Ex-Tour de France Champ Roche Takes Paris-Nice Lead
ST. ETIENNE, France — After battling two years of injuries, former Tour de France winner Stephen Roche of Ireland moved into the lead of the Paris-Nice cycling race today.
Roche, plagued by knee problems since winning the Tour de France in 1987, was a member of the Histor team that won the 27-mile, team-time trial around St. Etienne.
Histor beat the Castorama team by 35 seconds with American Greg LeMond’s Z team third, 43 seconds back.
In the overall standings, Roche moved 20 seconds in front of Belgian teammate Etienne De Wilde. Francis Moreau of France was third, 30 seconds back.
LeMond, who won the Tour de France in 1986 and 1989, fell to 29th, 1:48 minutes behind Roche.
The race ends Sunday with an individual time trial on another climb just outside Nice.
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