CYCLING Alex Zulle zips to first tour title
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See the article in its original context from October 1996.
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Compatriots Laurent Dufaux and Tony Rominger, a three-time winner of the Vuelta, took second and third, marking the first time three cyclists from the same country had swept the top three places other than Spain.
Zulle, who virtually wrapped up the title in Saturday's individual timed trial, finished the 3,915-kilometer (2,447-mile) Vuelta a Espana in 97 hours, 31 minutes and 46 seconds, nearly 6 1-2 minutes ahead of Dufaux and 8 1-2 minutes in front of Rominger. "Whenever I go out for an important competition, I look to win. Sports are like that. But until now I've never won a major race," said the 28-year-old Zulle, who previously had finished second in the Vuelta and Tour de France.
Tom Steels of Belgium won the ceremonious final stage in 3 hours, 53 minutes and 27 seconds, sprinting down Madrid's main thoroughfare, Paseo de La Castellana, after the relatively easy 157-kilometer (97-mile) stage which lapped the city eight times. The Vuelta lost some of its luster midway through when five-time Tour de France champion and Olympic gold medalist Miguel Indurain withdrew while trailing Zulle by more than two minutes in the overall standings in the final kilometers (miles) of the 13th stage. The 32-year-old Spaniard had previously said he was only taking part in the tour because he had been ordered to do so by his team managers.
