TOUR DE FRANCE : Indurain of Spain Leads the Others Into Plains

Miguel Indurain of Spain retained the leader’s yellow jersey in the Tour de France by finishing a close second to Tony Rominger of Switzerland in Thursday’s 11th stage.

“I did better yesterday,” said Rominger, the winner for a second day in a row as the tour remained in the Alps. “But, Indurain seemed the same. I tried to attack once, but there was nothing I could do.”

Indurain was in control for most of the 112-mile leg that had four climbs above 6,540 feet.

While others would go far ahead, Indurain would stay with the major challengers such as Rominger, Colombia’s Alvaro Mejia, Poland’s Zenon Jaskula, American Andy Hampsten and Denmark’s Bjarne Riis. All were in the top 10 of the overall standings but still minutes behind Indurain.

On the final 10 1/2-mile climb, Claudio Chiappucci of Italy joined the front-runners and threatened to take the lead.

Each time, however, Rominger and Indurain caught up.

Britain’s Robert Millar, leader over the third of the four climbs, rejoined the group. He made another attempt to move away. Again he was caught and passed.

Indurain accelerated whenever needed and took the lead of the top group in the final three miles.

Rominger and Indurain broke away from a group of seven in the final half-mile of the stage. Indurain moved ahead in the final 100 yards, but slowed to give Rominger the individual stage victory.

Chiappucci finished third, followed by Mejia and Jaskula. Hampsten finished ninth, 3 minutes 6 seconds back.

Mejia remained second in the overall standings, but dropped 3:23 behind Indurain. Jaskula was still third, 4:31 behind, with Rominger moving past Eric Breukink into fourth, 5:44 back. Hampsten was sixth, 11:12 behind.

The Tour is in Marseille today for three days of flatland racing before hitting the Pyrenees on Monday.