1996 Tour de France
The 1996 Tour de France, the 83rd edition of the prestigious race, covered 21 stages and spanned a total distance of approximately 3,765 kilometers (2,340 miles). The race commenced in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, and concluded in Paris.
Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis emerged as the winner of the 1996 Tour de France, ending Miguel Indurain's five-year winning streak. Riis took the yellow jersey in the 16th stage, a mountain stage in the Pyrenees, and maintained his lead through strong performances in subsequent stages. Riis finished the race over a minute ahead of his Telekom teammate, German cyclist Jan Ullrich, who secured second place. Frenchman Richard Virenque, known for his climbing abilities, finished third.
This edition of the Tour was also notable for the rising star of Jan Ullrich, who, despite being a support rider for Riis, showcased his immense potential and would later go on to win the Tour in 1997.
Trivia
- Bjarne Riis has admitted to the use of doping during the 1996 Tour. The Tour de France organizers have stated they no longer consider him to be the winner, although Union Cycliste Internationale has so far refused to change the official status due to the amount of time passed since his win. Jan Ullrich was placed second.
Related Pages
- Information about each of the tours
- Tour de France home
- About the World of Sport in 1996
- About Sport in France
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