Indurain Holds Lead

Spain’s Miguel Indurain kept the overall lead at the midway point of the Tour de France cycling race as the event passed its toughest stage.

Italy’s Marco Pantani won the 11th stage, beating Indurain by 1 minute, 24 seconds. Indurain, looking for his fifth consecutive title, retained his lead over Alex Zulle and Bjarne Riis, who are second and third overall.

Indurain kept a 2:27 margin over Zulle in the overall standings. Riis lost 12 seconds while Tony Rominger, although still in fourth, dropped more than 8 minutes back by finishing 12th in the stage.

American leader Lance Armstrong of Austin, Texas, is 42nd overall and 45:39 behind Indurain.

Today’s 11th stage from Bourg d’Oisans to St. Etienne is 124 miles with one major climb. The race then goes west to the Pyrenees before ending in Paris on July 23.