Pantani Wins 15th Stage Of Tour

Marco Pantani of Italy took the lead in the Tour de France Monday by blowing past defending champion Jan Ullrich.

Pantani was in fourth place entering the day, 3 minutes, 1 second, behind Ullrich. After the race, he had a lead of 3:53 over American Bobby Julich.

Ullrich, weakening in the final climb, finished nearly nine minutes behind and dropped to fourth overall, 5:56 behind.

The 15th stage from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes was 117 miles and included four major climbs.

Adding to the racers' woes were rain and fog. In addition, the temperature dipped below 50 degrees following Sunday's stage, which was held in 86-degree temperature.

Julich came in fifth on the day. 5:43 beind Pantani.

"I knew Pantani was dangerous, but I didn't think he could do what he did today," Julich said. "He made us all look silly."

Pantani won the Tour of Italy this year and he was third last year to Ullrich, more than 14 minutes behind in the final standings.

Pantani lost nearly a year of competition in 1996 after breaking his leg in two places in a severe car accident late in 1995.

France's Christophe Rinero led a group coming off the first two peaks. Then Pantani began his charge toward the front as the leaders headed up 8,650-foot Galibier mountain.

He eventually built up a lead of nearly three minutes at the top of the mountain and even had time to stop and put on a plastic jacket to protect him from the wind and cold on the descent.

Although Ullrich cut the gap slightly on the downhill, Pantani moved away on the final climb to the ski station of Les Deux Alpes, almost 5,400 feet, with the rain worsening.

Ullrich kept having trouble. He had a flat. He stopped to confer with his team car. Ullrich lost more than three minutes to Julich on the day.

There are two more days in the Alps with an important time trial Saturday.

Tuesday's stage has five climbs between 3,106 feet and 6,540 feet. Better weather is predicted.

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