Cycling: Indurain's flyer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.MIGUEL INDURAIN sent his fellow Basques into raptures with victory here on the opening day of the 79th Tour de France, writes Robin Nicholl in San Sebastian.
Last of the 198 riders to start the eight-kilometre time trial, the shy giant from Villava clocked 9 min, 22 sec, to win by two seconds.
No other riders, including all Indurain's rivals for overall victory, finished within 10 seconds of him.
Until Indurain raced home before screaming fans, new professional Alex Zulle, from Switzerland, held a one second lead over Frenchman Thierry Marie, winner of the last two Tour prologues.
Greg LeMond, chasing a fourth Tour triumph, was 14 seconds slower than Indurain who, three weeks ago, won the Tour of Italy.
Now Indurain is set to try for a rare double of two major tour victories in the same year. This was last achieved by Dubliner Stephen Roche, who yesterday finished 20 seconds off the pace.
Tension heightened yesterday on the Tour after saboteurs destroyed seven vehicles, including three belonging to Channel Four television, at Hondarribia.
The early-morning fire in a hotel car park came hours after two cars, one from French television, were set ablaze in a car park under yesterday's finish area.
Today, the 198 riders race through the Basque countryside passing through Hondarribia on a 194-kilometre leg that starts and finishes in San Sebastian.
Tomorrow, the Tour heads out of the coastal resort, bracing itself for the possibility of more strife as it returns to the French blockades.
TOUR DE FRANCE Prologue (San Sebastian, Sp): 1 M Indurain (Sp) 9min 22sec; 2 A Zuelle (Swit) +2sec; 3 T Marie (Fr) +3; 4 J Nijdam (Neth) +4; 5 A de las Cuevas (Fr) +11; 6 A Garmendia (Sp) +12; 7 R Alcala (Mex); 8 G Bugno (It); 9 E van Hooydonck (Bel) all s/t; 10 V Ekimov (CIS) +13; 11 E Breukink (Neth) +14; 12 F Moreau (Fr); 13 E Vanderaerden (Bel); 14 G Bontempi (It); 15 G LeMond (US) all s/t; 16 A Kasputis (Lith) +16; 17 J Durand (Fr) +18; 18 F Maassen (Neth); 19 R Golz (Ger) both s/t; 20 A Chiurato (It) +20. Selected: 22 Stephen Roche (Irl) +20; 93 S Kelly (Irl) +39; 102 R Millar (GB) +40; 128 S Yates (GB) +47; 183 M Earley (Irl) +1:02.
(Photograph omitted)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments