Cycling highlights: Jan Ullrich was considered the big favorite to win the 1998 tour. But he wasted all his chances on a single stage.
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Ullrich actually had everything under control
From Grenoble to Les Deux Alpes, the 1998 Tour de France led its heroes on the 15th stage. But the atmosphere in the peloton was heated - and besides that anyway. Doping allegations and scandals are piling up. Drivers go on strike and spectators boo an entire sport. Cycling was going through what was perhaps its most difficult phase. But there was also driving. defending champion Jan Ulrich was over a minute ahead of Bobby Julich after 14 stages and over three minutes ahead of Laurent Jalabert and Marco Pantani. Since the German was also considered a strong time trialist, his second overall victory at the Tour de France was almost done. But on the 15th stage the tide should turn. Because dry cloths suddenly turned into rain-soaked streets...
Pantani celebrates his only tour win
On that July 27th it poured like cats and dogs. Jan Ullrich had problems. For the first time, the competition managed to seriously endanger the German. And this slid deeper and deeper into the crisis. While cold and wet weather didn't appeal to him anyway, one came along hungry branch added. Jan Ullrich could no longer save the situation. He was losing minute by minute. And his comfortable lead was gone. After the section he was only fourth, almost six minutes behind Marco Pantani. Despite this setback, he did not give up. He should still win two more stages and move up to second place. In the end, 3:21 minutes are missing on his second tour victory. On that 15th stage alone he lost 8:56 minutes.