Les Deux Alpes 1998, Stage 15 (Part 1: Col du Télégraphe-Valloire)

1998 Tour de France, Stage 15: Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes. RAI's coverage from Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne to Valloire.
Marco Pantani effectively won the 1998 Tour on this epic Alpine stage, which took place in cold and wet conditions, reminiscent of the great victories of Charly Gaul in the 1950s.
There were four major climbs in the 189 km journey from Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes: At 69 km they encounted the "Hors Categorie" Col de la Croix de Fer (a 24.5 km climb at 5.1%); then at 123 km they climbed the Cat 2 Col du Télégraphe (an 11.7 km climb at 6.8%); before heading over the highest point, the "Hors Categorie" Col du Galibier (an 18.3 km climb at 6.8%) at 146.5 km; and the stage culminated on the steady climb to Les Deux Alpes (Cat 1, 8.8 km at 6.8%).
An early break by Erik Zabel and Rolf Aldag was caught at the first big climb of the day and they then contributed to setting a solid pace by the Telekom-led peloton until the near top of the col. As the already unsettled weather began to deteriorate, a breakaway group of six formed on the descent - at times racing through dense mist - and chased by a 40-strong group containing all the favourites. By the time the race reached St-Michel-de-Maurienne, where the Col du Télégraphe begins, the break had a three-and-a-half minute lead and it was raining heavily.
In the large chasing pack Telekom again came to the front and kept the pace high as the climbing began, their relentless effort eventually putting Laurent Jalabert (ONCE) - who had started the day tied in 3rd place with Pantani - into difficulty and ending his hopes of a podium spot in Paris.
The first notable attacks had come from Luc Leblanc (Polti) and Spanish climber José María Jimenez (Banesto). Meanwhile Max Sciandri (Française des Jeux) and others in the front group began to fall back from the breakaway as the more aggressive riders upped the pace.
After a charge out of the Ullrich group by Roland Meier (Cofidis), Leblanc followed him with a second attempt to get away. Further up the road, the leaders - now a trio of Rodolfo Massi (Casino), Christophe Rinero (Cofidis) and Marcos Serrano (Kelme) - crested the misty summit of the col, still almost three minutes ahead of Ullrich’s group. Telekom were seemingly in control, but the price paid was that they were reduced in number to just Udo Bölts and Bjarne Riis supporting Ullrich.
The race made the short descent to Valloire, 61 km from the finish and the beginning of the longest and highest climb of the day - the Col du Galibier - a road that Ullrich had never ridden before.
SAINT-MICHEL-DE-MAURIENNE
· The early break: Massi, Rinero, Sciandri, Serrano, Farazijn, Bourguignon - 0:56
· Commentator's interview with Charly Gaul - 4:03
· Leblanc attacks - 9:26
· Jalabert begins to struggle - 16:35
· Jalabert dropped from the peloton - 20:08
· Jimenez attacks and joins the breakaway riders - 23:25
· Meier and Leblanc attempt to break away from the peloton - 24:45
COL DU TÉLÉGRAPHE
· The breakaway reaches the top of the col - 34:20
VALLOIRE
· Massi, Rinero and Serano arrive at Valloire, 61km from the finish - 39:55