Spain's Miguel Indurain took his triumphant Tour de France laps around the Champs Elysees the same way he did last year - in the leader's yellow jersey with an unassailable margin.
Indurain sealed his victory on Friday with a resounding win in the individual time trial, meaning he has won the last five time trials spanning three Tours.With a 4-minute, 53-second lead over runner-up Claudio Chiappucci of Italy going into the last day, the only thing that could keep Indurain from his second consecutive Tour title would have been to fall and break his neck.
"My greatest satisfaction is having proven my first success," said Indurain, who won the Tour of Italy earlier this year as well as the Tour de France prologue July 4.
"But actually, it was easier than last year," he said. "Since my first win, I've gained an enormous calm that lets me handle the stages coolly and ward off the attacks of others."
Indurain has worn the leader's yellow jersey for the last nine days.
His win was as convincing as last year's. This time, he trounced the competition in the time trials on the ninth stage in Luxembourg and the 19th stage at Blois.
Olaf Ludwig of Germany won Sunday's stage, the last in the grueling 2,479-mile road race that wound through seven countries. Jean-Paul van Poppel of the Netherlands was second in the stage, and Belgian Johan Museeuw came in third.
The riders covered 88 miles from La Defense through towns west and southwest of the French capital before speeding 10 laps up and down the city's most famous boulevard.
Of the 198 riders who started, 130 finished. One of the casualties was three-time Tour winner Greg LeMond, who won the Tour in 1986, 1989 and 1990. LeMond dropped out this year in the 14th stage, complaining of fatigue and a sore knee.
His withdrawal put his future in the race in doubt. LeMond finished seventh last year, the first time in six Tours that he failed to finish in the top three.
One American had a tremendous finish. Andy Hampsten came in fourth overall, equalling his showing in 1986 when he was the best among the rookie riders.
Hampsted won the rugged mountainous stage from Sestriere, Italy to L'Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps, showing he can tough it out. with the best of them.