the Correze region. American Tyler Hamilton surprised with a second place 1.18 down on Ullrich.

Despite previous claims that they would start, the Festina team quit the Tour. Virenque said to the press as he announced the decision to quit: "Today we made the decision to leave the Tour de France in the interest of cycling. He then burst into tears.

Ullrich said to the press afterwards that: "I was not expecting to take the jersey so early in the Tour. I'm glad. It shows the work paid off."

The major rivals to Ullrich failed to match him. Only World ITT Champion Laurent Jalabert (1.24) got close and moved into 4th place overall. Ullrich had expected Jalabert to win. Olano was 7th and Bjarne Riis was 22nd at 3.44.

More info Scandal Drugs: http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/result...