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Ugrumov Takes 19th Tour Stage

MORZINE, France -- Piotr Ugrumov of Latvia beat Miguel Indurain by more than three minutes in Friday's individual time trial but the Spaniard remained firmly in first place overall as the Tour de France neared completion.


Ugrumov, who also won the 18th stage Thursday, was in top form again, finishing in one hour, 22 minutes, 59 seconds in the 48-kilometer mountain time trial and moving into second place overall.


Second for the day was Marco Pantani of Italy, one minute, 38 seconds behind Ugrumov. Indurain, never a great individual climber, was third, 3:16 behind.


Still, with two days left in the race, Indurain appeared to have his fourth title in a row locked up. He is five minutes, 39 seconds ahead of Ugrumov with two relatively flat stages to go.


Pantani, who added a touch of panache to this year's Tour with his almost relentless attacks, is now third at 7:19 behind. He moved up one place and should complete the podium of the world's greatest cycle race.


Luc Leblanc of France is fourth, 10:03 back.


Richard Virenque of France, second entering the time trial, dropped to fifth, 10:10 behind, as he was more than six minutes behind Ugrumov. He nearly fell when he went wide in a tight bend on a road made slippery by rain.


Saturday's stage is 208 kilometers before a final leg Sunday from the EuroDisney theme park to the Champs Elys?es in Paris. (AP, Reuters)

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