CYCLING / Tour de France: Ugrumov gains deserved reward: Latvian aims for place on podium as Indurain takes another step towards victory

THE Tour de France has become an elbowing match to stand on the Champs Elysees podium with Miguel Indurain on Sunday. The Spanish racer's fourth triumph in succession now seems inevitable in a race that has taken a bigger toll on riders than usual.

The yellow jersey stakes effectively ended 10 days ago as Indurain pulled on the renowned colours and all threats rapidly receded as fatigue, heat and sickness wiped out those tipped to challenge him.

Yesterday, on the 20km descent from the Col de la Colombiere to the finish at Cluses, Indurain broke free of his rivals until the slim figure of Richard Virenque plunged in pursuit to join him.

They sparred to the line, where Indurain sprinted to gain a second over the game Virenque, who was content that he had paid another deposit towards his podium ticket. He hopes to have two rights to be there on Sunday: as the wearer of the red polka-dot jersey of the best climber and as runner-up to Indurain.

The battle for the last place on the rostrum has had four contenders in as many days. The Frenchman, Armand de las Cuevas, was third overall before the Alps. His compatriot, Luc Leblanc, succeeded him only to be replaced by the Italian, Marco Pantani.

Yesterday Piotr Ugrumov became the latest tenant after a 45km solo ride over two mountains brought him to the finish more than two and a half minutes before Indurain. On Wednesday the Latvian had led with Nelson Rodriguez over the final climb to another ski station only to lose in the final few metres. 'I felt robbed,' Ugrumov said, 'so I decided to try again on my own.'

Behind him Virenque was duelling with Indurain and further back Pantani was producing his special technique for gaining speed downhill. With his behind off the saddle and hanging over the back wheel and his stomach resting on the saddle, Pantani had Indurain and Virenque in his sights for a time. He failed to catch them, although he claims his low-slung style is 20km an hour faster than anyone else's.

Leblanc, who has daily treatment for an ankle injury, is not giving up his podium dream easily. He is fifth behind Pantani, having suffered mechanical trouble and a puncture on the final mountain yesterday.

De Las Cuevas pulled out of the race before yesterday's start in Moutiers because of bronchitis. During the day, six more quit, leaving 119 to race today's mountain time trial at Morzine-Avoriaz.

Those further down the pecking order have also had enough. Ronan Pensec, a great French hope a few tours back, summed it up: 'We are fed up and worn out and it's not over yet. I just want to go home.'

TOUR DE FRANCE: 18th stage (Moutiers to Cluses, 174km, 109 miles): 1 P Ugrumov (Lat) Gewiss Ballan 4hr 52min 19sec; 2 M Indurain (Sp) Banesto +2min 39sec; 3 R Virenque (Fr) Festina +2:40; 4 F Escartin (Sp) Mapei Clas +3:25; 5 M Pantani (It) Carrera same time; 6 R Conti (It) Lampre +3:26; 7 P Lino (Fr) Festina +3:30; 8 L Leblanc (Fr) Festina same time; 9 A Kasputis (Lith) Chazal +4:55; 10 O Pellicioli (It) Polti same time; 11 G Bortolami (It) Mapei Clas +4:57; 12 B Riis (Den) Gewiss Ballan; 13 J van de Laer (Bel) Lotto; 14 R Sorensen (Den) GB MG; 15 E Caritoux (Fr) Chazal; 16 A Elli (It) GB MG; 17 A Zulle (Swit) ONCE; 18 U Bolts (Ger) Telkom; 19 A Mejia (Col) Motorola all same time; 20 F Munoz (Col) Kelme +5:28. Selected: 53 S Yates (GB) Motorola +20:47.

Leading overall standings: 1 Indurain 91hr 37min 43sec; 2 Virenque +7:22; 3 Ugrumov +8:55; 4 Pantani +8:57; 5 Leblanc +9:29; 6 Conti 10:51; 7 Elli +16:30; 8 Zulle +19:22; 9 Bolts +21:13; 10 Lino +21:23; 11 V Poulnikov (Ukr) Carrera +24:18; 12 Escartin +26:03; 13 Pellicioli +27:07; 14 N Rodriguez (Col) ZG Mobili +29:21; 15 Bortolami +30:33; 16 Riis +30:47; 17 H Buenahora (Col) Kelme +31:32 18 J-F Bernard (Fr) Banesto +35:29; 19 B Hamburger (Den) TVM +38:16 20 Sorensen +41:01. Selected: 70 Yates +1:55:40.

(Photograph and map omitted)