TOUR DE FRANCE : Lino Wins Stage for France, but Indurain Still Leads

Pascal Lino became the first French winner in this year’s Tour de France, taking the 14th stage at Perpignan, France, on Sunday, while Miguel Indurain of Spain retained the overall lead.

Lino won in a sprint over Italy’s Giancarlo Perini. The two broke away from Johan Bruyneel of Belgium and two Italians, Mario Chisea and Gianni Faresin, in the closing moments of the 139 mile Montpellier to Perpignan stage.

The main pack with all the favorites, including Indurain, finished more than 16 minutes behind with no change in the leader board.

Indurain leads by 3:23 over Alvaro Mejia of Colombia. Zenon Jaskula of Poland is third at 4:31 behind and Tony Rominger of Switzerland fourth at 5:44 behind. Andy Hampsten of Boulder, Colo., remained sixth at 11:12 behind.

“The breakaway wasn’t dangerous for me,” Indurain said. “My teammates watched the difference without using much energy.”

After two days in the mountains, the leaders have taken it easy the past few days and left individual heroics to other riders who are not threats in the overall standings.

The top five pulled away from the pack early, all working together to alternate the lead.

The Tour heads into the Pyrenees today with a climb from sea level at Perpignan to the tiny mountain state of Andorra over a pass at an altitude of more than 7,200 feet. The 143-mile stage will be a roller-coaster ride over nine tough climbs with few breathers in the short downhill sections.

Rominger, Tour of Spain champion for the last two years and winner of both Alpine stages last week, is expected to set a blistering pace in the hope that Indurain may crack. The Tour ends July 25.