"Bob Schwartz" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
> Badger <[email protected]> wrote:
> > In the 2001 TdF the commentators mention his name is as being the reason
> > they introduced barriers in the last part of the climb to l'Alpe d'Huez.
>
> > Can anyone fill me in on this? Not sure I have the name spelled right;
> > sorry. ;-)
>
> I believe it was 1988. I am doing this from memory, I can check
> the details when I get home. But I think it was Parra and Herrera
> that were leading the race when the crowds got too thick causing
> a backup of the race traffic. In the confusion and disarray it
> was Rooks that slipped through for the stage win.
>
> Bob Schwartz
> [email protected]
I don't ever remember an AdH finish that had no barriers at the top, but
maybe they added them farther down as a result of this:
http://tinyurl.com/6w2ou (Torelli site) 1988 history
Things exploded on the final run up the 21 hairpin turns of the L'Alpe.
Fabio Parra repeatedly tried to get away, but he couldn't get through the
crowds blocking the leading motorcyles. Dutchman Steven Rooks managed to
escape, closely followed by Delgado and Rook's good friend Gert-Jan
Theunisse. Parra was six seconds behind Delgado. The rest of the field,
including all of the erstwhile contenders were scattered down the mountain.
Luis Herrera was only 1 minute 67 seconds behind, but Hampsten was 10th, 4
minutes 21 seconds back. Pedro Delgado had established himself as the clear
leader of the Tour as he donned the Yellow Jersey. Theunisse, in one of his
many run-ins with doping controls during his career, was found positive. He
had 10 minutes added to his time.
