1998 Tour de France
The 1998 Tour de France, the 85th edition of the race, covered 21 stages and spanned a total distance of approximately 3,875 kilometers (2,408 miles). Starting in Dublin, Ireland, and finishing in Paris
Italian cyclist Marco Pantani won the 1998 Tour de France riding for the Mercatone Uno team. becoming the first Italian to do so since Felice Gimondi in 1965. Pantani, known for his exceptional climbing abilities, took the yellow jersey in the 15th stage, a grueling mountain stage in the Pyrenees. Pantani finished the race with a winning margin of more than three minutes ahead of German cyclist Jan Ullrich, who had won the Tour the previous year. American Bobby Julich finished third, completing the podium.
The 1998 Tour de France was notably marred by the Festina affair, a major doping scandal that erupted when a team official was caught with a large quantity of performance-enhancing drugs in his car. This scandal led to the expulsion of the entire Festina team and cast a shadow over the event, highlighting the pervasive issue of doping in professional cycling. The incident prompted several teams to withdraw from the race in protest, and many riders faced increased scrutiny and testing.
The 1998 Tour de France remains one of the most infamous editions due to the doping scandal, which had lasting implications for the sport, leading to stricter anti-doping regulations and increased efforts to clean up professional cycling. Pantani's win, however, is remembered for his dramatic and dominant performances in the mountains, showcasing his extraordinary talent and determination.
Trivia
- This tour is also called the Tour du Dopage (Tour of Doping) due to the Festina Affair
Related Pages
- Information about each of the tours
- Tour de France home
- About the World of Sport in 1998
- About Sport in France
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