Tour Du Pont
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1991 Tour DuPont
In the most dramatic finish in Tour history, Holland's Erik Breukink of PDM came from 50 seconds behind despite a flat tire to defeat Atle Kvalsvoll on the streets ofWilmington, Del, Kvalsvoll would finish second overall for the second time in three consecutive years, Kvalsvoll had been able to put valuable time on Breukink on a steep mountain top finish up to Wintergreen Resort in Virginia earlier in the race.
Coors Light's Greg Oravetz became the first American to lead America's Premier Cycling Event, taking the yellow jersey on a key breakaway in a circuit race in the shadows of the Pentagon in Arlington.
Leaders Jersey
Pro., Stages 1 – Erik Breukink (NED), PDM Stage 2 – Patrik Roelandt (BEL), Tonton-Tapis Stage 3–5 – Greg Oravetr (USA), Coors Light Stage 6–10 – Atle Kvalsvoll (NOR), "Z" Stage 11 – Erik Breukink (NED), PDM
Highlights
Erik Breukink makes up 50 seconds during the final 16.6-mile time trial on leader Atle Kvalsvoll to steal a victory...Greg Oravetz becomes the second USA rider to lead the Tour...Canadian Steve Bauer of Motorola and young German Rolf Aldag both capture two stage wins.
1992 Tour DuPont
Greg LeMond appropriately became the first American to win the Tour DuPont, hanging on during the final day's time trial through the streets of Washington, D.C, Teammate Atle Kvalsvoll, who had missed out on the winner's podium two years in a row was relegated to support LeMond over the final three days of the Tour though he was only one second behind him.
Meanwhile, Phil Anderson of Motorola sets a record of four straight podium (top three) appearances while chipping away via time bonuses at the team "Z" due. Anderson comes within 20 seconds heading into the final day, but loses it all to LeMond's superior time trialing.
Dave Mann of Great Britain puts in a Herculean effort while retaining the leader'sjersey for domestic-based Coors Light.
Leaders Jersey
Pro., Stage 1 – Greg LeMond (USA), "Z" Stages 2–5 – David Mann (GBR), Coors Light Stages 6–7 – Atle Kvalsvoll (NOR), "Z" Stages 8–11 – Greg LeMond (USA), "Z"
Highlights
Greg LeMond wins Prologue in record time en route to first American win since the mid 1980s. It is the last major win of his career... Kvalsvoll and LeMond support each other in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, holding off Motorola's Phil Anderson...Anderson wins three stages... Motorola's Michel Zanoli is expelled from the race after punching Davis Phinney in a sprint into Richmond, which Anderson wins.
1993 Tour DuPont
Jelle Nijdam blisters the field by set ting a Prologue record to capture the leader's jersey. Nijdam's job is to not only protect his lead but work for overall contender RaulAlcala. An odd thing occurs, instead of the leader saving his energy, he is working to keep the tempo of the race high to prohibit breakaways and possible threat to WordPerfect's lead.
The result is a defensive game between WordPerfect and their top opposition, Motorola. Motorola's top hope was Lance Armstrong. In the race's final showdown, a lengthy 36-mile (59km) time trial, Alcala shows superior strength, winning by more than 46 seconds over the second-place finisher, Armstrong learns a time trial lesson, but finishes a respectable fourth in the final time trial to finish second overall. A new American cycling star is born.
1994 Tour DuPont
1995 Tour DuPont